The Week Ahead - and More
PLANNING COMMISSION TODAY
Today, Monday, October 10th, the Planning Commission holds a regularly-scheduled monthly meeting in council chambers at City Hall beginning at 6:00 p.m. The commission has a packed agenda which is always a good thing. A busy Planning Commission means building is happening in our city. The full agenda is available at the City web site. One interesting item is at the end of the agenda. Transportation Services Manager Raja Sethuraman provides an excellent report on the current status of the SR-55 Access Study, the staff report for which you can read HERE.
PERS STUDY SESSION TOMORROW
On Tuesday, October 11th, the City Council will hold a study session at which pension consultant John Bartel will present an update on the PERS retirement system and give
the council his view on the future of OUR pension situation, including the under-funded liability question. This presentation is a re-start from a recent council meeting, when his presentation was cut short because he had to fly home to northern California. Tuesday plenty of time has been allocated - maybe 3-4 hours. NOTE: This meeting was to have been held in Conference Room 1A, but early this morning it was re-scheduled for the City Council chambers, apparently in anticipation of a larger-than-normal crowd of interested observers. This meeting begins at 4:30, will run as long as Bartel needs and will be followed immediately by a closed session meeting to discuss labor negotiations.
OCTOBER 20TH - BANNING RANCH
The remai
nder of the month also holds some interesting meetings. On Thursday, October 20th, a joint session will be held with the City Council, Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission at which the Banning Ranch will be discussed by both sides of the issue. This meeting will, inexplicably, be held in the Police Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Police Headquarters - a venue that may be much too small, considering the number of participants and potential interested residents and other parties. It begins at 4:30 p.m.
OCTOBER 25TH - WORKERS COMPENSATION STUDY SESSION
On October 25th the council will hold a special study session in Conference Room 1A to discuss the City's Workers Compensation situation. That meeting also begins at 4:30.
NEW "OLD FAITHFUL" IN NEWPORT MESA?
To find out, read the most recent E-Briefing, HERE. It includes lots of great, timely information, including comments about some of the things I mentioned above. Sign up to receive this excellent communication device each week.
Photo credit: Costa Mesa Interim Assistant CEO Peter Naghavi via E-Briefing
Today, Monday, October 10th, the Planning Commission holds a regularly-scheduled monthly meeting in council chambers at City Hall beginning at 6:00 p.m. The commission has a packed agenda which is always a good thing. A busy Planning Commission means building is happening in our city. The full agenda is available at the City web site. One interesting item is at the end of the agenda. Transportation Services Manager Raja Sethuraman provides an excellent report on the current status of the SR-55 Access Study, the staff report for which you can read HERE.PERS STUDY SESSION TOMORROW
On Tuesday, October 11th, the City Council will hold a study session at which pension consultant John Bartel will present an update on the PERS retirement system and give
the council his view on the future of OUR pension situation, including the under-funded liability question. This presentation is a re-start from a recent council meeting, when his presentation was cut short because he had to fly home to northern California. Tuesday plenty of time has been allocated - maybe 3-4 hours. NOTE: This meeting was to have been held in Conference Room 1A, but early this morning it was re-scheduled for the City Council chambers, apparently in anticipation of a larger-than-normal crowd of interested observers. This meeting begins at 4:30, will run as long as Bartel needs and will be followed immediately by a closed session meeting to discuss labor negotiations.OCTOBER 20TH - BANNING RANCH
The remai
nder of the month also holds some interesting meetings. On Thursday, October 20th, a joint session will be held with the City Council, Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission at which the Banning Ranch will be discussed by both sides of the issue. This meeting will, inexplicably, be held in the Police Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Police Headquarters - a venue that may be much too small, considering the number of participants and potential interested residents and other parties. It begins at 4:30 p.m.
OCTOBER 25TH - WORKERS COMPENSATION STUDY SESSION
On October 25th the council will hold a special study session in Conference Room 1A to discuss the City's Workers Compensation situation. That meeting also begins at 4:30.
NEW "OLD FAITHFUL" IN NEWPORT MESA?
To find out, read the most recent E-Briefing, HERE. It includes lots of great, timely information, including comments about some of the things I mentioned above. Sign up to receive this excellent communication device each week.Photo credit: Costa Mesa Interim Assistant CEO Peter Naghavi via E-Briefing
Labels: Banning Ranch, CalPERS, SR-55, Workers Compensation
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 10/10/2011 09:50:00 AM
33 Comments:
Here’s what I think is our City’s biggest issue right now, but don’t wait for the Pot Stirrer to bring it up.
It causes me great pain to watch people talk about what happened in the past or that a Business License Fee increase should go on a ballot a year from now. None of those matter. Right now all that matters is how the Unions will respond to a City letter. I hope that transparency will allow the public to see how the Unions respond. None of this employment privacy crap.
I do believe that the City needs to look at everything right now. Outsourcing is being done by choice in Newport Beach and by force in Santa Ana. Outsourcing is a reasonable exercise. But the largest opportunity for meaningful savings comes from Public Safety.
To get a recent and relevant example of how our Cops think check out comments under “Councilmania”. “HadEnuf” I believe is a Cop @ CMPD. He has intimate knowledge and Chief Snowden has indicates he served with the individual. I surmise then that “HadEnuf” is an individual with time and rank to be around from eh Snowden days.
So let’s have a look at how Cops think. “HadEnuf”, who has had enough, but has not left CMPD. Why is that?
QUOTE from comments of “HadEnuf:
“ABLE was the perfect example- it could have continued for 2 full years at 0 cost to the city. How much consideration did they give to Adderton's public/private partnership idea?”
Zero cost everyone, zero, or FREE. Cops think tax payers money is FREE to them and that they are entitled to it. The fact that taxpayers funded the reserves is lost on Cops & Firemen. Doesn’t this infuriate you?
Then Rob Dimel pops in to say hello. Everyone realizes that Dimel is the Vice President of the Costa Mesa Police Assn., right? So Dimel will be involved in responding to the City. Let’s see what they do or do not come up with, and hold both the Association and Council accountable to the response. I look forward to the transparent process.
Lastly question for Dimel and “HadEnuf”. I have observed both of you support Public Safety, the compensation and benefits. Demanding job & can get hurt and injured.
Can you please respond to the issue I became aware of when told that the people who fly Adderton’s helicopter are often active duty CMPD Pilots. Is this true?
My concern is that with all the logic that supports comp & bennies, why take the overtime? If true, do you see the issue that CMPD is getting paid? Paid then supporting the Adderton proposal? What about the fact that our tax dollars went to train you and now some may have gone to the private sector to monetize that City investment? While on active duty. What if someone got hurt? I thought the structure of 4-10’s was so that CMPD would be fresh on the job. Not get rich & retire to the beach?
I think at this point, everyone agrees savings need to be found. The argument all along, though, is this council has chosen to approach this like a bull in a china shop, and now nobody trusts them. All they had to do was go by the book, but they refuse because they're the smartest guys in the room and clearly the only ones who know what they are doing.
Of course, they haven't earned our trust, either. Follow the money on this Big League Dreams deal - it won't be pretty. When the book is finally written on the shenanigans of this city council(maybe we'll get lucky and Michael Lewis can do it), and these guys are run off the reservation, their supporters will FINALLY get why people are so ticked off!
“ABLE was the perfect example- it could have continued for 2 full years at 0 cost to the city. How much consideration did they give to Adderton's public/private partnership idea?”
I could spend hours educating you on this subject, but frankly you are not worth my time. ABLE's true hourly operating cost were lower than what we are currently paying. ABLE had a large reserver (paid by Costa Mesa & Newport Beach) in place for helicopter replacement. Since replacement helicopters were not needed, this money could have been used to support ABLE for a few years while some type of solution was worked out.
ABLE was the gold standard of service and efficiency for air support service across the country. It was run like a business and was used / paid for by agencies across Orange County. Yes...helicopters are expensive, but they also save lives. Water rescues, firefighting or just watching over officers and public, ABLE (Newport & Costa Mesa) was proud to do it for over thirty years! ABLE was thrown away because of politics…..
"Can you please respond to the issue I became aware of when told that the people who fly Adderton’s helicopter are often active duty CMPD Pilots. Is this true?"
What I do during my free time is none of your concern. I have never flown Adderton's helicopter on duty. Costa Mesa no longer requires my skills as a helicopter pilot (they threw that away with the rest of the program) and I see no issue with doing what I love during my free time.
I'm still confused about your last paragraph…Do you feel you own me because I received training from ABLE and CMPD?
Feel free to check out ABLE on Facebook to see why we are so proud of what we did for the community.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/ABLE-Airborne-Law-Enforcement/192812984089369
Pilot/Officer R.Walker
Good riddance to ABLE! We love the Huntington Beach program and so does everyone that I've ever talked to. Yet to meet one person who wants ABLE back. Times are changing, our Police Officers need to evolve. Hope they will!!
ABLE Pilot Ryan Walker, $177K in salary and benefits in 2010. Over 3times the salary of the Costa Mesa median household
Now wonder Mr. Walker wants to keep ABLE. At $177k, wouldn't you??
Last time I checked, we're not paying HB pilots $177k a year to patrol our City.
Great example of what's wrong with our system!! Thankfully, our elected leaders are finally fixing this.
@ “Cops Should not be…”
Let me first start with your basic premise. Are you saying that because we are employed as police officers, we do not enjoy the protections of the 1st Amendment while we are off-duty? That as a private citizen, on my own time, I am not allowed to voice an opinion or point of view as a resident of this city? If so, I find that interesting.
Yes, I posted on something here in the past week. I specifically stated some factual budget numbers to dispute false claims of budget numbers given by council. You don’t exactly address that issue, yet attack the messenger, not the message. Again, curious. It’s not that taxpayer money is free to the employees. It’s not that anyone is entitled to it. However, the point that “HadEnuff” was making was that the ABLE reserves were there specifically for ABLE and have been for some time. The “Zero cost” statement simply means that to continue to operate ABLE off those reserves (as they were intended) would not impact the municipal budget. In fact until the assets are sold etc, those reserves are tied up. So, why not use them for their intended purpose? I think that was his point.
Also, let me address your last paragraph about “active duty” CMPD pilots. In short, there are none. We were all laid off, then reclassified/rehired as police officers. We have a skill set that is usable in both the public and private sector. That I choose to ON MY OWN TIME put that skill set to use is my choice. I am not being paid “overtime” to fly for any of the side ventures I work in. None of it has anything to do with the City of Costa Mesa and the remuneration for such work does not come from the city. The fact that the taxpayers paid for training is frankly, irrelevant (I have a skill set from the military too, am I supposed to be beholding to the taxpayer for that too?). If that point is going to be an issue for you, perhaps, you should have fought to keep the ABLE program, so that the taxpayers could benefit from the skill set. As you know, Mr. Adderton’s proposal to the city is dead. We are stuck with HB. So, again I think you missed the mark.
And finally, your silly question “what if someone gets hurt?” What if? What if I get in an auto accident off-duty? Break a leg snow boarding? So what? Not the city’s problem, not your problem. It’s mine.
And Dimel, can't forget him, and $192,500 in salary/benefits. So between just 2 of the ABLE Pilots that blog on here, we were paying$370k a year to just fly the thing what, 5 hours a day. Not to maintain it, not fuel it, just fly it for 5 hours a day. Are you kidding me?? How do you defend that nonsense approach to air patrol?
Officers, thank you for your service. Rightfully so, exercise your bumping rights and keep your salary and jobs. We do appreciate your service. The City is moving on to a new, more sane and fiscally respectable helicopter program. ABLE just never made sense. It is not coming back, nor should it. It cannot be defended.
MAX, first, you are an idiot. Keep your white helmet on since its clear you have hit your head on the wall way too much.
Able pilots TOTAL comp is $177k and you have a problem with that, and I understand since IN your profession you probably asking SUPER SIZE? FRIES? to every customer.
But lets get real here. Helicopter pilots/officers need about 6 to 7 years of training just to reach that career. In education terms that is almost a MASTERS DEGREE.... so what is the median income for a person with a masters degree????? A professional???? Hummmmm I could name off hundreds of companies with employees with MASTERS that get a hell of a lot more then $177k / year , and they get company cars, expense accounts, etc.
The un-educated/lazy people that expect someone else to take care of them can't complain they are making what a PROFESSIONAL, EDUCATED , AND SKILLED WORKER GETS.
Costa Mesa median income is $80,000 but that ranges from the $8/ hr burger king server to the CEO making $1 million.
ps-- tell me MAX after working for 30yrs at Mcdonalds, do you get free fries for life?
@ Barry…I have no issues with the Huntington Beach Air Support Unit and in fact we worked very closely with them for years. That being said, you have no clue what you are talking about and are obviously regurgitating the party line. At the very least understand what ABLE did for you for 30 years before disrespecting a unit that two officers died for.
@ Max…Ha, I knew that was coming. The truth is that I don't really make 177K like the spin doctors would like you to think. I'm a highly trained professional that has dedicated the last 10 years of my life to the city of Costa Mesa and make a comparable wage to other officers at surrounding agencies. I live a modest life style and I'm not lighting $100 bills in my mansion like you would like to believe.
As far "wanting to keep ABLE" for the money…ABLE is gone and I have come to terms with that. I defend ABLE because I truly believe we made a difference every day.
Wow Max, were you not qualified to become a police officer and is that why you are so angry towards them? You too could of worked toward that goal and you too could be making the salary and benefits you so covet and are envious about. You could of also trained to become a helicopter pilot and worked for a private or public agency. No police officer in Costa Mesa will ever be out of work because of this council. They are highly sought after by other cities who value a highly trained and professional force and they will still be able to work in other fields on their own time and choosing. Your whining does not change anything but make you look like the classic case of sour grapes.
Cops...
How original... NOT!
Again, you have demonstrated your lack of originality and intellect. All you do is regurgitate what you hear while sitting around with other lemmings; sipping beers at an Irish pub. I would suggest you sober up and attempt to entertain an original thought or idea; in doing so, you may find it more rewarding and without the nasty hangover.
______________________
And Barry... you didn't ask me. That piece of schitza HB chopper flies over my house 5 times a day, at all hours and is noisy as hell.
When we had ABLE it flew higher and was much, much, MUCH quieter.
You should consider leaving your house once in a while and attend a public sponsored event. I assure you, you will find plenty of your neighbors who want ABLE instead of that piece of schitza HB chopper.
Mike - Agreed. I wouldn't mind my public lands stolen and sold to their buddies, people laid off haphazardly yet money spent on stupid crap, if they weren't such amateurs about it. Steve needs to go back to that cow town in the central valley he's from and practice his big man act there, cause it's laughable here. You have high class professional people living in this city and you think your over the hill dumb frat boy crap is going to fly ?
And bull in a china shop indeed. Jim Riggie - huffing and puffing, pushing people around isn't leadership. It's weakness. It's lack of intelligence, wisdom and empathy, all points of a good leader. When you have people in this city who deal with people, or who are themselves, leaders at the highest level of their profession . . and then see CC meeting after meeting, with your underwhelming, pitiful performance ? OCGOP must have a shallow bench, or you called in a lot of favors, cause you frankly suck at this, and will be Costa Mesa's worst Mayor. Forever and always. Skosh will be number 2, which fits really.
Max, were you offended by a comment I made? Just wondering why you would start using a screen name that you know isn't yours? Anyone that reads this on a regular basis knows what's going on.
Your posts are absurd by the way.
I would argue republicans shouldn't be in politics but unfortunately that will never happen.
Some of you have forgotten that "Cops" are people, fathers, husbands, and citizens of the USA that grants freedom of speech. For me, I am thankful these fine men and women have chosen a field of work dedicated to protecting the citizens of our fair (but faltering) city. I have urgently needed the protection and services of our fine officers and firemen as well. They were here for me and my family, can't say the same for our current city council men. I am thrilled see Officer Walker speak up, so many city employees and respected citizens of our community are afraid of the known silent retaliation of these council men. Outsourcing has been in existance for a long time, it is the massive lay-offs without proper research and financial analysis, or consideration of laws and regulations that make me angry. It is the "good ole boys" club attempting to destroy our fine city that make me angry. They do not represent the majority of the cities citizens nor do they respect them.n They are spending more money than they say they are saving.
Tell me again how much sense it makes to hire a YesMan to tell you what you want to hear? For the councilscum, it makes a lot of sense. However, for us residents, it really doesn't.
We've already heard from an expert from PERS. why this dog and pony show? Oh that's right! To put a spin on it and then broadcast it over the joke of a daily video and weekly e-briefings.
Welcome to Costa Mesa LLC, the most transparent and corrupt city since Bell!
Mike M, well said!
So experienced Police Officer Pilots made a total compensation package of 175K to 195K a year?……Gasp. Since Max likes to play number games, lets play!
1. Zillow states the median Costa Mesa home value is currently 488K. That is down from 700K at the 2006 peak.
2. CNN Money says the rule of thumb is to aim for a home that costs about two-and-a-half times your gross annual salary.
3.This means the average home buyer should make approximately 200K a year to afford a median home in the current Costa Mesa. This is down from 280K for anyone who purchased 5 years ago.
Now lets revisit these "over paid" professionals. Their actual gross pay (before taxes) was 125K to 130K a year. If you follow the rules above, they can't afford a median home in Costa Mesa.
Let me remind you that the city is currently paying a PR guy 3,000K a week (156K a year). May I also remind you the city is paying $495 a hour for outsourced legal services. Don't forget the 170K the city paid Management Partners to reorganize the police department only to completely dismiss their suggestions.
Money is "just noise" if it's going to your friends, right Rigster?
Isn't the important focus to see who and how each Association responds to Council?
Does it matter what was offered a year ago? Or suggested for a year from now?
I hope the Associations offer something meaningful. This is their opportunity.
Geoff, what if today we hear Calpers payment next year in the range of $25 million?
Would that cause you to change your tune from being angry at Council to looking off the dias for solutions?
What are your going in expectations regarding Associations and what if anything they will offer our City soon?
If not now then at what point would you advocate course correction and support a changed dialogue?
Messrs. Dimel and Walker. Does the new Chief know that you trash our leaders on this blog? I know it was okay for Shawkey (he was never in town) but there's a new Chief. I will let him know.
Hopefully, the days of this City's Police Department looking more like Fullerton are over.
Oh, and there are plenty of us residents with real screen names and voter registrations that LOVE our new helicopter program.
Please know that not all employees are totally against what is happening in the City. We did not ask OCEA to speak for us and are not always thrilled about what they say.
We don't speak out but we are thankful of our jobs. We see others getting promoted.
I know I want pensions addressed so there will be something for me when I need it.
Rob Dimel is correct - what he does and says on his own time is his business alone.
That said, his statement about off-duty injuries leaves out a kry detail.
If an active CMPD officer injures themselves off-duty, the presumption is that their on-duty working conditions (heavy duty belt, repetitive motions, etc.)may be a contributing or exacerbating factor to the off-duty injury. That means that the citizens of Costa Mesa could be on the hook for those expenses.
MEMO
From: Das Riggmarshal
To: Footsoldiers
Immediately go to Bubbling Cauldron Comments on 10/11/11, rebut police and concerned citizens. Create appearance of people agreeing with my regime.
Trolls:
Ja vol mein Herr!
To those of you that say you love the "new" helicopter program. What about it do you love so much? That it has shown up overhead, making enough noise that you know it's there?
It's response to calls in CM are slow and the officers on the ground think it's just about worthless for the type of help they got from ABLE (which by the way is the main reason for having one). And... actual cost to the city is no less than ABLE when everything is factored in.
The real reason it's being used is because cancelling it all together will be quick and easy down the road.
As far as police officers or any other city employee voicing their personal opinions about what is going on politically in this city, state or country is called living in America and the officers who have voiced their opinions and concerns here have invested a lot more with the city of Costa Mesa than simpletons like Barry and Phil ever will.
@ "employee"
I highly doubt you are an employee. Because if you were truly an employee you know that without ocea's help in hiring Silver & Silver, all of you would have been fired on Sept 17th. As I see it, our miscellaneous employees are not the problem, it's the police and fire that get to retire at 50. Furthermore, our miscellaneous employees contribute all of their PERS portion.
For those who haven't been issued a layoff notice to be outsourced, the council can simply eliminate your position like they did with Larry Grihalva, the city's ems coordinator who go up to speak against them at a council meeting when piggy wanted to hire one of his campaign supporters and privatize our city's ambulance service.
Tell me again who is doing Mr. Grihalva's job? That position was indeed important and now it doesn't exist.
Welcome to Costa Mesa LLC, the most transparent and corrupt City since Bell!
The main problem would be the lies told by the council and their ridiculous 5th floor hires; not police and fire.
Mr. Mesa Verde Resident,
Since you think it's what has caused the economic hardship... how many Costa Mesa police officers and firefighters have retired when they were 50 years old?
How many do you think will in the future?
What do you think the average age of a newly hired police officer is in the city of Costa Mesa and how many years do they have to work to get one of those full pensions?
Before you start saying "police and fire are the problem because they get to retire at 50" try to learn the truth about that instead of just repeating the anti-public safety line.
Do the costs of the PS pensions need to be addressed... Yes but, the false and misleading "they get to retire at 50" is either misinformed or dishonest and neither is the way to start any meaningful change in that direction.
"I motion all city employees be barcoded, gagged, hermetically sealed and strapped down whenever they are not working. Also strip their pay and benefits while your at it."
"The motion passes 4-1, with Leece dissenting"
The PS pensions plan is called 3%@50 by Calpers, blame them for the misunderstanding. You get hired at 29, you get full pension at 59 after 30 years.
PS costs are the main part of personnel costs, that is normal for every city. There is millions that could be saved by basic reforms, like eliminating OT abuses and addressing pers contributions.
PS is smart - they don't have Nick out in front, drawing all attention. Nick is the worst thing to happen to CM employees, he's got nothing to lose and his career is riding on beating Riggy and Mensy. Maybe they'll figure it out in time.
I don't hate police or fire like the council does. I just feel bad for the municipal employees who are getting pink slipped and blamed for "high pension costs" when I can clearly see that they only make up the minority of the pension costs. I think it's an absolute shame that we lost able, lost cops on streets and our fireman not being happy. I just want the political war to be over and have our city healthy again. I know it's impossible with piggy and messy on the council. Is it next November yet?
To Cops Should not be in Politics:
Nice of you to take a snippet from a prior post and try to spin it..
"So let’s have a look at how Cops think. “HadEnuf”, who has had enough, but has not left CMPD. Why is that?
QUOTE from comments of “HadEnuf:
“ABLE was the perfect example- it could have continued for 2 full years at 0 cost to the city. How much consideration did they give to Adderton's public/private partnership idea?”
Dimel hit the nail on the head with it.."The “Zero cost” statement simply means that to continue to operate ABLE off those reserves (as they were intended) would not impact the municipal budget. In fact until the assets are sold etc, those reserves are tied up. So, why not use them for their intended purpose?"
You ask why havent I left the CMPD? Quite simply, in spite of what is going on it was and continues to be a great department with talented and caring employees. There is still great support and connect with the community. What we do makes a difference. We clear violent crime cases like no other agency.
The CMPD and its people are family and are investd in this community.
You bring up that I am a product of the Dave Snowden era. You are absolutely correct. I am very honored and proud to have served for and with Chief Dave Snowden. He gave me my start as a young man and I can largely attribute the person I am today for him giving me that opportunity. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.
With that time frame you should be able to surmise that I am one with tenure and experience. Right again. There are leaders within the organization, formal and informal. Knowing that, and knowing my role within the department, I know that there are some key players that are going to be necessary to move us forward, to pick up the pieces. I will be around to outlast this council and am and will continue to be one of those people.
And before you jump up and down thinking I am "stuck" at Costa Mesa, let me tell you this, it was my choice and a commitment to see things through. I have the resume, background, and credibility that I have 0 issue or concern that I would be picked up by any agency, including working for Chief Dave Snowden again.
I can't speak to guys flying privately except that any who might do so off duty...I don't even like to fly and Dimel and Walker have addressed that.
Finally, Cops no politics, you state:
"I thought the structure of 4-10’s was so that CMPD would be fresh on the job. Not get rich & retire to the beach?"
As far as the schedule, while the 4-10 is cemented in the MOU, any scheduling is done at the benefit of the city and department first and foremost. It is done using supporting statistical analysis of departmental needs for safety coverage based upon calls for service and activity levels; and the best allocation of resources. These are among the main considerations for scheduling; not what those in the private sector who don't work anything comparable are scheduled to work. Various schedules have been tried and implemented over the years, including the 5-8 and 9-80. The research, resources and needs dictate the schedule, whether it be a 4-10, 3-12 or 5-8.
Finally, HadEnuf means this...I have had enuf of the demonizing and villifying of city employees. We just want to be able to come into work, provide good service and feel proud of who we are and what we do for the community. Not be subjected to scorn, ridicule or have our names and community blasted all over the internet and national media.
I love how when there’s no cohesive defense or argument here, the defense becomes “attack and make counter allegations.” Clearly, someone could accuse me of the same, but I have come on here and use my own name, and done nothing but report facts. I have not done so in a disrespectful or disparaging manner. And I won’t. You don’t have to place any credence in what I say, but if you are willing to do a modicum of research, you might learn that your faith in what the council says on many budget issues is misleading and that your faith in their data is misplaced.
Research takes some effort. It seems most folks don’t want to expend the effort; instead, they go on the attack. My pretty simple responses to the topics this past week have generated the following defenses:
Max: The “I have no real defense, I will just regurgitate misleading total compensation numbers to try to shame you defense.” Why don’t we just agree that I make a “bajillion” dollars and the ABLE budget was a “gazillion” dollars. That way anyone watching can understand we are using made up numbers.
Details Matter: The “I will agree with you in part, then throw out another unrelated issue as a diversionary tactic defense.” Thank you for at least agreeing that I get to enjoy the same protections from the 1st Amendment that everyone else does. As far as presumptive injuries goes, an off duty injury does not automatically fall under a presumption. How does that even factor in to my flying an aircraft off duty? Any injury as a result of an accident would clearly be as a result of that accident and a work place presumption would not apply. To use your example of low back injury due to wearing a duty belt, how would that even apply to an accident in an aircraft for example? I’m fairly certain the deceleration injuries and burns due to post crash conflagration would be difficult to tie into a presumptive injury from wearing a duty belt. Not to mention it would be really unethical.
Then there’s Phil L. He uses the old standby: The “counter accuse of corruption” followed by the “I’m gonna tell your dad” defense. Phil it’s one thing for me to come on here and use my own name and politely represent the issues. I don’t think I have been disrespectful or disparaging in any way. Further, by coming here and pointing out misinformation, how does that scream corruption in any way? In fact, I think it demonstrates the opposite. For doing so, you are going lump myself and my colleague in with those accused of using excessive force and homicide? For the record, Phil; if I was afraid to stand behind my comments, I wouldn’t be out here using my real name making them. Perhaps you should read the U.S. Constitution and understand the 1st amendment. and lastly, I live in town too, Phil. I too am a registered voter. That aside, what does that have to do with your "LOVE" of the HB1 helicopter contract? Can you qualify why you love it so much? is it solely financial? If you are interested in meeting some time I would love to hear it. I will even buy the coffee.
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