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Is City Council Cerebrally Bankrupt?
"One would think that Emerald, with her broadcast/opinion background would know better than try to muzzle a newsletter or a publication of the stature of the WSJ." --------------------------- Ms. Emerald was handled by producers back then who pulled the strings. Today she's managed by staff, at taxpayer's expense, who keep her from stepping in it most of the time. But every once-in-a-while the real "Emerald" lets loose with, pardon the pun, some real gems proving that air is what occupies the space between her ears. Is our Council Cerebrally Bankrupt? There's little if any doubt our Council is at the end of its resources, intellectually and morally. Sadly, term limits only come around every eight years, but elections come in half that time.— March 27, 2010 7:56 a.m.
Questions Abound in City's Planned Refunding of Stadium Bonds
The obvious question: Does this planned refunding of "Stadium Bonds" alter the Chargers' obligation to pay off the debt if they choose to relocate the team to another city? If the answer is yes, then any Councilmember who votes for this plan has been corrupted by process.— March 8, 2010 6:22 p.m.
Work for a Government and Rake in Bucks
Response to post #18 once again Carl's numbers are spinning like a top... Why does he include benefits that are required by state and federal laws. For example for a Police Officer II in the City of San Diego he includes: Risk Management Administration Unemployment Insurance Workers' Compensation Disability Insurance Medicare These are all costs mandated by state and federal laws. Then he adds in "Other Post-Employment Benefit"... no ones knows what this is. But the real eye opener is the "Unused sick leave" line. While it's only $45, it is an indicator on how far out of whack DeMaio's thought processes are and how far he goes ONCE AGAIN to fabricate and manipulate the dialog at any cost. In this case he added 45 more dollars to make the reader believe all cops have this benefit. The truth is less than one percent of the cops have unused sick leave left on the books. The city stopped paying sick leave over 20 years ago. A hand full of "old timers" may have a few hours of that old sick leave left, they were hours earned 20 or 30 years ago. It also means those employees have rarely, if ever, called in sick over the years. The point is DeMaio has well documented history of getting the facts wrong, exaggerating them or jusy plain lying. Then when caught, he blames others for the errors. Huh? DeMaio is a bomb thrower. He loves the attention it bring his way. His ethics, or lack thereof, should concern every voter. For a man who will say anything just to keep the light focus on himself is a narcissist.— March 4, 2010 9:12 a.m.
Work for a Government and Rake in Bucks
Don: In response to post #7 You said, "In municipalities in which a public employee's retirement pay is based on his/her last year of compensation, supervisors make sure the person gets lots of overtime that last year to guarantee a fat pension. As you point out, there are multiple abuses, and technically insolvent cities aren't riding herd on them. However, taxpayers are aware of them. We are going to hit a wall. Best, Don Bauder" In the City San Diego, which is the context of most of your blogging about "municipal pensions"....Overtime, no matter how much of it you work and earn DOES NOT FACTOR IN WHEN calculating an employees' pension benefit. It is specifically excluded by statues and regulation in San Diego and you know it. Your comment in Post #7 is an untrue statement in context of the City of San Diego.— March 4, 2010 8:32 a.m.
San Diego 9th Most Popular Retirement Location
Yes the cost of living is high, some may call it stratospheric, but I recall our former Mayor, Governor and U.S. Senator, Pete Wilson intimated it's the Sunshine Tax... And I thought good old Pete was a conservative. Turns out he was taxing us way back when. Personally I can’t imagine living anywhere else. My career nets me enough moolah to pay my share of “the tax”, and retirement, in the not too distant future looks doable even with the high cost of living in America's Finest City. Others choose to leave for cheaper pastures, as the high cost of living makes it hard to survive. I say fine, more room for those who choose to stay. The great weather with beautiful sunshine, miles of beaches, tiny bikinis, and all the other attraction we have in our little corner of the Country should make San Diego #1 on the list. But number nine is fine with me. So fellow Reader pundits, is the sunshine tax worth it?— March 4, 2010 8:16 a.m.
Journal Mentions San Diego in Chapter 9 Story
Funny... I thought Mr. Goldsmith said he was unable to find any case, in the nation, where a federal bankruptcy judge had altered the vested pension benefits. I don't believe he said they couldn't be changed, just that he found no case where they had been changed. In previous municipal bankruptcy cases of Orange County in the 90's and Vallejo, currently ongoing, the court did not and has not changed the pension benefits. If BillyBobHeny/Johnny Vegas/Surfpuppy619 wants to give us the citation on a bankruptcy case where the court changed the vested pension benefits of government workers I'd love to read it. Johnny also says Vallejo has spent $5 million on their bankruptcy so far but what he conveniently leaves out info on the size of the bankruptcy. Comparing San Diego to Vallejo is like saying apples and oranges are fruits. They both are but both have completely different favors. San Diego is not insolvent and many people question if Vallejo was too. Besides how can be anywhere near insolvency when our Mayor, Jerry Sanders, wants to build all these new monuments...a new city hall, a new Charger Stadium, a new Central Library and an expanded Convention Center. Seem we're with flush in cash and plenty of financing according to our Mayor.— February 20, 2010 4:03 p.m.
Pension Costs Reach 69% of City Payroll, Says DeMaio
No I tend to think of it as the pendulum swinging more toward center where it wants to rest. After years of being on the short end, then in more recent times at the long end, it is coming back to center. Finding a reasonable balance point somewhere in the middle would, in the long run, be better for all involved.— February 8, 2010 6:48 a.m.
Surprise: Union-Tribune Solicits Employee Suggestions
New times, new thoughts. Maybe there is a flickering candle at the end of the SDUT's long dark tunnel of demise. Taking ideas from those actually "doing" the major lifting to get the paper published each day seems like a wise move.— February 7, 2010 4:21 p.m.
Pension Costs Reach 69% of City Payroll, Says DeMaio
Carl DeMaio goes to the ends of the Earth to spew forth his message. The problem, sometimes he just wrong. Here is an update from the Voice of San Diego on the bankruptcy in Vallejo. Many municipalities around the state have been keeping an eye on this one. And, if I might add, Jan Goldsmith's statement about Bankruptcy Courts not touching Pension Benefits is still holding true. Here is the link: http://voiceofsandiego.org/government/thehall/art…— February 6, 2010 1:58 p.m.
Enron Revisited: City Pension Fund in No Better Shape
Well maybe.... but it is the best justice system, bar none, in the World. All Americans should feel secure knowing their Government MUST prove guilt BEYOND a "REASONABLE" doubt. Our founders knew how governments, monarchs, dictators or self-proclaimed rulers could abuse those subject to their laws. Forcing our Government to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt is one of the best safeguards against oppression. If the government falls short of this requirement, or, in rare cases there is jury nullification, so be it. Our system is light years ahead of justice systems in other large nations such as China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and on and on...— January 28, 2010 1:07 p.m.