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Councilmember Marti Emerald Douses Political Firestorm over San Diego's Public Safety Budget Cuts
Founder did you miss the underlying message of the CRRECC presentation? The message is, San Diego, compared to other metropolitan areas all over the State, has substantially lower fees and thus less revenue for the services the citizens want. Read it San Diego is the only city that collects trash at NO cost to those who produce the waste. I'd be fine with paying the California average fee for residential trash collection IF the city pledges to use the funds to keep libraries and rec centers open for residents. Additionally, if you compare wages as the Mayor did in 2007/08 with his Buck Consultants Report, we find San Diego wages are lower than many of the major municipalities in California. The problem is, as you pointed out, we have a political problem. And with so called leaders like carpetbagger Carl DeMaio, nothing will get fixed. His divisiveness is intentional! Why, you may be wondering? Because it keeps him in front of the cameras and microphones where he thrives.— October 19, 2010 4:21 p.m.
Councilmember Marti Emerald Douses Political Firestorm over San Diego's Public Safety Budget Cuts
Let's not loose sight of story here folks. This isn't one of Bauder's columns. Mr. Hargrove's story was about Mr. DeMaio's twisted facts and inflammatory language calling what the city acknowledged as base pay, bonuses. Interpretations like DeMaio so call bonus story typically appear in nationwide publications like the National Inquirer. Usually buried a few pages down, right next to the story about three-toed Alien going door to door selling Amway products in rural Whatchamacallit, Arkansas.— October 19, 2010 4:03 p.m.
Councilmember Marti Emerald Douses Political Firestorm over San Diego's Public Safety Budget Cuts
By the way, don't take my word for it on SS and Medicare. Read the Nov. 20, 1981 memorandum written by then City Manager Ray Blair, who worked for Pete Wilson, for yourself. In it you'll see the plan was ultimately all about cost/tax avoidance. You'll also read the city's undeniable promise of fully paid retiree health care. Here is the link: http://www.lawconger.com/images/images/Ellis/Blai…— October 19, 2010 10:13 a.m.
Councilmember Marti Emerald Douses Political Firestorm over San Diego's Public Safety Budget Cuts
I never said Sanders was or is my choice. IMO he's been a tremendous disappointment since his reelected. Instead of moving the fixes along, he been more concerned about his legacy. The City's finances have been mismanaged since the 80's when then Mayor Pete Wilson withdrew employees from SS and Medicare. Wilson promised employees retiree health care but never put a dime away for the obvious expenses to come 25 years later. The city even stole investment returns at SDCERS to fund it illegally which also compounded that system's underfunding. It's going to take years to get out the hole the City leader dug for themselves and the taxpayers. The $22 million dollar KROLL report spells it all out. The bottom line is this, when comparing the revenue sources and amounts versus the operational expenses, the city does not come close to other municipality. That's in both areas; revenues are substantially less then other cities in California and expenses are higher. This story has nothing whatsoever to do with former President Bush. This story is about DeMaio's twisting of facts. Distortions he chose to tell, to mislead citizens who only take the time to listen to sound bites or gather facts from his twisted twitter tweets. But you're are right, Prop D, by itself is not going to fix the city's structural deficit. That's why the City's business leaders, along with the Mayor and a MAJORITY of Councilmembers have gotten behind amendments strengthening the original plan. It's going to take Prop D as well as other reforms from labor groups to fix this mess. Nevertheless, approving Prop D is an appropriate and necessary step toward the solution.— October 18, 2010 11:38 p.m.
Councilmember Marti Emerald Douses Political Firestorm over San Diego's Public Safety Budget Cuts
I have no problem with Mr. DeMaio having access to information and I never said nor implied that was wrong. I even agree with you, all of our Councilmembers should be well informed with the facts regarding city operations. What bothers me is what he does with the information he gets. In this specific instance it not only offends me, but should offend all fair minded people. Mr. DeMaio has purposely chosen not to tell the WHOLE truth. By omitting historical facts regarding the pay he has carefully spun the information into something it's really not. And, in doing so, DeMaio is purposely dishonest to the taxpayers of San Diego and the citizens he is suppose to serve in his district. In my previous post, I believe I made the history of the pay clear, as well as the City's mismanagement of it. Further, if you recall, Mayor Sanders clearly pointed out that the City's data processing, payroll, real estate services, accounts payable and a slew of other financial services were in disarray where legacy computer systems could not communicate effectively. The City has already spent in excess of $50 million dollars to bring those systems into the 21st century, although it's not going smoothly at all. This is not an excuse, it's a fact. Nevertheless, if you choose to believe DeMaio's interpretation of the data he presented as fact, that's your right and you're entitled to blindly follow him all you want. But the record is clear, Mr. DeMaio has been caught fabricating facts in past. His answer when confronted and challenged about the veracity of his statements; blame subordinates or others for giving him the "wrong" info. Is that really the type of leadership you want running our city? You may want a documented liar as your future Mayor, but I, and other fair minded San Diegans, DO NOT.— October 18, 2010 1:31 p.m.
Councilmember Marti Emerald Douses Political Firestorm over San Diego's Public Safety Budget Cuts
It's very simple and just another classic example of the City's mismanagement, or in this case, laziness. EMT specialty pay for Firefighter was not required some twenty years ago. The City negotiated with firefighter years ago and encouraged them to get trained as EMT's. As part of that negotiation firefighters asked the City to provide pay for this qualification since not everyone was required to hold it. At the time 8.5% was granted if a firefighter took the necessary classes and practical experience to earn an EMT certification. As time went by the City changed their hiring standards and required all FD to be EMT certified. But the City NEVER incorporated EMT specialty pay line item into the firefighter's base pay even though they altered the hiring requirements. So on a going forward basis, firefighter who were hired after the new standard was implemented are all EMT's. But those hired before the new standard are not required to hold such as certificate. So if Mr. DeMaio wants to condemn the practice as it stands today, he should aim his ire and comtempt at the Mayor, COO and Comptroller for sloppy financial accounting. I also see on Mr. DeMaio's website he has asked for information from the Comptroller on all of the city's "general fund" departments. One can only wonder what NEW misleading statements Mr. DeMaio will spew over the next couple of weeks before the vote on Prop D. As a politician who has repeatedly been exposed for false and misleading statements, Mr. DeMaio spins this story to benefit his political cause, and further his aspiration of becoming the Mayor of San Diego. Of course in doing so, he jeopardizes the safety of its citizens, the very ones he is suppose to serve. Mr. DeMaio made a conscious choice to OMIT the back story, the history of this pay for his own selfish reasons. Is this type of honest leadership San Diego wants? Haven't we had our fill of politicians and bureaucrats who spread self serving lies to further their careers?— October 18, 2010 7:35 a.m.
Last -Minute Legislature Deal Boosts Chances of Massive Chargers Subsidy
Don, Was that the wrong consonant? I believe that should have been a 'B' for billion not the 'M' in million where you referred to the cap in the second sentence. And this ridiculous $800 million for a stadium... There's no way a NFL caliber stadium in 2011-12 will cost that little. When "everything" is tallied and accounted for, 1.3 BILLION easy.— October 9, 2010 5:20 p.m.
Pssst! Howd'ya Like to Retire with $300,000 a Year of Taxpayer Moolah
Don, Thanks for pointing out the obvious. Even though the Pupster open the door wide enough to drive a Mack truck through, I won't sink to his level of sniping. While we may often disagree, I prefer civility and honest debate as long as facts remain facts, not fantasy or wildly spun distortions of the truth.— October 2, 2010 12:18 p.m.
Pssst! Howd'ya Like to Retire with $300,000 a Year of Taxpayer Moolah
Founder you should really watch the video of City Attorney Jan Goldsmith's speech at the January 2010 at a Taxpayers Association luncheon, it's right on point. Pay close attention to minutes 12:40 to 15:00. His remarks begin at the 2:30 mark...so you skip the boring introductions. His talk runs about 30:00 minutes. Here the link: http://granicus.sandiego.gov/ASX.php?publish_id=8…— September 30, 2010 7:18 p.m.
Pssst! Howd'ya Like to Retire with $300,000 a Year of Taxpayer Moolah
I've heard of Scott and met him once at an event. Thank you for your 30 years of Service to the Citizens of San Diego.— September 30, 2010 5:01 p.m.