Council Meeting Tonight
DID YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK?
You will recall that I gave you a homework assignment last Friday, HERE, which I suppose most of you failed to complete. :-) As you go back over that entry you'll see some provocative issues and a couple that will potentially affect every person living in or visiting our city. The biggest one is our fire protection.
FINALLY!
The long-awaited report on the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) proposal to provide fire and emergency medical services to Costa Mesa will be discussed at length tonight. The staff report and attachments are available for viewing on the city web site. Based on information I've received it seems like the Costa Mesa firefighters are in support of making this change, even though it will cost many of them dollars and benefits. The discussion will be interesting, for sure.
GOOD VIDEO+MORE
Here's a little video that tells you just a little snippet about the OCFA. After you watch it, also click on the most recent monthly report, because it gives you a much better feel for the organization. Take a few minutes to watch them, and others that are also available at the site.
WILL COUNCIL TAKE A "FURLOUGH" DAY IN AUGUST?
I'm also going to be
interested in hearing the rationale for canceling the August 16th council meeting. I find myself wondering if the council will take a "furlough" day if there's no meeting. I mean, they're asking everyone else to sacrifice in these difficult fiscal times - how about them? Will they give up half their monthly stipend in August? They could save the city a whole $2,261.00 by doing so.
WILL WE HAVE A QUORUM?
I expect the meeting tonight to be very interesting. I wonder how many council members will show up tonight and give us a rare full dais? We'll see.
You will recall that I gave you a homework assignment last Friday, HERE, which I suppose most of you failed to complete. :-) As you go back over that entry you'll see some provocative issues and a couple that will potentially affect every person living in or visiting our city. The biggest one is our fire protection.FINALLY!
The long-awaited report on the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) proposal to provide fire and emergency medical services to Costa Mesa will be discussed at length tonight. The staff report and attachments are available for viewing on the city web site. Based on information I've received it seems like the Costa Mesa firefighters are in support of making this change, even though it will cost many of them dollars and benefits. The discussion will be interesting, for sure.
GOOD VIDEO+MORE
Here's a little video that tells you just a little snippet about the OCFA. After you watch it, also click on the most recent monthly report, because it gives you a much better feel for the organization. Take a few minutes to watch them, and others that are also available at the site.
You Can Count On Us from Orange County Fire Authority on Vimeo.
WILL COUNCIL TAKE A "FURLOUGH" DAY IN AUGUST?
I'm also going to be
interested in hearing the rationale for canceling the August 16th council meeting. I find myself wondering if the council will take a "furlough" day if there's no meeting. I mean, they're asking everyone else to sacrifice in these difficult fiscal times - how about them? Will they give up half their monthly stipend in August? They could save the city a whole $2,261.00 by doing so.WILL WE HAVE A QUORUM?
I expect the meeting tonight to be very interesting. I wonder how many council members will show up tonight and give us a rare full dais? We'll see.
Labels: Orange County Fire Authority
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 7/19/2011 08:58:00 AM
15 Comments:
Sorry...a Union Thug ate my homework....
I did some homework to see how much money the hired gun for public relations, Bill Lobdell, earns compared to cops who carry real guns and fire fighters who go into burning buildings.
In a year, Lobdell’s $3000 per week adds up to about $150,000. That’s total compensation, out of which he has to pay his own pension, insurance, etc.
So, how many public safety personnel – people who actually risk death when they do their jobs – make less money than the PR guy who might at worst suffer paper cuts?
More than you might guess … 47 total (30 cops and 17 fire fighters) made less total compensation in the year 2010 than Lobdell can make in a year. And their total compensation, of course, includes pension, insurance, etc.
In addition, they had to work overtime hours to get their totals, whereas Mr. Lobdell doesn’t need to work more than a straight 40 hours per week to earn his $150,000 per year even though he has to be on guard against paper cuts.
Employee compensation for 2010 can be found at http://www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us/UserFiles/File/CostaMesaCompListCY10-20110310.pdf
Tom - the math is $120K for 8.5 months. What gets me is that, at my best account, he has been paid for 7 press releases, about $9,064 per release; even if he has done one a week (a little over 11 weeks) is about $1,285 per.
Not bad money if you can get the work!
Just think Geoff you do 5 time the work, with accurate facts...
FOR FEE...
NOW who's look'n like the fool? :p
LOL
OCLonghair, you just have not received the bill yet... :-)
So what are we saying here... Geoff West for communications director at about 2/3 the price of Lobdell? Why not? West has the contacts, he is smart and computer savvy and is beholden to no one. Shall we start a draft campaign?
Hold on there, amigo... who said anything about 2/3 the price?! Besides, the job wouldn't be nearly as much fun as this is.. :-)
Mr. Egan: Lobdell's position is higher than that of a cop, he is in a management position. Overpaid, I would say by maybe 10K or 20K. One more cop has been killed in CM in 58 years than have public relations managers for the city and there are a lot more cops than pr managers so the ratio shrinks. Should cops be paid as much as taxi drivers who have a much more dangerous line of work? give me the "short" answer please. In addition, we have seen the cops' communication skills at work in the blogs and they do not compare to Lobdell's unless you count the hilarious goodbye letter of Stavely.
Alright then, we'll make it 120% of Lobdell's salary, plus health insurance, vacation pay, sick pay and paid personal days. Plus, we'll throw in retirement retroactive to your 55th year at 90% of your most recent salary and make it almost impossible for you to get fired unless you commit a felony while you are on the job. That should put you even with the union folks.
unanimous:
Yes.
Should cops be paid more than taxi drivers, the short version:
Yes, they protect and serve and deal with a lot of bad guys. Cab drivers drive, mostly a drunks home from the bar...that's it. I wouldn't feel all that safe being protected by a bunch of cabbies.
And Lobdell has definitely traded in his well-regarded journalism credentials to instead be a shill for these clowns.
No, I'm not a cop... or a city worker. Just a guy that's glad we don't have to rely on cabbies for our protection, but appreciates them when I need a lift home from the bar.
Mike 1: What "well-regarded" credentials? By whom? Lobdell publicly trashed newspapers during his failed online publishing venture, but then found it OK to go to work for one when he needed a job. He also teamed up with known ex-con con man Barry Minkow to shake down big companies and has been re-inventing himself every few years. He is a chameleon who will stick with this city hall job only until he finds some other shiny new object that catches his attention. Remember who you're talking about: He wrote that he once prayed for $50,000 and got it. That was while the rest of us were praying for world peace.
Fair enough...
Unanimous:
First, 2 cops died in Costa Mesa in the line of duty (Ketchum / Libolt) . Another was shot by a bad guy and retired around 15-20 years ago. Another motorcycle officer was taken out by a DUI driver; he is medically retired and will never be whole again.
Countless police officers and firefighters have been injured and lost their profession due to work related injuries. Heart issues, back issues, knee issues, cancer, MRSA, hepatitis...the list goes on and on. All of those mentioned above have and continue to happen to our safety people. They are PRESUMED injuries. In simple worker's comp circles, that means its anticipated and accepted that it happens because of the type of work. Perhaps a better measure would be to compare worker injuries and forced medical retirements.
It's likely the reason that there are few deaths, is that cops and firefighters are continuously training and are well educated in their craft (especially in So. Cal/ Orange County). They are mobile risk managers. They assess risk and mitigate it whenever possible. For example, two nights ago, a man attempted suicide, shooting himself. The wife fled out of the house, but he was left inside injured and with the gun. CMFD does not rush in, nor does the PD. Resources are brought in, including a ballistic shield and less than lethal force options. It took a few minutes, but the suspect and weapon were secured, and he was rendered medical aide.
Do you want to be in the line of guys going in, praying he doesn't fire rounds at you, injuring or killing you or one of your team, or forcing us to finish the job for him? Do you want a cabbie, 7-11clerk or Alaskan crab fisherman doing that? You didn't hear about that, because it didn't go badly. The news people have no interest. Yet that is what we do on a regular basis.
I have missed more of my family events and children's milestones than I care to admit. I don't recall the last time I was able to work a 40 hr workweek, and enjoy your upcoming holiday season, because I'll be working or sleeping during the day with our shiftwork. And yes, I did sign on for this, and in spite of recent events its still a great job, dept. and community for those who value honor and sense of duty.
Tom Egan, thanks for educating yourself. Geoff, thank you for being a straight shooter and providing this forum.
Unanimous...Lobdells position is not higher than a cop or firefighter or any other public employee position, he is a bottom feeder opportunist being overpaid by a group of corrupt failed "businessmen" his position should be a part time or collateral duty of somebody in the city managers (I refuse to say ceo) office. The fact the city is wasting $12,000 a month for a few press releses and the so called fact checks is sickening. Anyone who suports this council and their free spending ways on what THEY want really needs to take a good look at how this city has started deteriorating in the past 6 months and ask where it will be in another 6 months.
Lobdell..."Lost his Religion" and ever since has been selling his soul.....
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