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San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
All the regulars here know pensions are a percentage of the BASE salary, NOT including overtime. Don’t believe me? Visit www.SDCERS.org and read the pension rules and formulas for yourself. The UT knows it and so does Councilmember DeMaio. Why don't they mention it or choose NOT to disclose this openly? Because they want to spin information and opinion to their advantage. Seems there are some ethical issues with both of them. Let's consider the firefighters who earned extra money during the wildfire storms. FEMA and the State paid for or reimburse the City for these costs. Funny how that's omitted isn't it? Regarding cops: if one works the DUI patrol for OT, that money comes back from the State and Feds in the form of grants aimed at combating drunk drivers. Again no direct cost to City taxpayers. But carefully omitted...hmmmm there seems to be a trend. What about overtime at a Padre or Charger game, that OT is paid for by the teams. Yes, Don is correct, the Chargers have a sweetheart deal but others NOW pay full boat costs INCLUDING the costs associated with benefits. Why the Chargers still get away with these reduced rates is beyond me. Maybe Jerry S or Jay G have an answer as why these contracts have not been amended over Jerry's last three years???? The bottom line is this - SDPD and the SDFD are the lowest staffed (per capita) major city police and fire departments in the United States. Just because they don’t have the people, doesn’t mean the job isn’t there to be done. So you have two choices: either hire more people or pay overtime. It's the City that has the hiring authority not the labor groups. It's the City who decides to pay overtime rather than hire full time employees. Why? Because it MORE COST effective to pay overtime without any benefits then to pay for the cost of a new employee WITH the associated benefits cost. Now I will sit back to be called a liar by the likes of “Johnny Vegas”. While this is a common occurance, it is equally common that they fail to post alternative facts and sources that prove what I say is false. Visit SDCERS and grab a city budget. Read it for yourself.— February 4, 2009 11:47 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Here is more interesting news out of Vallejo. With the reality of the pending bankruptcy and possible eviseration of their contracts by the courts, more union groups are falling in line. IBEW Vice President Ken Shoemaker said after the hearing he remains hopeful about reaching a new contract deal soon. Shoemaker added that recent negotiations look positive, but is withholding judgment on the latest proposal until he sees it in writing. Read more here: http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_11624376— February 4, 2009 6:49 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Well knock me over with a feather. Mr. Vegas posts another useless troll like comment that adds nothing. The fact is Vallejo and one of its labor groups came to an agreement to start towards fiscal responsibility. Nothing more. The other groups will fall in line and progress, not obstruction will be made.— January 30, 2009 2:50 p.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
It's my understanding this new contract is the first step in moving towards long term solutions for getting costs under control. My point, there are steps that can be taken, and solutions negotiated, where all parties come together for good. Now that Vallejo's PD has reached an agreement, other labor groups in the city will follow suit. Its all driven by the two emotions, fear and greed. They seem to have great influence over our decisions about financial stability. In the Vallejo situation I suspect the fear of bankruptcy and the unknown results thereof were, and will be, the motivating factors that led to, and will lead to future agreements. I'm sure public employee labor groups all over the State are watching with great interest to see what happens. San Diego's groups are in a similar situation. The difference being San Diego's revenues sources are much more diverse than Vallejo, who really depended heavily on the presence of the Naval facilities.— January 30, 2009 12:59 p.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Vallejo acts to keep new police pact By JESSICA A. YORK/Times-Herald staff writer "Vallejo's attorneys filed a request in federal bankruptcy court Wednesday to remove a plan to reject the city's contract with police officers. The move came the day after the City Council voted 5-2 to approve an updated contract for the police labor group." As I said before progress can be made when the parties work together to find solutions.— January 30, 2009 10:15 a.m.
Guess Who's San Diego's Newest Author: Michael Ellis of Metabolife, Writing from Prison
Regrettably I too personally knew someone who passed away from complications tied to use of ephedra products from a now defunct San Diego company.— January 29, 2009 10:20 a.m.
Guess Who's San Diego's Newest Author: Michael Ellis of Metabolife, Writing from Prison
I agree with Mr. Vegas when he wrote, "Ephedrine had (has) numerous verified and documented deaths related to it's use, the notion that it was pulled for anything other than for safety is preposterous." It's hard for me to believe I agreed with something Mr. Vegas wrote on a blog.— January 29, 2009 8:48 a.m.
Guess Who's San Diego's Newest Author: Michael Ellis of Metabolife, Writing from Prison
Well lets hope you get a free copy of his book. Paying money for it makes no sense whatsoever. Our culture should not support people of Mr. Ellis' ilk in any way.— January 29, 2009 8:44 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
There's no longer a point to this thread. It doesn't resemble in anyway whatsoever the original article even though I attempted to steer it back a few times. No, threads like these have become a place for rhetoric from opposing sides nothing more, with neither side budging. Even when proper factual documentation is put forth, Mr. Vegas ignores it so he can continue this no matter what. The city has begun the process of meet and confer with its labor groups. I note for the record that an agreement was reached in Vallejo. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_11570926?sour… The Vallejo City Council voted 5 to 2 late Tuesday night for a controversial and heavily debated deal that will mean fewer cops on the streets, but also could save millions for the bankrupt city. My point, things can get better when all parties work toward a solution. Will it solve their problems overnight? Nope. Is it a step in the right direction, you bet. So until Johnny makes some more ridiculous, troll like statements, I'm done here.— January 28, 2009 9:30 a.m.
San Diego City Employees pension fund ailing
Wrong again John... I know people who entered DROP as recently as a couple of years as safety member using the old formulas earing a retirement in excess of 90%. Three factors made the difference, age, years of service and the Corbett settlement.— January 27, 2009 5:35 p.m.