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San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
On the morphed threat topic here is an interesting analysis that Johnny T. Vegas will like: Miller, a columnist for Governing magazine: "Retroactive pension increases serve no purpose except to buy favors with incumbent union members to get a contract signed ... at the expense of future taxpayers who don't even know what hit them." It's worse than that, actually. It's politicians paying off their own employees in exchange for campaign support, and often campaign cash, to benefit their political careers. If politicians did that for contractors and weren't careful about it, they could end up in prison. So, can we point the finger of responsibility at our political leaders in the late 90's, 2000 and 20001? Was it their greed for political power, to keep it, or gain higher office the root cause of this mess? Were the City management officers, McGrory, Uberraga (sp) Herring et. al all corrupt and so smart they outwitted everyone by getting past the statute of limitation?— February 18, 2009 7:12 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Turning back to the original article, any predictions on what the SDCERS board will do this Friday in regards to the interest crediting rate for, as others have it, the infamous DROP interest crediting rate. With our economy still in a downward spiral, the hit editorial piece that was purposely timed by the UT last Friday and the City's own issues, I expect them to lower the rate by 4 percent or tie it to the five year T-Bill index, resetting each July 1st. Any other predictions?— February 18, 2009 7:03 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Hey Johnny T. Vegas, if you believe the Orange County Case or the SD case is such a WINNER, why WOULDN'T you take it on a contingency basis. To start with you save Orange County tax- payers, 1.5 million right off the top. Then you could negotiate for 10% of whatever the actuarial says you saved the government. 10% or 500M is $5M and just think of the civic duty you'd be doing for your community, for California, for the Nation. Heck, you could turn around this whole economic mess were in all by yourself. And when you win, you LOL and say I told you so! Problem is, all the good lawyers according to you and Don, are losing these cases at the trial level and appellate level...— February 13, 2009 10:04 p.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Response to post #843: If such suits don't get fair hearings in the three steps, the next step will be the bankruptcy court. Best, Don Bauder. "Get a fair hearing", what's the IF imply? It sounds like you've made up your mind before hearing or understanding THE EVIDENCE presented.— February 13, 2009 7:02 p.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Response to Johnny comment in #843 Tentative sment-a-tive... you sound just like the former San Diego City Attorney who was booted out of office. Round 2 and 3 only happen if the plaintiff wants to continue. I believe our current City Attorney, Mr. Goldsmith, is conducting his own analysis of the former City Attorney's litigation. Did I mention he was booted out of office by the voters after a single term? I suspect Mr. Goldsmith's analysis will include a careful examination of the logic behind the trial judge's ruling as well as the appellate court's courts decision. Only then, will he present the arguments, for and against, to City Council to see if they will authorize additional tax dollars to pursue it. The folks in Orange County have dropped $1.5 million into the litigation rat hole...I'm just wondering if they have the stomach and political will to pay a whole lot more of tax dollars to trial lawyers during these economic times. BTW thanks for the advise, but my California Ranch style home, built in the early 50's very comfortable.— February 13, 2009 6:56 p.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Response to #846. Hey Don, news flash: the Mayor won WITHOUT union support and is termed out. He stood up to labor groups, went to impasse, and got concessions too. "They lobby." What are you saying they shouldn't have a voice? Private groups lobby, citizens lobby, non-profits lobby, everyone lobbies in one way or another. Seems like that's a reach if everyone is lobbying. "They try to steer public opinion in their direction." Did the UT, your former employer "try to steer public opinion"? Maybe we should shut them down too! Heck today's lead editorial and cartoon was just another hit piece on the DROP, obviously timed to get under the skin of SDCERS board members who vote next Friday on the rates. "They are behind lawsuits." Which lawsuit are you referring to? If we are a nation of laws, isn't this the proper method of recourse if you cannot reach a settlement in a dispute? While I will admit our entire culture is litigation happy, I believe we should probably point trial lawyers, "ambulance chasers" and attorneys who advertise for clients on TV. Remember Sam Spital? All driven by greed and the belief that I'm entitled to my share too. "Why do you think the mayor is such a whore to unions?" Well, if he's a whore, the unions are the ones who got screwed in their last contract negotiations. Your arguments just don't cut the mustard this time.— February 13, 2009 6:38 p.m.
Names of $100,000 City Retiree Club
As Don said, in another thread, "An Internet troll is one who posts inflammatory or inaccurate information just go get others excited. Johnny, defend yourself. Best, Don Bauder" That defines 90% of Mr. Vegas'posts. He's an angry man. Johnny Vegas: SD Reader's resident Internet Troll.— February 13, 2009 6:15 p.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Johnny: How does that old tune go??? Turn out the lights... the parties over.... A Los Angeles Superior court judge issued a potentially deadly blow this week to the county of Orange in its long-standing lawsuit seeking to rescind generous retirement benefits granted to deputy sheriffs in 2001. The lawsuit has drawn the attention of policymakers and law enforcement unions across the state because a ruling in favor of the county could unravel pension benefits granted to law enforcement officers statewide. Judge Helen Bendix, in a tentative ruling late Tuesday, granted the Orange County sheriff's deputies' motion for dismissal. A final hearing is scheduled for Friday. If Bendix's thinking remains unchanged, it could spell the end of the county's legal challenge, which has already cost taxpayers more than $1.5 million in fees— February 13, 2009 11:42 a.m.
Names of $100,000 City Retiree Club
Hmmm... I'm just wondering... These gross amounts before taxes are paid? So the net would be 30-40% less with these numbers? Do the reported amounts in the cost of their medical benefits? Yes, all of this costs, but if these numbers came from deMaio's office as you claim, they need clarification.— February 13, 2009 11:15 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
That is a great comment, there's no doubt now we'll reach 1000 posts. So, what exactly do public employees Unions "really" do? No, really, it's a serious question, especially in the context of most of this thread, public safety workers. For example, in the City, sworn PD and FF personnel cannot legally strike. And "Job Actions" have been categorized into the same area. Doesn’t this gut the "real" power of unions, where the ability organize and withhold labor IS the big bargaining chip in the game? In San Diego, when impasse over compensation or other issues is reached the city just imposes their last best offer. It happened during last year’s contract negotiation, when Mayor Sanders and the Muni Employees Association (MEA) reach such an impasse, the result the Mayor imposed the city's last best offer. The labor group appealed to the council to override but could not garner enough votes. Does this sound like an all-powerful union to you? Heck they couldn't get a couple of votes to give themselves a raise. True there were some 11th hour negotiations with the unions and each side claimed partial victory while complaining the others were inflexible. This gets back to my original question, what exactly do these unions/association really do? Do they really accomplish it, or are they the ones we like to label as villains? Is our perception of them accurate? I'd argue each side tells its own smoke and mirrors version of the truth. One they've carefully constructed, but the message has to pass through a prism controlled by our local media. And we all know what happens to light when it passes through a prism, it get distorted.— February 13, 2009 7 a.m.