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When Governments Cut Spending, It's Citizens, not Bureaurats, Who Suffer
The problem here is that the beneficiaries of Proposition 13 are both the average homeowner and the industrial giant. Although stripping the commercial loophole would have a tremendous windfall of tax revenue, the taxpayers do not want to tinker with Proposition 13 for fear of losing it. Until people are educated and have a full understanding of the “real problem” with Proposition 13, there can be no intelligent dialog on how to attack it and make the businesses, who by far benefit the most. Start paying for their fair share and end the shenanigans that keep commercial and industrial property from ever having a reassessment. =========== I agree, the problem is once the busienss loop hole is closed, the public employee unions will want to "adjust" the rate for residential owners as well-down the road, in the name of "fairness", or for an "emergency" like education/fire/police/[insert tax hike buzz phrases here] which is just code for raising taxes so the public employees can get more comp.— June 17, 2010 5:34 p.m.
When Governments Cut Spending, It's Citizens, not Bureaurats, Who Suffer
When I was growing up the sales tax was 6%, CA colleges were free (CC). CSU was $150/semester. We had a balanced budget every year with NO deficits. Today the sales tax is over 10% in many counties, CSU is $5K per year and we have not had an on-time, balanced budget without a deficit in 15 years. What changed? Gov employees were not comped over $100K per year-on average- back then. Cops and ff's were not comped anything near the $200K per year they are comped today. All the tax increases have gone directly into the pockets f the gov employees-no better service though, in fact it has left the public with LESS service because of staff cuts. So when you hear about requests for raising taxes-understand exactly where it will go-right into a gov employees pocket-out of your and into theirs. That’s why gov employees have gold plated Cadillac compensation. BTW-out state budget was due yesterday-June 15, it is delinquent July 1.— June 16, 2010 10:44 p.m.
San Diego Gay and Lesbian News, against Gay and Lesbian Times
Did the DA promise them protection if they printed the details? If so, did the DA have the authority to do that? ============= The DA has no legal authority to offer protection. The DA would be in just as much hot water (if not MORE) as the one actually publishing the info......and even if the info IS true they are still liable for invasion of privacy and possibly intentional interferance with economic expectancy.— June 16, 2010 9:56 p.m.
San Diego Gay and Lesbian News, against Gay and Lesbian Times
I worked with Michael Portantino for a very short period in the early 90’s when I was in commercial real estate. He was very honest and totally above board for the short time I dealt with him. Michael Portantino made the right move by suing his former employee, and he should not stop there-but go after everyone who was using that confidential information. The DA investigators have no qualified immunity under these circumstances. Even Dumbass wouldn't have immunity in the investigative stage, if she is involved. It is a clear invasion of privacy- and not only that it could lead to huge liability judgments against anyone who published, or otherwise disseminated that confidential information. You simply cannot allow low life losers like that to do such disruptive things to not only your livelihood, but your life with impunity.— June 16, 2010 9:52 p.m.
San Diego Gay and Lesbian News, against Gay and Lesbian Times
Just think: San Diego had an excellent, fair DA in Ed Miller. ================== We usually agree-but not on Miller. Dale Akiki was a witch hunt, and will forever be linked to Edwin Miller as DA. It was a disgrace. Miller was responsible for launching that witch hunt. Miller and and the prosecuting attorney Mary Avery should have had their law licenses revoked over that case. At the very LEAST, those two should have had to personally PAY the $6 million liability that case cost the county.— June 16, 2010 9:37 p.m.
U-T Editor Brings in Former O.C. Register Pals
You are ancient if, like me, you can remember when the steelworkers, UAW, and rubber workers could -- and did -- shut the country down. Best, Don Bauder ========================= Don, do you remember back in 1986 when PSA airline "stewardesses" went on strike-when the airline unions were very strong? They were making close to $30K then. And they were all picketing PSA at Lindbergh Field in front of the PSA (now Southwest) terminal. They were basically locked out and that was the end of their jobs and union, the union collapsed. Today those same jobs pay LESS than they did in 1986! I think I have said here that the part-time jobs at UPS pay less today than they did in 1985. So yes, the days of the strong private sector unions in America are long gone. And the ONLY reason public unions are strong is because they are not in the free and open market-if they were they would get their clock cleaned. Market forces would push gov employee comp down by 75% or more.— June 16, 2010 9:31 p.m.
When Governments Cut Spending, It's Citizens, not Bureaurats, Who Suffer
You have to feel sorry for those Prichard public retirees..... I don't know if the legal precedent set in the Prichard case will ultimately affect California cities. There is a general belief in California that the pension promises are set in concrete. ================= What is happening to those Prichard, AL retirees is pretty bad-$200/month is ridiculous. It is actually very sad, and for the life of my I don't know how the retirees were NOT able to get the BK court to pay out a reasonable pension. But this case puts to rest the question of whether a BK court can cut vested pensions-they can. The bottom line is Prichard County doesn't have any $$$. This county has filed BK twice within the last 10 years. As for CA, this is a federal case, using federal law. Law that will apply across the country (even though the 13 different federal circuits do not have to follow each other, they do 99.9% of the time). This would most certainly apply to CA.— June 16, 2010 9:21 p.m.
The Big One -- Maybe
Ah, yes, Barrio Station-thanks for jogging my memory. Rachel is very nice.— June 16, 2010 7:55 p.m.
When Governments Cut Spending, It's Citizens, not Bureaurats, Who Suffer
"It seems the grand jury report is looking to bust open the discussion about the irrevocable nature of pension obligations -- which will continue to eat up the city's budget." ================ "...irrevocable nature of pension obligations..." .....Really...........!! I guess Natalie Cohen of National Municipal Research never heard of Prichard Alabama (BTW-this is what our San Diego "retirees" will be saying in about 5 years); http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/1470765/5…— June 16, 2010 5:59 p.m.
Here Are More OC Register Alums in U-T Management
Hey, it's our little secret......— June 16, 2010 5:24 p.m.