Vallejo Independent Bulletin

Daily Scream - December 2008

Comments

Streetsweeper

|January.01.2009

I've been in the hall many times and most of the time members would have beer or two after the meeting. Never seen or heard of problems down at the because of alcohol.

silasbarnabe

|January.01.2009

In my experience alcohol and union meetings don't mix very well.

streetsweeper

|January.01.2009

Psu watch, I did not know shoemaker was deposed in court. No word down where I work. By your words you seem to hold plenty of anger for him. Maybe your the crazy lady on the fourth floor or the other guy thats just as nuts. I hear there only a couple members ****ed about defending contracts in court.Somone said they coplained to the national and had the alcohol removed from the hall. What morons.

Anonymous

|December.31.2008

Was Schivley politcal or honest? Probably political. I never said I didn't hold her accountable, nor Cloutier. They made huge mistakes with their votes (Pearsall, as far as I recall, never even had a chance to vote on any contract).

And you forget the almighty "staff recommendation". Do you actually think Sunga even reads staff reports? Or Pitts ever did? They vote based on staff recommendations. Nichilini at one point was on the negotiating team for the City -- talk about conflict of interests. His direct reports get a raise and so he has to: compaction.

Had
Schivley/Cloutier voted no would that have solved our problem? Absolutely not! You are the one cherry picking. No matter how you slice or dice it, council majorities, funded by the IAFF and pals, voted time and again for contracts spiraling up and up and up.

How could Vallejo have avoided the terrible mess its now in? With the structure of City Government/Union Control, vote buying and staff recommendations, it could never have been averted.

The unions can point to their own leaders for the mess they're in now. Just read Marc's report on Judge McManus's statement. Your PSU pals'
contracts will be on the chopping block and neither the unions or the council will have a say.

Talk about rigid - even people on the side of PSUs (Ron York and Ron DeLord) say that Vallejo's unions went too far and were too greedy.

Henke and Gordon made their beds and now all Vallejoans are catching the fleas, including PSU apologists like you.

Again, Old Timer, what did YOU do in an attempt to avert this crisis? Since you've been around so long, you MUST have done something, spoke out at City Council?

Sounds like you think the PSUs are worth every dollar. At this point,
the only way to keep the PSUs in their current luxury is a tax hike or deep deep cuts to other services.

When are you going to City Hall to recommend one or the other?

Firebug

|December.31.2008

Old timer-
You certainly are a candidate for an overactive mind. You make a lot of presumptions from the two sentences I typed, and the two paragraphs you responded with.

Old Timer

|December.31.2008

Firebug, Anonymous: Cherry picking? If she had voted no, they would have passed anyway? Is this the way you set policy? At least Councilmember Gomes voted NO...but Cloutier, Pearsall and Shively voted yes. Now you tell me if her vote was politcal or honest. I am not trying to judge accountability, just stating facts. You two are so uptight, if anyone disagrees with your logic, you always defend your puppets. Why bring the City Manager or Police Chief into the equation, they ONLY are allowed to follow the policy set by the City Council and where did I put sole blame on Schiviley, I put it on
the former Council (not the current one, like you do) which included all of your idols...Again "Come On" now get real, the problem was not caused by your "bought four", but the ones you cherish so much: Schively, Cloutier & Pearsall?? But why argue with me, you are so set in your ways that nothing can change your rigid minds. By the way I am not a PSU er, but do believe they are getting the short stick on this one. In fact I think Henke and Gordan have done a great job on convincing the former Council to protect us citizens, which is their job and even if they are paid more
than you, they only received what was given to them by YOUR friends on the Council..Have a Happy New Year

Firebug

|December.31.2008

Typical PSU mentality, cherry picking on accountability. They think that Shively with one vote is soley responsible for this mess, like the City manager yet the Chief of Police is responsible for nothing.

Anonymous

|December.31.2008

I jumped at nothing -- you on the other hand want to hold Schivley personally responsible for the mess we're in. Yes she voted for the contracts -- had she not, they would have passed anyway.

With your logic, Old Timer, you are just as responsible as Schivley. What did you do in an attempt to avert the City's current crisis? You've been around for how long? You've had plenty of chances.

I'm waiting for your answer...

PSU Watch

|December.31.2008

Gosh, I wonder if Little Kenny Shoemaker will have Henke there in the deposition to hold his hand? Or maybe he'll be wired with Henke giving him the answers. Because we all know that Little Kenny doesn't know what the heck is going on. Poor guy was so starstruck when Henke gave him some attention and sucked him into the BK battle, he rolled over and peed all over himself. And his own Union.

WATS UP WID DAT

|December.31.2008

Of course the Unions are stalling, for every month they stall they are getting their inflated salaries and benefits. Their motto probably is "you have to spend money to make money." The Unions are telling their members they wont lose in court and it will be worth the money spent. Just like Henke's defamation of character lawsuit, and now the IAFF is on the hook for his fees. What was Henke thinking? Did he really think we thought less of him due to some scrutiny from the council members he sued? Now that would be low... He could care less about the citizens of Vallejo, remember he
lives in Napa, where no one even know who is is (yet.) Many of us see the court battle as Henke's personal vendetta, folks he is gonna lose face when Vallejo prevails in court...

Old Timer

|December.30.2008

Anonymous.....I knew you would jump at th hook. No matter what is said, you always find a way to defend Schivley and if you can't can't you put her on the throne with Councilmember Gomes. I have no problem with Gomes, in fact I believe she is one of the smarter members of the current Council. But Schivley, come on??? She never did anything for her first 8 years and now you think she asks good questions, come on??? If you are REALLY paying attention, you will notice she only mimic's what Councilmember Gomes says and then tries to jump on the bandwagon. Mark my words, she maybe the downfall of
Councilmember Gomes in the long run. You also like to always talk about the many years of bought out Councils, but you never take credit for the previous council (Cloutier, Pearsall, Schivley and yes, Gomes as a rookie) were they bought out?? Did the PSU's own them? Weren't they the majority from 2002-2007? didn't they approve all of the contracts we are now living with? When they came into power, did you ever check to see what are balances were? No you just like to talk about the ones that are there today, because they broke up the majority that caused our downfall. Lets get real and look
at the facts....if you think Schivley is the answer, than I have some Lehman Bros. stock you may be interested in....Come on now get real, if you really believe in helping our City or continue on the same line, if you just like to hear yourself mouth off..By the way, how many names do you really use.....

both right

|December.30.2008

both anonymous & vhs sound right. In addition, if the planning department had stepped up with resolutions to limit the smoke shops, dollar stores and "churches," Vallejo's image would be more respectable today. The only reason Vallejo was able to attract Starbucks is because caffeine and sugar addictions cross socioeconomic boundaries.

VHS	\|December.30.2008

I dont think youre quite at the root of the problem. The way I see it Vallejos core problem is the large poor population. I dont say that to disparage our poor neighbors but a vicious cycle was set up after the Navy shipped so many poor people out here from the Deep South. The presence of this large and troubled population has caused white flight and with that dollar flight. Very few people with any means at all will locate in Vallejo. Very few successful and growing businesses will locate here for lack of skilled labor and intellectual talent. As the more well off people in the community
drift away and the subsidies for poor people continue to roll in, the cycle continues and down we go. The population of people on the council is no different than the population in the schools and local work force. The pool of talent shrinks and there just are not that many quality candidates to choose from. Now we find ourselves with an intersection of interests which are all mutually exclusive: A strong labor union demanding high wages. A large poor population with a housing authority willing and able to grow that population. Finally a new group of progressive people, politically active
trying to remake the community into something more upscale. Each one of these interests it has merits but taken together are a recipe for failure. Im convinced the only way out of this mess for Vallejo is to solve the problems in the poor communities first and then move on to the other pieces of the puzzle.

Anonymous

|December.30.2008

Vallejo's real problem is council majorities have been filled with unqualified people year after year.

Vote or no vote, Schively, and now Gomes are the only ones who really ask the tough questions and understand what's going on. Maybe its because Schivley might be on her last council term, she is will ing to vote no, along with Gomes, against the rest of the bought and sold council.

All of the council -- ALL of them, especially those who claim some sort of special hierarchy because they were born and raised here, or because they are some sort of "executive" (Hannigan an
insurance supervisor remember the calculators in her bogus election campaign materials? or Wilson with his MBA - HE should know better!).

ALL of them should have been paying attention to council proceedings prior to their winning a seat -- why are they serving if they were not paying attention??? Where were they when the council was approving these contracts? And their endorsers -- a long succession of those who sold the farm to the IAFF.

And the current bunch all should have been very well informed of the City's situation. The IAFF/VPOA contracts had not been signed for two years
-- mostly thanks to Gomes who refused to agree to a contract she knew the city couldn't afford, and a contract that had buried within it, Henke's legal fees.

Vallejo is in the situation its in because of ignorant and/or spineless and/or bought council majorities that have been elected year after year by an ignorant voter population who bought the IAFF lies year after year.

Any questions?

Anonymous

|December.30.2008

Old Timer, wow, Schively sure is all powerful! When did she get appointed dictator who was able to make all of these bad decisions on her own? I guess Ozzy is trying to take over her crown as All Powerful One now, huh?

Little Old Lady

|December.30.2008

Welcome to Developer 101....

1. Look for an intersection of two major freeways to put dense back office mixed use development close to major transportation routes.

2. Look for financial/time incentives for back office development like a $4 bridge to cross and being stuck in traffic on Highway 80 with a large worker pool up freeway.

3. Look for large developable parcels in your tax jurisdiction so you don't have to share revenues.

4. Look for "blight" like underused parcels so you can rake in the total tax increment for your own jurisdiction.

What do you come up
with??? I come up with the intersection of Highways 80 and 780 near Curtola Parkway overlooking the open space at Lake Dalwick. Please send a large check for this professional advice to the Vallejo Humane Society in my name.

Firebug

|December.30.2008

Shively = 1 vote.

Old Timer

|December.30.2008

To On Fire; Big City; Anonymous: You are getting close to the answer, not the solution, but the real problem. If you would all quit complaining about who to blame: PSU's. Davis, Hannigan, Wilson,etc and find the constant problem, you may have a chance to resolve this. We cannot blame the 3 elected last November or even Gomes, Sunga or Bartee, as they have inheirited the problem just 3 years ago. The real and constant problem is Shively, who is constantly saying she is sorry for Her Past Actions, but continues to blame the contracts, that she voted for numerous times, as the reason. She helped
kill the Mills Project by allowing the County to take back control over the fairgrounds; she wished-washed on the LNG plant; she was a big endorser of the Empress, Nice, but not worth the $ 4 million we invested when our budget was going into the tank (during her 2 terms); she allowed for 1400 homes to be approved on Mare Island, when we really needed job production (and she voted for every residential permit); she helped kill the dredge ponds revenue production; and lastly she has advised our City Financial Director, especially the last 2, because of her banking "experience"?..Well
thank you Mrs Schviley ??? If you really want to check the records, look back to 1993 when she ran for Mayor and got turned down for the PSU endorsement, when she lobbied hard for it, and you will see the real reason, she is contantly bad mouthing them. The rest of the current Council is taking all of the heat for a problem they had nothing to do with and she is up there professing her experienc? Come on now, live up to your past record and don't continue it....Happy New Year, Mrs Schively...You are and have been the problem ....

Anonymous

|December.30.2008

Pyr, you're right. The fairgrounds revenue won't come online for years, and will not help us out of this budget mess. It's been said a million times -- we have a structural deficit. New revenues won't cure that. We MUST get our employee contracts in line with reality.

But doing the planning on the fairgrounds now, putting in the work during the downturn so the project is ready to go "when" the economy turns around is smart.

As for who voted for the contracts?, the only person on the council now who voted for those contracts is Ms. Schively. And she has admitted she was wrong in
doing so. The rest of them got handed a bum deal. However, if I were a betting person, I'd bet that Hannigan, Wilson, Bartenke, Sunga and Ozzy would have voted for those contracts if given the chance. They are "the Fundeds + 1" and would have bowed to Henke's pressure, as did all the other folks that you mentioned.

streetsweeper

|December.30.2008

That's great if they are looking into the fairgrounds to develop. Seems like a logical ideal because you have the theme park a hotel and gas station with some fast food already. Many folks drop kids off at the park and might spend money there after. I think good places to shop and eat accross from a major theme park makes sense. Might have issues with parking that would have to be worked out. Also the access from the freeways would have to be better.

Pyriphlegethon

|December.30.2008

That's great -- however, the fairgrounds getting developed in this economy is a long shot and even if it does, it will be years before revenue is generated.

And if it is, the City needs to do the hard work of not paying city staff through wages, benefits and retirement so much more than what they are worth in the private sector.

When the city was rolling in developer fees, the city made promises they knew they couldn't keep. Where are all those people now? Where is Intinoli? In 2003 he warned that Vallejo would be facing $15 million deficits in the near future and yet he recommended
unanimous approval of the IAFF/VPOA contracts that many warned the council Vallejo could never afford.

And yes, Schivley and Cloutier voted for the contract too - so they are also culpable, but even with "nay" votes from them, the contracts still would have passed.

Who else voted yes?

Intintoli, Pitts, Rey (threatened by Henke at one point according to a TH article), Davis (Jerry), Donahue.

Anonymous

|December.30.2008

At the last council meeting, Ms. Gomes mentioned the fairgrounds council subcommitee was working with the county on a new fairgrounds development process. Not much detail given yet, but it's apparently in the works.

Pyriphlegethon

|December.30.2008

We'll get that $ only with a ton of lobbying. Our council is so focused on keeping the city afloat, when do they have time? And Wiggins/Evans/Miller - where are they? In Santa Rosa unless they want IAFF $. They have shown NO leadership in this mess; Wiggins and Evans merely asking the city not to file at the 11 1/2 hour (doing IAFF bidding?)

And the Fairgrounds. First of all, do you remember the Mills Project a few years ago? They pulled out, I think they were filing for bankruptcy themselves.

And remember, the Fairgrounds is County property not city -- not sure how much a
development there would benefit Vallejo's coffers...

Sreetsweeper

|December.30.2008

Also, the fairgrounds could be developed like northgate. Why only use that land for gun shows on weekends and once a year for the fair? Obama has said he will put money into roadways around the country. Maybe we could receive some of that money to build off ramps and on ramps for these areas.

mr hankey

|December.29.2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzcc97IrfJ4

Sonic Toad

|December.29.2008

Check this out

http://unionfacts.com/unions/unionProfile.cfm?id=317

Decertification Elections
Union members unhappy with their current union can opt to decertify it as their exclusive bargaining representative. These are known as "RD" cases.

I agree that Unions built America by providing a living wage and safe working conditions. I also agree that Unions are ruining America with excessive greed and have forgotten why they were created in the first place.

Pyriphlegethon

|December.29.2008

Sweeper - great idea...Pinole just put in a Trader Joes off of Pinole Valley road and its so easy to get too coming north on 80 from SF. I go there often. I'd shop in Vallejo if I could find the things they have there (I do go to Raleys a lot).

The conundrum however, is that 1) we have a dessimated economic development department 2) when the city could afford to pay the Chamber for business development, all they did was make little froggie keychains with "Vallejo" stamped on the back. Squeeze it, and its tongue sticks out (I have one, I know). 3) the ecomony so sucks right now,
the news after Xmas is that the sales were so poor that many more stores will go bankrupt.

What you are asking for, this city should have worked on 20 years ago.

streetsweeper

|December.29.2008

One suggestion I've heard over and over is to tap into all the thousands of people rolling through the middle of town. Highway 80 is the best place to find customers to spend money in Vallejo.the problem is we need to make it easier for drivers to get off the freeway into the northgate shopping area. We could also develop the land next to the Honda dealership. As far as drawing people to the downtown I would hold off on that for now. We have a better chance getting folks to venture a short ways off the freeway to spend money rather than driving deep into town. Also, we have to find industry to
move here. Maybe with the Feds planning on spending all that money on green technology we could find a niche.

Little Old Lady

|December.29.2008

Didn't all those guys defending the Alamo get wiped out??? I think the call to "remember Vallejo" is being repeated as an admonition to the rule of PSU's throughout the land and is hardly bringing together citizens in their support.

PSU Watch

|December.29.2008

...wasn't anything close to the safety net that we have today," said Mr. Engler, a former governor mof Michigan. "In the sophisticated workplaces of the 21st century, you see management and labor often working closely together to beat the competition. When they're doing that, the need for unions is obviated. And when management and unions are not working together, unions are not likely to succeed and not likely to survive."

Mr. Engeler cited some companies where he said unions were likely to survive because, despite occasional battles, they have worked with management to keep
companies competitive and profitable. Without naming names, he pointed to other companies -- notably Detroit's automakers -- where the unions might not survive because they had demanded, and won, too much in wages and benefits, helping to make their employers uncompetitive."

Sound familiar?

PSU Watch

|December.29.2008

NYT article yesterday:

"In the early part of the last century, workers had to deal with some horrific working conditions and work in an environment where there wasn

Firebug

|December.29.2008

LOL,
I am convinced those that had the opportunity to find a better deal else where have and for the rest this (Vallejo) is the Alamo.

Little Old Lady

|December.29.2008

To develop a realistic and doable economic plan requires a clear understanding of existing opportunities and contraints. Our city budget is currently unsustainable, the global economy is not likely to turn around any time soon and the Feds and the State have their hands full with their own problems so are not likely to come riding to little Vallejo's rescue. So we have to wait patiently for the judge's decision regarding the unsustainable union contracts before we can plan anything. To discuss great ideas now is just pie-in-the-sky guessing and Vallejo has done way too much of that in the
past. While the PSU's sit in their vehicles listening to the screams and collecting their time-and-a-half thinking that the good citizens of Vallejo are going to give in, the people of this community are becoming more and more resolute to ridding ourselves from this depotism. It is really dumb for the parasites to kill the host without having a strategy for moving on to another fat victim.

plan for increasing revenue?

|December.29.2008

streetsweep, you complain that the City doesn't have a plan for increasing revenue. what kind of plan would you suggest? it's never too late to move in the right direction, thus, bankruptcy.

if you're going to say attract big businesses, that's a tough one because they aren't satisfied w/ our demographics. take the downtown for ex., how comfortable would you feel setting up shop a block away from where a handful of murders occurred this year?

let's hear your suggestions.

On Fire

|December.29.2008

Street sweeper, I agree with you to some points. The city doesn't have a stated plan for recovery out of bankruptcy. But this is my point exactly. When does the city have time to focus only on bringing in new revenues? Year after year, it's only had time to deal with the union's demands and financing their contracts. It isn't the Council's job to bring in new revenues. They are a policy setting body. It's staff's job along with the Chamber and Convention and Tourist Bureau. Staff is tied up year after year, trying to balance a dwindling budget. Staff to the Planning and Economic developement,
which should have all of the city's focus right now, continues to be cut, because we have to pay police and fire contracts. The balance of power is updside down. Unions trying to dictate how the city is supposed to be run! It appears that the only way for this to change is for the courts to put those contracts aside, and allow the city to move forward with the revenues it has and focus on new revenues, not fighting unions.

Time to stop dealing with the union's best interestand focus on the City and it's peoples best interest. This won't happen as long as the unions are fixated on saving
face and not saving jobs.

I Got Your Back

|December.29.2008

On the Eastbay news, two unions are blocking movement to the Bay Bridge construction because the longshoremen and iron workers can't play in the same sandbox together! Oh the irony that the very groups that are supposed to look out for their membership's best interest is keeping those very people out of work cause they can't figure out how the pie is supposed to be divided so that everyone can get an even slice.

So when Vallejo's union contract pie has to be divided, will we see the same thing happening? When will they figure out that there is only one pie and it's drying up as they
supposedly fight the good fight?

streetsweeper

|December.29.2008

I do not want to pay higher taxes period but if I knew sound decissions would be made with my money I might. I have said all along that controlling labor costs are important but only one part of the solution. This city does not have a plan for increasing revenue and I blame the council past and present. Your right about the economy being horrible but when it gets better Vallejo does not have the tools in place to increase revenue like other cities.I'm tired of hearing that it's to late to do anything because it won't help now. I've been hearing that for 20 years.

Firebug

|December.29.2008

Name calling and patting each other on the back? Would this be like you and the "interesting" persona that continually engage name calling and patting each other on the back? Yes I did say that out loud didn't I?

On Fire

|December.29.2008

Oh yakkity yak, your so sad!

You can use that whatever excuse that floats your boat. The unions have played that same smoke and mirros game for years and it's played out. (The numbers are wrong, the city is hiding money, the city isn't broke, the numbers are inflated! etc. etc.) Yeah uh huh! You betcha!

Still talking loud and saying nothing.

On Fire

|December.29.2008

Street sweeper, I imagine that your question was discussed in detail within your union meetings and I think you already know the answer. Were is the money for the court fight coming from? The same place you salaries are coming from. The tax payers. Since you have stated that you live in Vallejo, it's coming from you too. Now are you willing to pay higher and additional taxes to satisfy the union cntracts, most of which won't go in your pocket? I'm not willing to pay even more for any unsustainable union contract.

Sure, the city could have accepted the offerings from the unions. Of curse,
we would have just delayed the inevitable, filing for bankruptcy. The unions offered less than half of what would hve been needed just to keep the city funcitioning. With each passing week, we see that the Feds and the States are cutting funding. The housing industry is at a standstill. Where would the additional funding come from? Even layoffs and cutbacks at this point will not save the city. You are well aware of these facts, yet you continue to play dumb and act as though union concessions would have saved the day?

For the last ten years, the city has been fixated on how to pay salaries
and benefits. Everything has revolved around keeping these "contracts" paid and each year as the city has faced decreased revenues, the unions have made back room deals that on it's face, gave the appearance of helping the city. When in fact, it loaded more benefits and perks on the back end, which the city had no way to pay. Except to ask for more taxes, because revenues are not guarenteed. TO ANY CITY! Each year, the council is tied up for most of the year, dealing with keeping the unions happy. Yet each year, the people in this city get less and less in services and quality of life
programs. I say NO MORE! The priorities are backwards and now is the time for a change. Not next year, not in 2010. Now is when the city has to realize it's past mistakes and make corrections. We have to live within our means which aren't going to get better anytime soon. So that means going back into those unsustainable contracts, making changes and cuts. History has shown that sitting at some table with the unions has proven to be a waste of time. You are fully aware of this. I don't want the "deal makers" to sign another contract that ties my future taxes for something that is only
going to benefit the employees.

So street sweeper, I don't buy into the idea that you are that naive about what's happening with the city. But if by chance you are, stop reading the times horrid and open up a fiancial page in any reputable newspaper and open your eyes. The entire country is in a recession/depression. Even if some magical new revenues comes into Vallejo today, it will not be enough to save the city right now. Wake Up!

Did I Say That Outloud

|December.29.2008

Why am I here? Entertainment. It's interesting to see how far you guys will go to pat yourselves on the back. So far exaggerated numbers and unlimited imaginations, and you seem to have a penchant for name calling.

Firebug

|December.29.2008

Streetsweep,
How the money could have been used? If past spending priorities remain the same it would be for salaries and benefits of employees (so ask us why we should be as excited as you).

streetsweeper

|December.29.2008

I still will have to disagree with you. The city had another option because they could have taken the deal that was offered. Your answer will most likely be that it was not anough. Now compare the changes the city made with their pendency plan. Wage freeze, fire stations closed, retiree payouts put off. These things were offered by the labor groups. Now look at all the money spent on each side and it is crazy. Think how all that money could have been used.

Anonymous

|December.29.2008

Bankruptcy wasn't a mistake, it was the LAST available option. With legal contracts in place and the inability to make ANY changes to them to save money and balance the budget (thanks PSUs), the city had no choice but to file. By filing, the city protected itself from your unions and was able to make staffing and budget changes it wouldn't have been able to make without bankruptcy protection. That's how the budget is being "balanced" right now, and bills are being paid. Get a clue Streetsweeper, and educate yourself before you regurgitate the PSU bile.

streetsweeper

|December.29.2008

Another simple question is why many of you can't understand the unions spending money to protect contracts signed off on by the city. That's what the union money is for right? The city on the other hand should spend taxpayer money on providing service right?we all new these legal fees could become larger than we were told. Maybe the contracts will be thrown out then what? more litigation? or another form of negotiations? The silver bullet that was promissed is just a bullet for the city.

streetsweeper

|December.29.2008

Sorry if I upset you by asking for simple answers. Also the city filed for bankruptcy after explaining to the public that the cost would be around 2 too 4 million, now we are at 5 million. My main point on all of this is this bankruptcy was a mistake and in the end all will agree.

Firebug

|December.29.2008

Thanks for the BK update Marc, the PSU's on the Times Horrid are trying to make readers think BK will never end until their contracts expire in 2010 so all this is a waste of time. These dates make their obfuscation more clear.

Anonymous

|December.29.2008

Streetsweeper, go away. You get your little talking points from your Union Bosses, and then keep repeating them. Even though you don't really understand what the *&$! you're talking about. Instead of posting your questions here about how the city is paying for the bankruptcy costs that YOUR unions are running up, ask the city. But you don't really want an answer, do you? You just want to stir the pot.

Streetsweeper

|December.29.2008

I would love to hear where the $5,000,000 came from to pay the current legal fees up to this point. Also, would love to hear how a city in this situation can continue to hire new employees while they give furlough time out. I think employee costs have to be controlled but that's only part of the problem. The big problem is that the city has survived on the housing market up untill now and we have nothing else. I believe everyone will suffer now for the cities inaction to solve the whole problem.

Big City

|December.29.2008

A sobering observation of the obvious: Vallejo's slide into bankruptcy began the day it started using its reserves to balance its budget. Beginning at that point, an eventual bankruptcy was virtually certain EVEN IF THE ECONOMY AND HOUSING MARKET REMAINED ROBUST. With the economic events of the last 6 months and the prospects for the next 18 months, or so, being what they are and will be, Vallejo's situation went from "plain old bankruptcy" to what could be described as "complete economic collapse and getting worse by the day".

Without a doubt, the years of absurd generosity
toward employee compensation, and especially public safety employee compensation, is at the root of the problem. If public safety personnel want to claim it's a management-caused problem, they are absolutely correct. However, the GREATEST, "FATAL" and INEXCUSABLE management mistake that was made was EVER agreeing to the MOU's that got Vallejo where it's at now. While management may have made other mistakes that helped get the city to where it's at, those mistakes absolutely PALE in comparison to the "BIG ONE".

When you get down to it, though, it does not matter what the root
causes of the problem is. The problem is what it is and the solution is going to be EXTREMELY TRAUMATIC-----like something that Vallejo (or most other cities) have never seen before.

The prospect of a tax increase, particularly one of the size it would take to "right this ship", is virtually nil. Given what folks in Vallejo now know CLEARLY and WIDELY about the compensation levels of their employees and the state of the economy affecting most folks pocketbooks in a BIG way, passing a tax increase is a "dream on" sort of thing.

As far as the binding arbitration issue goes, I
view that as a moot point, too. There's going to be one REALLY BINDING ARBITRATOR that's going to settle the whole thing----the bankruptcy court. And, the end result is going to be "astoundingly ugly" to the Vallejo employees.

The longer that the employees use legal maneuvers to delay the inevitable, the worse it's going to get. Plus, at some point soon, the city is going to be unable to pay them regardless of what the status of the bankruptcy proceedings are.

On Fire

|December.28.2008

Oh yakkity yak, you keep drinking the koolaid and living in your own mind. I see the question still hasn't been answered. It's just curious that if the city was as unsafe as you all claim it to be, and if the good people of Vallejo thought that the PS employees were getting such a raw deal, don't you think that those chambers would be filled? The B/A group (not VIB which is a website, not a club) had about 7,000 people, eligible voters, that wanted to see the issue on the ballot. By the way, how many peole did your poll yield in taxpayers that were willing to support an additional tax to keep
the city employees in their current lifestyle?

If you will recall, the majorty of people who consistantly go down, sit through, and speak are not PS apologists, nor are they sock puppets.

But hey, you keep putting up the smoke and mirrors like youv'e been taught to do and trying to keep that chin up. LOL

If we are just a small minority with opposing views, why are you and your buds all so concerned about what we are saying? I mean, you keep coming back (to our house) with a regularity and reading what is posted on VIB, keep posting your little comments and discussing VIB every
day, all day long. If we are so insignificant, why are you here? Yeah I know, for entertainment. LOL Yeah, you keep drinking that koolaid my man. Ha!

Did I Say That Outoud

|December.28.2008

Better question for you, On Fire: Why haven't the 120k or even 1k gone down and whined along with the small vocal minority about the PSU's? Hmmmm, maybe cause they support Police and Fire and IBEW. Maybe they understand that City Hall is as inept as this website, though not as entertaining. What does that tell you? Maybe, just maybe, hold on here it comes.....you don't have the support that you think you have. Hey, you're the one who stated no ones gone to City Hall, maybe there's help for you yet.

Pyriphlegethon

|December.28.2008

Can you say "paramilitary"?

Vallejo is starting to resemble a Banana Republic (NOT the store): a small country (or in our case, City) that is politically unstable, dependent on limited agriculture (e.g. bananas, or in our case the Navy no longer here), and ruled by a small, self-elected, wealthy, and corrupt clique...

Happy holidays.

Waz wid dat

|December.28.2008

So, the famous billboard at Georgia and Sonoma Blvd shows a small group of Police and Fire Fighters, what happened to the rest of the Police Force and the other fire fighters? Did they refuse to be part of the picture? Just wondering... Rumour has it, not all the members of the PSU are in favor of what is going on. Remember, it took two votes for the fire department to agree to pay for Henke's defamation of character lawsuite, and now they are on the hook for his "loses." Ha! That cannot make them happy. It's not popular now considering the economy to be asking for raises or
contract extentions, when you already earn an excellent living, especially when you earn 3 x the household income of the average citizens who pay your salaries and benefits. Folks, that's not three times the average person, that's three times the average household. Vallejo may become the poster child and the model to follow for the future of contract writing. I am sure this is what the PSU fears. We all want the PSU to receive good compensation and benefits for their jobs, they have come to belive what they currently receive is "average" and that they are deserving of more. They
will never stop asking for more...

On Fire

|December.27.2008

Well yakkity yak, still talking loud and still not saying nothing? Maybe if you lived in Vallejo you would know that even though our fair city has in excess of 120,000 people, not all are eligible to vote.

We only needed just over 7,000 to put the issue on the ballot. The numbers we did get are larger than many candidates get during a regular election so I wouldn't say that was something to look down your nose at. Remember, it only took three months and the next election is still a long ways away!

But I have a better question for you. Since you and the rest of the PSU apologists
keep trying to make the case about our city not being safe, why haven't those 120,000 people went down to city hall and voiced their concerns? I'll make it even simpler or you, why haven't 1,000 people gone down to city hall?

Maybe it's because the good people of this city are tired of your constant yakking, bullying and scare tactics and are trusting the courts to yield a better deal for the city than what the unions are proposing? Yeah, chew on that for awhile!

Maybe talking loud is blocking your brain's ability to think on the right track.

Did I Say That Outloud

|December.27.2008

120k in the City and you got nearly 7k. wow. stunning. did you just not get to the other 113k cause they were too hard to find?

Blue Ribbon

|December.27.2008

EDWARDS / BLAGOJEVICH

GORE / JEFFERSON

2012!

silasbarnabe

|December.27.2008

One things for certain nearly 7,000 valid signatures and growing with each and every childish act of litigation, posturing and harrassing anyone that aks questions about the outrageous salaries and benefits in the current gold plated contracts.

And for the PSU that had a glimmer of hope for a tax in the near future? 6,800+ signtatures affirming the issue is binding arbitration means "no new taxes".

Republican Primary 2012

|December.26.2008

PALIN / BORAT

&

CHENEY / HENKE

On Fire

|December.26.2008

And the people who were on the receiving end of the "charity" would be afraid to post any comments on the times horrid for fear that they would be called names, disrespected and have their parenting and morals questioned by the real "haters" of the community.

anon	\|December.26.2008

At this point, I'm not inclined to give 1186 credit for being a "drop off point" for good citizens doing good deeds. Call me cynical, but they didn't really do anything other than provide a depository for gifts, and take credit for delivering presents. I think they were on the clock in both cases. Is that really charitable?

On Fire

|December.26.2008

That may be but doubtful VHS. according to the romper room bunch over at the times horrid potty box, they don't care for the citizen's of Vallejo.

Many of our FD employees only like charity work if it's on the taxpayer's dime.

And street sweeper, there will be a line for re-hires in other city's because they are all laying off employees due to the recession/depression and financial woes in the State. You would be on the bottom or that re-hire list. Good luck with that pup tent on henke's land. You may end up stuffed and sitting in his living room for his amusement.

streetsweeper

|December.26.2008

Napa sounds like a great place to live with great fire fighters that are cheap. When the haters and psu are done destroying the city we can all move to napa. Maybe henke will let me put a tent on his land. Only untill I find another job then I'll move to a tree in Berkeley.

VHS	\|December.26.2008

getting screwed, whats up? OK just kidding, sorry. Thats a very cute picture of the little girl in the article but might you be just a little swept off your feet by a pretty face? I believe our firefighters have collected toy for tots for many years and whos to say Vallejo firefighters didnt actually contribute more to good causes this year than the cal fire in napa?

On Fire

|December.26.2008

What's the matter loud yakity yak? Romper Room put you on time out? I think having close to 7,000 valid signatures is a good group of people that you would call "haters" down the road. Add those people to the ones you add daily to your "haters" list.

You keep up the good job of making more taxpayers mad and the numbers will continue to grow.

You seem to be good at talking and loud and saying nothing!

LOL

Did I Say That Outloud

|December.26.2008

...more than half the City has been designated as haters by PSU apologists....God, what an imagination...now you know why your BA petition failed.....you exaggerate and can't count..........keep up the entertainment

We are getting screwed pt 2

|December.26.2008

Even the community who posted comments about the story is pleased:

" I wish I had heard about this sooner. I would have liked to give a small donation.
There may not be an actual Santa Claus, but Ruben Garcia is the closest thing to it. "

" This is but one of many good deeds our Napa County firefighters perform unheralded each year. All of the various fire agency personnel try hard to help wherever, whenever they can. Thank you for this heartfelt assistance to our community. "

"Napa County Cal Fire Employees are the Best. Professional firefighters from all over the
world, travel to this area to learn not only how to be good firefighters, but superb human beings, as well."

We are getting screwed

|December.26.2008

All right folks, were getting screwed with our firefighters.

In Napa, the fire department (Cal Fire) seems to loved by their city, they are involved in the community and giving back to the citizens that pay their wages.
Look at the article in the Napa Register:
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2008/12/26/news/local/doc49544efba0fc2871193058.txt

Cal Fire had twenty firefighters giving toys to eighteen children. This is a quote from one firefighter:

The answer is Cal Fire

|December.26.2008

Get rid of 1186 and contract with Cal Fire. Get rid of the VPD and replace them with CHP.

streetsweeper

|December.26.2008

The city entered into bankruptcy and then kept the pay of employees at the current rate. They also kept two fire stations closed. These are the items offered by the unions but were told it would not be anough to keep the city afloat. Now the city has spent over $5,000,000 in legal fees and will most likely spend alot more. Where did this money come from?

On Fire

|December.26.2008

Everybody and anybody that raises a question regarding the contracts, salaries, benefits, conduct, etc. regarding the PS employees, becomes an instant "hater" and gains instant membership as a VIB'er. (Hey Marc, we need to start asking for membership dues since more than half of the City has been designated by the PSU apologists as "VIB'ers)

It's easier to demonize the citizens who have the audacity to question the salaries and benefits of the people we employ. "They hate police and fire!" Because then they don't have to answer to the real issues of how Vallejo is
supposed to continue to afford their contracts and still keep the rest of the city functioning. The so called safety employees and their apologists that occupy the litter box called the times horrid blogs, will jump anyone that writes a letter or posts a comment that questions the PS employees or gives their opinion about the City's financial situation. There is no rational or logical conversation...only vile comments. They talk under your clothes, talk about your mother, call you names, and disrespect their employers. They don't have to know you, but if they do, they talk about your
businesses as well. This certainly makes them appear to be the true "haters" and brings down the repuation and intgrity of the rest of the PS employees. If they don't work for the city why do the PS employees allow it to continue without saying something about it?

I don't know who these self-labled PS employees are that have plenty of yak yak on the blogs, and I don't know many of the PS employees well enough or have any personal investment in them to "hate" them. I certainly dislike what the union egos are doing to my city. It's no longer about protecting their
membership, but keeping up their "union hardline appearance". They don't want to be the ones that give in to anything, no matter at what cost and appear bent on dividing and destroying Vallejo. If they were true union leaders, they should be looking out for all the employees whether part of their union or another, to keep them employed and helping to keep the city that they work in, functioning as best it can. Instead they whine and cry about their "contracts" and what they have supposedly given up. All things considered, they still take home more pay then most of the
population of Vallejo.

The almighty UAW is learning a hard lesson and now sitting down to really negotiate in good faith. Not to gain hidden perks, but to make real concessions so that their memership can remain employed. This will end up being the legacy for UAW. What will be left to remember IAFF and VPOA by?

Waz up wid dat

|December.26.2008

Dear Anon, it's difficult to "hate" persons you dont know, and most of us dont "know" them as they dont live in our community, and they dont want to get to know us either, remember a quote from a PSU'er "the best thing about Vallejo is when I am going home and I see it in my rear view mirror." This best describes how many Vallejeons feel the PSU feel about us, they want us to pay their big salaries and benefits, but want to shop,live and play in other cities and counties. Vallejo has the lowest percentage of employees that live in the city they work in, and that's
because its more lucrative to work in a city 50-80 miles away instead of your own home town. So for all of the PSU'ers that make fun of Vallejo, or stick their noses up at our citizens, why oh why dont they live in their own georgeous cities? Its $$$ folks, pure and simple. Now, who is taking advantage of whom?

PSU Watch

|December.26.2008

Anon, it's not hate. It's a strong refusal to continue letting the PSUs treat us citizens and taxpayers so poorly. They continuously show a complete lack of respect, appreciation or care about the future of our city beyond the $$$$ that are in it for them.

We, the citizens of Vallejo, don't like the public safety unions and their nasty tactics: bogus lawsuits against public officials and private citizens, PR wars scaring our elderly people, buying city council seats and expecting paybacks, and finally, refusing to acknowledge that the party is over, and that they really need to come to the
table honestly and negotiate new contracts that work for everyone.

We're done accepting the bad behavior, that's all. but I certainly don't hate police officers or firefighters individually. I will admit that I do have an extremely strong dislike for Henke, Riley and Mustard. They're just schoolyard bullies.

anon	\|December.26.2008

"According to the Times Horrid blogs, the citizens of Vallejo are PSU haters, ha! This is not true of course, "

Waz up wit dat, If you do not "hate" the PSU, then what exactly do you feel for organizations that you describe as:

1. PSU of Vallejo really have their boot on the neck of the citizens.

2. Maybe they are the true haters and users of the city, they care not for what is going on in our city, or the State of California,

3. it's all about what they want, and what they are trying to preserve.

4. It may be that they took their "delicious" contract around to
other counties to show them what they could squeeze out of their own cities,

5. My fire captain cousin often said "we live in the wine country, we never could figure out how Vallejo could afford those contracts..."

If you don't "hate" them, then what emotion to you have towards them

Waz up wid dat?

|December.26.2008

According to the Times Horrid blogs, the citizens of Vallejo are PSU haters, ha! This is not true of course, and we could also spin that, as the PSU of Vallejo really have their boot on the neck of the citizens. Maybe they are the true haters and users of the city, they care not for what is going on in our city, or the State of California, it's all about what they want, and what they are trying to preserve. It may be that they took their "delicious" contract around to other counties to show them what they could squeeze out of their own cities, and now Kurt Henke is about to lose
face. My fire captain cousin often said "we live in the wine country, we never could figure out how Vallejo could afford those contracts..."

Waz up wid dat?

|December.26.2008

Funny, Kurt Henke actually lives in Napa County, his area is served by the volunteer fire department and Cal Fire. If he did not feel safe living in an area not served by the Napa Fire Department, I am sure he would move. He is the perfect endorsement for Cal Fire. Therefore "Kurt Henke puts his confidence in Cal Fire." What better endorsement, the assistant fire chief and head of the union...

Napa seems to like their Cal F

|December.26.2008

For 15 years Cal Fire has been taking care of the homeless kids in Napa. The Vallejo PSU should take a lesson from these guys.

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2008/12/26/news/local/doc49544efba0fc2871193058.txt

On Fire

|December.25.2008

Silas, the times horrid blogs are toxic. Nothing but rantings of scared little boys with a few warped minded women who are sock puppets. Don't waste your time trying to talk some sense into anyone. It's a waste of time and energy. The times horrid blog juveniles have no shame, and even less integrity. There are less and less subscriptions to the printed paper and even their blog numbers are decreasing.

One would have to wonder why there is no monitoring of the comments on that blog, but if you banned all of the foul mouth children, there would be maybe two or three people left. They
can't sell ad space if they can't produce the number of hits on the site that make a business want to spend money there. The lower the numbers the better. Maybe then they (times horrid staff)will get a clue and put that vile nonsense to an end. They are a family newspaper you know! wink wink

I figure the less people posting there, the less money the times horrid will be making. Let the animals that soil their own beds, live in it Silas. Have a nice detox tea and come back to the light.

anon	\|December.25.2008

Big City, years ago I worked as a gas station attendant on Christmas. I was not "forced" but I did recieve trippple time. So I "volunteered" to work that shift so that the owner could stay home. What they are paid now or what the other positions recieve, I do not know. However, a "toll taker" is employed by Caltrans and as such does have a CalPERS pension as well as a nice benefit package http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/jobs/benefits.htm
Some of them "have" to work and I appreciate anyones service (grocery clerk @ 3x salary or "toll taker" or PS that are
at work while I am home with a warm fire in the fireplace).

Silas, I have to disagree with your assesment regarding "a City served by scoundrels, deviants, alcoholics, and some of the most immoral and anti-American people I have seen in all my years." I personally have a bigger problem with people that knowingly lie about their personal history in order to enter or be promoted within pvt or civil service employment.

silasbarnabe

|December.25.2008

Hello VIB and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. I have been posting on the Times Horrid of late, and have to interject to "big city's" post that when these guys say they aren't getting to spend the Holiday's with their families is totally true. Many of these posters are sick individuals and have no friends or anyone that wants to spend anytime with them.

The posts on the Times Horrid have been disappointing as I had truly hoped that there would be some among them with honor and morals (perhaps we could work together) with care and appreciation for those that they serve.
The only cops among them with such integrity are labeled traitors and to date have been retired.

Rather than work for income that isn't really defined as to where it would go or what it would fund, I had hoped for our Police and Fire Unions to make genuine concessions and work with us.

Right now we all know thanks to the Gadfather, Robert Schussel, and Katie (the DQ) that $16,000,000 in new revenues would only serve PSU's and leave us with poorly or no funded non-profits, the worst streets in Solano County, closed libraries, and a general fund that does not serve the citizens whose taxes
fill it but the employees whose salaries drain it.

With the BA petition failing by a couple of hundred votes we must stand resolute to get new signatures while we are in bankruptcy, and collaborate on new ways to make our city great again. I look forward to a new year of defining what businesses we support, what petitions need to be signed, new businesses we would like to see come in that benefits US, and the dedicated group of Citizens that has kept us informed and hosted intellectual discourse to continue to be a beacon of hope in a City served by scoundrels, deviants, alcoholics, and
some of the most immoral and anti-American people I have seen in all my years.

Viva Vallejo!

Big City

|December.25.2008

"Jewish Vallejoan"----Yes, definitely. Holiday periods have historically been a MAJOR OPPORTUNITY for public safety personnel to FEAST AT THE PUBLIC TROUGH. No doubt about that, at all. Of course, they'll all point to the fact that they're "forced to spend Christmas without family and friends around them". Sheer demagoguery, though. What about the convenience store clerk, gas station attendant, or toll taker that are working on Christmas and for a WHOLE lot less than any public safety personnel?

Jewish Vallejoan

|December.25.2008

I see no need for a "cease fire" until Dec 26. The Vallejo PSU's are continuing their holiday rampage on the cities budget.

Mr Henke the Christmas Poo

|December.24.2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQF7FYAl1fo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Hankey,_the_Christmas_Poo

PSU Watch

|December.24.2008

Flip -- agreed! Happy Holidays to everyone, especially Marc and Mr. Scratchy, who work so hard for the betterment of their community and get no monetary compensation. Thanks guys!

Flip	\|December.24.2008

Anon, Sadly I agree with you on the physical fitness thing. On the flip side my brain is exercised on a regular basis. Cease Fire declared until 12

1am Dec 26th!

anon	\|December.24.2008

I don't think Calfire would replace the VIBers. They're not really Martini drinkers (mostly beer). I don't think they will lower their physical fitness level to be an acceptable substitute

Anonymous

|December.24.2008

Call Cal Fire in to replace our current bunch of malcontents.

Big City

|December.23.2008

By the way, although as I stated recently, I doubt that many of the Vallejo employees will leave if their wages and benefits are cut drastically, it would be FAR better for the City of Vallejo and its citizens if they DID leave-----ALL OF THEM. The "primadonnas" that have been created in Vallejo cannot be "uncreated" at this point.

My suggestion is this: dissolve the Vallejo Police and Fire departments and lay-off EVERYONE. Let them find positions elsewhere that will make them happy. With the "baggage" they'll be carrying, they might find it a lot more difficult to
find positions with other agencies, especially since a lot of those agencies are going to be having hiring "freezes" or, even, lay-offs of their own.

After dissolving the departments, contract out both police and fire service to other agencies or, even, private companies. Specify in the contracts that, even if the other agencies or companies hire former Vallejo employees, those employees are not to be assigned to service in Vallejo.

After the economy stabilizes and Vallejo is back on its feet in, perhaps, 5 years, or so, the public safety functions could be brought back in-house, if
it's desired. Then, Vallejo will be "starting fresh" with all new employees that I can guarantee you will be happy to have the jobs even at a much lower wage and benefit level than that being paid now. The most important point to be kept in mind if this is done? Make sure you don't make the same mistake twice. MANAGE the new departments with a firm hand and tight purse strings from the get-go. And, NEVER, EVER accede to "contract demands" that are not in the best interest of the CITY.

streetsweeper

|December.23.2008

how about a cease fire untill after Xmas? Then we can get back to the anger and predicting the future for the city. Hope you folks have a good holiday, even you mark.

Truth Teller

|December.22.2008

Ha! I've been imp'd by some wanna be. I suppose it is a compliment, though if I include Matt Mustard and his Mustache in a post I usually make a gagging sound. Hey copy cat, did you do the same?

So ya know, this war the PSU'ers have created with the City of Vallejo and its inhabitants is a losing one. For both sides. If they had taken cuts a year ago it would have saved so much heartache, money and good will. Now the boys in blue have VERY little good will left in the city since they adopted the IAFF playbook.

Glad to hear you guys are feeling the heat of dissatisfaction from the
community that you have brought on yourselves.

Now that is Truth Teller telling it like it is.

advice to the City

|December.22.2008

It's time to send a tangible message to the employees that embarrass and degrade Vallejo. Don't be afraid to drop their pay to normal levels during bankruptcy, this is the only way they will feel what the City is suffering when they start to get paid what they actually deserve. As long a they get the same pay, they will keep fighting bankruptcy. Be prepared for the out of town employees to jump ship by having a line of canditates ready who don't have that sense of entitlement. The furloughs only hurt the same folks time & again who get paid what they deserve.

Captain

|December.22.2008

On Fire

I agree with everything you said.

Captain

|December.22.2008

Big City

I Second That!

The fact that the PS unions are so arrogant will benefit the TAX-PAYERS in the long run.

PD/FD cost per hour:

Vallejo - $110+ if not for BK
Vallejo - $103 currently
Walnut Creek -$81
Benecia - $71

Big City

|December.22.2008

"Captain"-----You're correct; the city revenues will continue to shrink. I predicted this here some months ago. As property values go into drastic reversal (especially in Solano County), homeowners, including banks that own foreclosures, will be having the homes re-assessed. This will put the "ever-expanding" property tax of times past into "heavy reversal". Of course, not everyone will be able to have their property taxes lowered, but most folks that purchased their homes in the past 5-10 years will likely benefit by reassessment (and the city and county will
decidedly NOT benefit when this occurs). What it amounts to is that folks paying "big bucks" property taxes will be able to get theirs lowered; folks who have lived in their homes a long time and are paying "peanuts" anyway will not. So, all the "cream" is going to be lost to the city and county.

Then, you'll have a lot of tax delinquencies because some folks just won't have the money to pay their taxes. It takes 5 years before the county can force sale of a property for tax delinquency. Sure, they'll eventually recover the money-----5 years from now.

Sales tax
revenue is also going to be way down and that's the other major source of revenue for the cities. This is going to last for at least another 18 months and, likely, longer.

On top of all that, the state may very well take away more funds. The state budget is in desperate straits so they're not going to have a lot of "compassion" for local budget problems (especially with municipal public safety folks making $200,000 to $400,000 in wages + benefits).

As I've said several times before, it's going to take something on the order of a 35-40% reduction in salaries AND benefits to get things
even near in balance for Vallejo. And, in about a year, I think they'll have to make ADDITIONAL cuts. So, if you think it's bad now and if employees think these cuts are "unfair", wait until a year from now.

My take on this all? Even with 35-40% reductions in wages and benefits I don't think you'll see any "mass exodus" of Vallejo employees. Why? Simple, because even with these sort of cuts, they'll still be very well compensated and, likely, comparable to many other agencies that they could "escape to". Plus, the other agencies will be making their own cuts very soon,
anyway. So, they can run, but they can't hide.

The whole deal behind the "ranting and raving" by the public safety personnel is this: they have ONE SWEET DEAL the way it's been in Vallejo for a long time and they want that SWEET DEAL to go on forever. It's just that simple.

On Fire

|December.22.2008

Thanks Captain. I think I wasn't making myself clear. I was trying to say that we were broke then, and even more broke now with the additional State and County take-aways.

streetsweeper

|December.22.2008

if the city offered the pendency plan as the contract changes they wanted that would be ok with me. I would even take days off without pay as long as a contractor was not doing my job while I was gone. Plus if they want me to pay some of my medical they better make all city employees pay the same or I'll be ****ed. The ibew always gets the bad deal.

Captain

|December.22.2008

On Fire

There has been a change in Vallejo's revenue. In 07-08, revenue was 83.6 million. The 08-09 updated budget is projecting revenue of 77.4 million - and I expect that number to continue to shrink.

Here is the link (page23 in your browser):

http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/uploads/48/102808%20-%20First%20Quarter%20General%20Fund%20Budget%20Update.pdf

The PSU position, due to their stalling the inevitable, continues to erode.

Truth Teller

|December.22.2008

Street Sweeper

According to Matt Mustard the total bill for the VPOA is estimated to be $1.3MM--estimate to date $600K

EXCERPT Am Police Beat
"As you may know, the VPOA is projected to spend $1.3 million in legal fees, auditors, and additional professional services. Each of our members is paying additional dues (3% of salary), our state organization has stepped up to help, and other sisters and brothers all across the country have stood with us in this epic battle".
Matt Mustard

On Fire

|December.22.2008

And if the Nationals are pumping money in like you say, why are the unions still sending out beggar letters?

On Fire

|December.22.2008

Street sweeper, you keep going to those union meetings and drinking the koolaid. The city has an obligation to either come to an agreement with the unions and it's financial obligations that keeps the city out of bankruptcy and have sustainable contracts or the judge makes the decision. The other creditors will not sit by and let the city back off the employees and not have any money left to pay them. So if the unions think they can simply take the city to binding arbitration, and the city had to pay the contracted salaries and benefits, the city will be back in the courts because there will
be no money to pay the creditors. The bankruptcy filing does not let the city off the hook from paying it's creditors, it merely gives them the means to extend the payments in a way it can keep the doors open. If the unions keep fighting, it will be 2010 and the contracts will be null and void either way. Try taking your own bottled water to the meetings and use your own brain and stop being a lemming being led to the end of that bankrupt cliff!

Now remember that the judge already stated that he knows the city can't keep the current contracts and pay the bills with the revenues it has
coming in. There has been little to no change of any new revenues coming in, in the amounts needed to save the city for the next couple of years. So, this leaves the city right where it was when the court agreed to bankruptcy, only the thing different is that there will be even less money coming from the State and County than anticipated and that leaves ZERO. So the unions keeping this fight going is only prolonging what is going to happen anyway. The bottom line will be how much money will be left to keep the city going and if the unions want to battle this out to the end, and the city has NO
funds, guess who will be laid off? EVERYONE!

Then I suppose the city can rehire every dept. and hire contractors to do all the work. No union benefits, no PERS perks, no nothing. The entire city can be privatized and not protected by the unions, not nobody!

Is that what the employees really want? Sounds like it to me.

streetsweeper

|December.22.2008

$250,000? For the unions legal fees? I dont think so unless your talking about one labor group's share. I heard it was more like a million but who knows? I know the city has to pay their legal fees and also the banks that hold the bonds. Also, now they have to pay the retiree commitee legal fees. I think they have 6 or 7 bankruptcy attorneys. Thats why the city's fees are higher.

Sonic Toad

|December.22.2008

Here's a tip streetsweeper. Binding arbitration only applies to city employees. It has zero impact on contracted support. Seems to me the disadvantages of contracting are very small in comparison with the Union strangle hold that has buried Vallejo.

PSU Watch

|December.22.2008

Another Riley lie, Streetsweeper. If the city has racked up $5 million in legal fees, how can the unions have only racked up $250,000? That's insane. Last summer's hearings alone must have cost them way more than that. And the $5 million for the city, that sounds pretty high. Might want to check your facts.

streetsweeper

|December.22.2008

well of course they filed for bankruptcy just to reject psu contracts and the others just because they think they can. Now the wheels are falling off with the economy tanking so the city might want to stay in bankruptcy to shelter themselves from paying anyone. Oh, and one question going around is how has the city payed around $5,000,000 in legal fees for this bankruptcy? Thought there was no money? The nationals will keep pumping in money because they are worried that if the city wins it will start a domino effect. The more money the city spends will hurt us all. The only ones left will be
the psu. No money will be left for anything else.

Firebug

|December.22.2008

PSU watch-
I do not believe for a minute that they really expect BA to work. They have poured millions into fighting BK so if BA worked why not just go directly to BA and save millions?

Anonymous

|December.22.2008

Thanks Captain for the link. What I found interesting is that IAFF 1186's Jon Riley is telling other unions that they have agreed to give up "a 20% pay cut"?

This statement is very fishy - 20% of what, when , where, how, why? And if this is true, why is it not plastered all over the blogs and in the Times Herald. Riley speaking with forked tongue perhaps?

In the meantime, Vallejo gets into a bigger and bigger financial hole as these jerks continue with their rant that Vallejo filed for BK merely to rip up the contracts.

PSU Watch

|December.22.2008

Streetsweeper, the game is up, dude. When the contracts are voided, the city will offer reasonable new terms. If the unions take it to binding arbitration, we all know the arbitrator will rule in favor of the unions (they know which side their bread is buttered on). Then everyone ends up back in bankruptcy court, where the arbitrator's decision will be nullified because it would keep the city in bankruptcy.

Why don't you guys get it? THERE IS NO MORE MONEY. Arbitrate, litigate, castigate, it's still the same. The PSUs will NEVER enjoy the largesse you all have had for the past 20 years.
NEVER. Get over it and let's get out of this mess.

Captain

|December.22.2008

Here is a very good article that mentions vallejo, pensions, private vs public wages:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-12-22/what-if-new-york-go-bust/

Captain

|December.22.2008

Local 1186 is asking for more money:

http://www.localf85.org/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&homeID=110315

streetsweeper

|December.22.2008

your right the non general funds are not in financial distress like the general fund. The ibew members only have about 100 members working under the general fund. Thats out of 250 members. I work under the general fund but much of my salary and benefits come from the gas tax and sanitation. Over the years they have moved ibew members out of the general fund and into these special funds. So, any cost savings from ibew will only help the general fund by alot smaller portion than many think.

Pyriphlegethon

|December.22.2008

Sweeper when you refer to wastewater plants, you are referring to one of those "restricted" pots of $. Because its a fee for service, cities can charge the residents for the full cost.

Our city's water dept had a surplus last year -- Bartee suggested it be used for Police and Fire (hello: illegal) during the long and fruitless dragged out finance conversations before the city finally was backed against the wall and had to file BK.

It might make more sense for a water treatment plant in ELk Grove to hire fulltime people, since water treatment plants are generally more stable
financially because they can pass on all costs to the consumers (the residents).

What happened with Vallejo's general fund is they promised much more than the city can afford. Can they hire FT people? no. So when they have specific projects that must be done, they hire consultants.

Should we raise taxes? maybe-we could use them for our crumbling roads. I will never vote to raise taxes until the city gets a handle on compensation for employees: PSUs (they have the large share of the pie) but the rest too.

Streetsweeper

|December.22.2008

many cities are getting rid of contractors and bringing on full time employees like elk grove and fairfeild's wastewater plant. On paper contracting always looks good but in the end it can cause more problems. There is no accountability and once contractors are in place and its your only option the costs increase. And on the rejection of the contracts many of you think if they are rejected the city puts in what it wants. This won't happen, it will only mean another form of negotiations. Maybe binding arbitration like the city charter says.

Sonic Toad

|December.21.2008

Pyri is exactly right. It's a business decision to keep lower cost workers on the job. Finally the city manager is making good business decisions to save dollars. Now only if the judge would step in and void the contracts.

Pyriphlegethon

|December.21.2008

Sweeper, contractors/temps are cheaper than regular employees since there are no benefits and when they are no longer needed, the City just lets them go. No need for layoffs, severance and all that.

The city has so many pots of money that can only be spent on certain things (thanks to us California voters) and the consultants might be working on out of those pots of money. Get rid of those consultants and you don't really save $ since the money can only be spent on those projects.

Government accounting has become so complex because of voter initiatives and the City of Vallejo has
already been sued 2x for spending restricted money on the wrong thing(Bunchongo Settlement and Ridgecrest LMD). Luckily our current finance management are experts at accounting properly unlike the days of yore.

I wonder what Buchongo was about -- redevelopment but not sure of the particulars. After the holidays I'm going to do some investigating and I'll post what I find out.

Anonymous

|December.21.2008

Yeah right, Idiot Boy. That person isn't a cop. LOL! Keep spewing your hatred towards the people who pay your salaries and benefits. That tactic is working so well for you, dontcha think?

streetsweeper

|December.21.2008

the city wants our members to take days off without pay and that makes sense to save money. What does not make sense is the fact they have and still are bringing in new hires into our labor group. Plus they have many contractors they could and should get rid of to save money. In most companys and cities they get rid of temps, part timers, and contractors first. Next, they give furlough time and then pink slips. When I've asked union reps about this they say that managment can do what they want.

Pyriphlegethon

|December.21.2008

So idiot boy, what lies are spewed here? NAME ONE Its all the truth and the truth hurts. Sorry, its just reality over here at VIB.

Idiiot boy

|December.21.2008

that person is not a police officer.

The divisiveness you "spew" on this web site is 10x worse than what this person posts. Quit propagating lies to stir up hate for public safety.

If you don't like what is on the TH blogs stay off. Nobody wants to hear from you there anyway. And, judging from lack of responses here, neither do your comrades.

Anonymous

|December.21.2008

Streetsweeper, there will be no new businesses coming in with enough new revenue in the next couple of years to get us out of this mess. With this economy, it just ain't gonna happen.

I've heard there are some interesting prospects in the works, but nothing immediate. Touro and the north end MI project right now is our brightest hope. But again, it will take time.

So that leaves us with more cuts. If the cops want to remain bullheaded and not take paycuts, they can leave. They can take their chances in other cities who are ALL facing similar budget crisis. And they will have no senority
anymore, and will be first in line for the chopping block. Ask the cop who left Vallejo for Oakland and just returned here. Not so green on the other side of the old fence.

And you know what? If our cops think of us like that one from the Times Horrid blog, I say good riddance. These guys are poisonous, filled with hate and venom. I don't want them working here, and they should GTFO. And for the cops who are appalled at things their brothers are doing and saying (come on, there have to some of them that are good!) -- they should speak up and stop them. They are giving the good cops bad names.

VHS	\|December.21.2008

The dredge ponds on MI should be put back into production immediately. In late 1997, I believe, the Navy spent 9 million dollars retrofitting the manifold and piping systems that extend from both sides of the channel, across the island terminating at the ponds. Revenue estimates are as high as 500K per month but any revenue is better than none. I feel bad for the people who invested their hard earned dollars in a home over there and ended up with a pair of deuces. If the money is restricted to the island then at least these folks can have all the necessary services paid for and perhaps have
their property taxes reduced.

streetsweeper

|December.21.2008

well from what I have heard and know the cops have plenty of leverage. They are already getting thin in numbers and if the city asks for too much or throws the contract out it will mean even larger numbers leaving. How will the city deal with this mess? Now lennar is screwing the city and blaming them for not doing the clean up. The city has no plan that I've heard of to increase revenue to keep what service we have. I guess its time to start looking for another job or going back to school. I dont see this getting better for any of us.

Anonymous

|December.20.2008

I wouldn't normally share the crap the Times Horrid blogs spews, but I thought it important that rational thinking Vallejoans know what their police officers think of them and their city. This was posted by a Vallejo officer today:

"Your city is not fit for the dumps. Vallejo needs to be buried with nuclear waste for the next 20 years it is that bad. I do not care how much pay they take away from me. I just want to see judgement day when Vallejo is number one in crime stats which is coming sooner than you know. I will sit in my black and white and listen to the screams. I want the city
council to take everything and justify nothing. Enjoy. I will at time and half. Merry christmas."

Anonymous

|December.20.2008

I like where Riley basically admits their poll is bogus and designed to influence and get the answers they want:

"I can't tell you who is involved with this because I'm not at liberty to say," Riley said.

At the end of the article, Jessica puts some bullet points about how to distinguish a valid poll vs. a push poll:

"Ask pollster to share name of their company and who is funding the survey..."

Deafening silence on Riley's part that speaks volumes.

PSU Watch

|December.20.2008

Jon Riley in today's Times Horrid article:

"This was a poll that was put on by a variety of interested parties interested in what's going on in Vallejo. There are a lot of folks out there that are interested in this issue -- it's not a Vallejo issue only."

"Interested parties." That's the problem in Vallejo. There are too many "interested parties" who neither live in Vallejo or care about what happens in Vallejo, who have their sticky fingers in our business.

anon	\|December.20.2008

LOL ... "Handlery also built the Hotel Georgian on Georgia Street which was demolished in the name of Redevelopment. The downtown began its long slide downhill after that."

Was Florence Douglas a member of the GOB club? It was during her 16 year tenure as mayor that the demolishing began.

Little Old Lady

|December.19.2008

Handlery also built the Hotel Georgian on Georgia Street which was demolished in the name of Redevelopment. The downtown began its long slide downhill after that. The City of Paris store closed too. Vallejo was once the regional North Bay shopping destination. High class! We also lost the Carnegie Library and the Julia Morgan Women's Club. Those same barbarians are currently viewing the National Historic Landmark brick buildings along the Mare Island waterfront through the same lens. Good citizens have not been able to stop these GOB's yet. Benefits of controlling the City Council extend
far beyond the PSU's. Hear the drums beating. We need money!!!! Any development any where. Ignore the laws and community well being. This is an emergency!! (WMD's???)

Pyriphlegethon

|December.18.2008

I just wrote an email too...thanks Miss M for the inspiration. Funny that the Casa owners (Amerland) and Handlery are both in San Diego...

MISSMARVELOUS

|December.18.2008

I wrote an extensive letter to Jon Handlery, explaining the plight of the Casa de Vallejo, with a brief past history of what became of the Casa after it was sold and chopped up inside to become senior housing. I will await his reply and will post it on VIB... Thanks everyone for the help on the Handlery Hotels info.

anon	\|December.18.2008

Here, Missy M, http://www.handlery.com/ give them a quick email.

Missmarvelous

|December.18.2008

Do you mean the Handlery Hotels of San Francisco Union Square Fame and the Handlery Hotel and Spa in San Diego are the same family that owned the Casa De Vallejo? The Handlery family still runs both these nice hotels, if it is the same family I wonder if they would be interested in knowing the fate of the Casa de Vallejo...

Anonymous

|December.18.2008

Little Old Lady, does/or did Hal Boex maintain an office in the Marina Towers?
About 10 years ago I was looking for office space in Vallejo and was shown a space on the upper floor facing north towards Napa.
I thought the landlord was Hal Boex, but could be wrong. We ultimately did decide against it as the building smelled like a bad restaurant, not good for an orthopedic surgeon's office!

For history

|December.18.2008

Hal Boex, a developer just in from Walnut Creek, was sitting in the bar with a few local politicos bemoaning the fact that citizen outcry had thwarted his plans to build a new, subsidized Senior Citizens housing complex elsewhere in the City. Juanita, the famed madam from Sausalito who had tried to open a restaurant in the Casa, happened by and quipped that Mr. Boex looked like a big spender and he should buy the Hotel. He did. At $600,000 plus improvements, the economics, he said, were much better than the project he had originally proposed. He converted the ballroom to 36 additional
units and the Coffee Shop to 3 more units for a total of 153 units, all subsidized by HUD Section 8 vouchers. The radio station and the pool went. The tower sign, an icon that marked the downtown for years, was destroyed. Boex went on to become the Planning Director for the City of Vallejo during the Curtola-Intintoli administration of early 1980.

For history

|December.18.2008

In the late 1970

Little Old Lady

|December.18.2008

Poor Miss... Another dream about to be thwarted. Remember there is big, big money in subsidized housing. Looks like the plan is "demolition by neglect". As we all know, the fire destroyed the roof and the asbestos laden roofing felts were reduced to ash left to blow off in the wind to waft through the adjacent neighborhoods. Rain will complete the job started by the fire suppression water to grow mold throughout the building. So expect "oh dear, it not be cost effective to rehabilitate the historic building and, since it will house mobility impaired seniors, we need wider
doors, hallways, etc. So we are going to use the insurance money plus the millions$ we can get from HUD to build a nice new building. Much cheaper.". There are plans being floated to brace the upper walls and cover the damaged portion but there doesn't look like there is any urgency to implementing them.

Yes Miss, the Casa de Vallejo was once the star of the Handlery Hotel chain, which began in Vallejo. It could again be a grand hotel listed as one of the Historic Hotels of America by the National Trust. But without political will to do the right thing for the community it will
continue to be a "cash cow" for out of town interests.

For history... In the late 1970

MISSMARVELOUS

|December.18.2008

Does anyone know the status of the Casa De Vallejo? No progress appears to be taking place as far as I can see, and now it is being rained on. My dream would be to see the owners/corporation of the building be forced to sell the historic structure to a hotel chain that could restore it, and then we would have a nice hotel in town. They could take the proceeds of their sale of the hotel and build a new senior housing building to modern code, to protect our seniors in case of emergency. Now remember this is only a dream... Once Touro builds their cancer center, I have to believe people will
be looking for a hotel to stay in nearby. Where are we going to put them, motel on the freeway, hotel next to amusement park, or send them up valley out of town to spend their dollars away from out city???

Oops Up Side The Head

|December.17.2008

Bet bucky's forehead is still smarting from the smack down last night!

Hmmm, big bad VPD and Union thug gets smacked by a senior in a wheelchair! Get a clue bucky and leave Schivley alone. Your out of your league. Next time she might throw a shoe or two!

Duck bucky!

On Fire

|December.17.2008

It appears that the catty malcontents have soiled their litter box (times horrid blogs) so much that they are seeking new places to plunk their poop!

Maybe we should put some repellent out!

Fed Up

|December.17.2008

Everytime I hear JoAnne Shively speak at a city council meeting I am oh so glad that I voted for her. She eloquently responded to a "retired professional?" police officer last night. Thank you for having the ka-honies to clue in the public in the face of self motivated bullies. And, also, I want to thank Diana Lang for also having the ka-honies to stand up and speak---I completely agree with her.

Solutions

|December.17.2008

Uh, what the heck happened to the string of comments? Since last night there have been a series of non-sensical posts. Was there one post removed and people (or the same person) responded to it? Or is it a case of too much eggnog? Queen Bee what? Fill us in on what we missed.

Firebug

|December.17.2008

Of course we all remember Sunga's degree. I also have issues with folks that want total compensation package based on a monopoly market and not what is in the City treasury. I suppose that begs the preface of "deserve" as opposed to ability to pay.

anon	\|December.17.2008

Darn, I missed that. The last utterances I remember from her: "I am no expert...." Maybe she had an epiphany after remembering she had a degree. She is an expert ..... in everything.

Apparently,

|December.17.2008

you did not see the Queen Beeeeeeee bragging on her prowess because she has a degree, and therefore, a professional and therefore, the city council, who also have degrees, should listen to her and Robert.

She probably insulted the majority of the Vallejo electorate with her drivel, if anyone cared, which I doubt.

The woman? has a huge self-esteem issue.

Curious

|December.17.2008

Social systems are just like natural environmental systems. Introduce rabbits to Australia and kill off the preditors and you end up with an awful lot of rabbits eating all the crops and creating a dust bowl. Too many preditors and they quickly eat up all the rabbits then they starve to death. All things in balance. Vallejo has too many preditors of all kinds so the system is out of balance because there is nothing left to feed them. Doesn't matter whether the preditor buys up masses of cheap houses to rent to Section 8 and other very low income people and ruins the neighborhood in the
process, is a high priced attorney getting a fat fee to advise on the best way to float huge redevelopment bonds or create a new assessment district or is a city PSU worker who scams higher and higher salaries despite the fact that there is no more money. Given the present situation, there is no possibility of more revenues. Think the Feds are going to send more poverty money? They are broke too. Think stores will locate here? Businesses? Think that middle income families will buy a home here? In this new world, the only way we survive is to form sustainable communities that balance the
needs of all. The Vallejo preditors have killed us. Looks like our Vallejo preditors don't feel that is in their own selfish interests to modify their behavior so we're dead.

streetsweeper

|December.17.2008

a degree does not translate into high salary all the time.Sometimes state certificates or federal licenses are just as good. Jobs that require these, and that require difficult tests to be passed usally pay well. If somone wanted to become a sanitation treatment person and passed the required tests they would make around $90,000 a year at top step. Also, there is not a huge pool if people willing to do the job. Many want to be teachers so it drives the wages down. Supply and demand right Robert?

VHS	\|December.17.2008

Queen, I have come to the same conclusion that education level in our society today does not translate automatically to greater value for the society. We are in bad shape right now thanks to all the analysis and policy creation by highly educated individuals. When people make the argument that GED employees only deserve 40K per year solely because they have lower levels education levels than traders on Wall Street, I say bunk. There may very well be legitimate reasons why one group or the other is more valuable to society but education alone is not one of them.

The Queen Beeeeeee

|December.17.2008

has spoken. LMAO!

Real professionals with degrees don't need to remind everyone of those attributes.

PROFESSIONALS WITH DEGREES are the reason this city is bankrupt and why this country is heading for another GreatER depression!

Socially dumb with no clue. BTW, the makeover isn't working for you.

i wanna be a fireman

|December.16.2008

laughing out loud

streetsweeper

|December.16.2008

your right ibew and camp would take layoffs. We are cut to the Bone already most of the members left bring money into the city. Camp might have more fat to cut. If you think I'm one of those jokers because I sound like them that means you have been around them right? So who are you tanner or gomes?

i wanna be a fireman

|December.16.2008

streetsweep, imagine this hypothetical scenario:

The City really can't pay employees full contract comp & benefits; & the unions win the bankruptcy case.

Supposing these were true in your world, what employee group do you think would take the lay offs?

p.s. i still think you're henke or shoemaker you sly little rascal

Anonymous

|December.16.2008

If this poll is asking who voters are likely to support, I believe this expense needs to go on the IAFF PAC report to the state. I wonder if the BK judge would like to see that?

On Fire

|December.16.2008

Street Sweeper, suggest you go into the City's website if you want a detailed discription of what a City Manager's job duty entails. If you will recall, initially we couldn't get anyone who wanted to take this job because of all the issues with the budget and the contracts with the unions. It took a second go around to get Tanner signed on. I suppose when you have to beg up on a CM to take the job, you have to make it worth his while. Can't imagine anyone wanting to fill his shoes now. No one, no how. So the Council better make sure we keep him on and work with who we have at least through
the financial fiasco we are in.

Better yet, maybe you should go through your own job discription because with the failing economy and California looking to make more cuts, all employees will need to look at what you can do to make yourself more valuable to your employer. There is a very limited amount of fat left on the bone for the city. Suspect that amputation of the limbs will be next.

Jiggy

|December.16.2008

Was the $500,000 tab for Henke's bogus defamation lawsuit worth it? Or are the unions content to pay for the thug tactics to shut up anyone who disagrees with them.

Enjoy paying Henke's bill. And many more as he makes all unions look bad at the expense of the membership.

streetsweeper

|December.16.2008

so tanner's $450,000 package is worth it because he will beat the unions? What happens if the unions are not beat or there is some compromise? How will he be able to justify the 5,7,0r 10 million waisted on legal fees? Robert how sales would be needed to generate 5 million in sales tax?

Firebug

|December.16.2008

Tanner has done something that every other City manager failed to do, confront the biggest reasons of our structural deficit. Your side continuously blames Tanner for showing us the true fincancial picture of this city and you blame him for insane contracts that his predecessor city managers supported. I don't think previous city managers a worth a nickel for the mess they have gotten us into yet your side loved them.

streetsweeper

|December.16.2008

Robert, ok so maybe these things can be explained. Just tell me what tanner has done other than running up legal bills, to help this city. Now, compare his salary and benefits to other city
Managers. I'm waiting! Oh I know the answer he deserves the money if he can hammer psu and whoever else gets in his way.

On Fire

|December.16.2008

I was also curious why Tanner did not release the Nicki memo to Council sooner. But I was more curious on why he did not first speak with the School District, before he made any decisions? Does he work in a void that he feels that any decision he makes, regardless to how it may ompact the city, is his and his alone to make? Would it not make more sense to have had a discussion with the District, then make his decision?

Now for the speculation bit: not as sensational if you come to the right decision in the first place. More splash to let the District get their panties in a bunch first,
have the public follow suit, then sit down and come up with a real plan.

Firebug

|December.16.2008

Judging from the reactions at the Times Horrid and here that poll isn't going too well.

I had a little laugh at the usual suspects posting about bringing in new business to Vallejo yet now they want a 1 percent sales tax increase.

Anonymous

|December.16.2008

Pri, Tanner is getting Penny Barclayed by Chief Nic, the PSUs AND Ozzy.

Ozzy has his eyes on the "Strong Mayor" prize. Then he wouldn't have to listen to those six other Councilmembers (or those pesky two!) and can just do what he wants. Welcome, Calvin Grigsbys of the world.

Ozzy is no more prepared, eductated or equipped to run a city than he is to fly an airplane. Just because somebody has flown as a passenger doesn't mean he can fly the plane.

Pyriphlegethon

|December.16.2008

Sweeper, your problem is that you beleive what the Times Herald says. They-the PSU mouthpiece-skewed the poll results to make it look like there was support. Their intepretation of the results have already been refuted.

Why rehash and bring up the poll now? Maybe you think we've all forgotten that it was BS?

The BK judge was very skeptical that Vallejo could increase taxes - he thought Tanner's assessment of that poll was correct. So drop it already. Tanner is not a liar.

And the school/police thing, I think Tanner's getting "Penny Barclayed" by Nicholini and the PSUs.
The PSUs want a patsy up there to do their bidding -- another David Martinez? And Nicholini, (like everyone else in City Hall) benefits from the very generous PSU wages. When the tide rises, all boats go up.

Robert Schussel

|December.16.2008

Streetsweeper

Some of the facts you state are incomplete.

Three surveys were to be commissioned but only the first one was ever done.

If you read my letter to the editiors of the TH (I might add the only one I ever wrote in my entire life) I castigated Ted Vollmer and the TH Editors for a highly misleading title and analysis.

No mention was made by the TH that the major conclusion of the Study was that getting voter approval of any new taxes would be problematic ( jaron for highly unlikely).

The Poll was leaked by the PSU despite a confidentiality clause.

You are correct
that there was support for Public Safety personnel on the survey.
When asked vague questions about new taxes there was support. However when asked about renewing the current taxes support dropped dramatically.Even more damming is that that those who are most likely to vote won't support tax increases--this was before all of the negativitiy occured and declines in the economy.

I hope this helps set the record straight.

streetsweeper

|December.16.2008

before everyone attacks me let me say I'm not saying the public feels that way now. The program set in motion to turn the public against psu has worked well, plus the economy is terrible.

streetsweeper

|December.16.2008

Robert, the poll that was completed for the city showed support for public safety and new fees and to keep other fees in place. During mediation he told our team and the mediator the poll was never completed and the portion that was done showed no support for new fees so he cancelled it. Later they released the poll. All this was brought up in court. Also,on the schools and cops he was told he should inform the council on plans to remove cops. Again, he sat on it letting it blow up in the faces of our council.

Robert Schussel

|December.16.2008

Streetsweeper
If you are calling Tanner a liar what specific facts did he lie about.

Ironically the release of the Poll results would have benefited Tanner more
than the PSU-so was he really "sitting on them"

streetsweeper

|December.16.2008

Robert, you forgot number 4. If the poll results do not reflect what you want you lie about them or sit on them like tanner. Just like tanner sitting on the plan to remove cops from schools.

On Fire

|December.16.2008

I see Anon, the cry baby is back.

Did mommy give you milk and cookies to make you feel better?

Bad bad people who called you names.

On Fire

|December.16.2008

Outty, let me try and break this down further for you so you can get a clue. If VIB truely was a hate site toward PS employees, why would Marc bother to post videos that have people who talk about supporting police and fire? No editing would be required. Just fill the tape with people ranting. The point being, is that 1, we don't hate police and fire, 2, the public for the most part don't hate PS employees, and 3rd, the issue was the message that the paper doll display was supoosed to carry. Talk about your conspiracy theory.

Robert Schussel

|December.16.2008

I have not seen or heard the Poll being discussed but if the reports that Marc has received are correct the results should be considered to be biased and not reflective of the Community.

As a market researcher there are three critical rules in designing and conducting surveys/polls

1) Each person in the population being studied has an equal chance of being selected ie a random sample was selected

2) The questions show be clear and unbaised.Presenting crime statistics etc before asking a question is clearly a way to try to influence the respondent.

3) Interviewers do not try to
influence the persons responses.

It seems that rule #2 ( providing information designed to influence ones perceptions) has been violated.

I might add that the Poll done by the City was well done and did not contain information that was designed to influence a respondents perceptions.

Finally,I hope we don't have another eposide in which the Times Herald extracts selected questions( and ignores those that don't support their viewpoint) to prove a point.

streetsweeper

|December.16.2008

heard a rumor about Sam last night but I'll just wait to see if its true. I actually get a kick out of him and believe he cares about this city even if he hates the unions. He may be a little unstable at times and could use a belt.

Careful streetsweeper

|December.16.2008

they are turning on you!

Talk about delusional, paranoid AND fear mongering.

You people scare me.

Anonymous

|December.16.2008

Well, Streetsweeper, maybe we can put a list together of everyone who supports VIB and post it here for you. Then you and your police and fire friends can boycott our businesses, drive by our houses, and threaten our livlihoods. Not.

streetsweeper

|December.16.2008

is Sam k a vib supporter?

Did I Say That Outloud

|December.16.2008

Hey On Fire,
He did edit at least two of them. Watch the tape again. The Guy with the girlfriend named Crystal - the tape "jumps" in the middle of the interview, a sign of bad editing. (Gee wonder what was removed?) And notice how the woman blaming high paid in charge of the budget for the mess abruptly ends? That's a cut-off edit. So when you start ha-ha ing have your ducks in a row.....at least in my original post I gave congrats for having the cajones to release the video. The resentment on this website is hilarious so when I come here, it adds to my day. Can't wait for the next
"Geraldo's, What's in Capone's vault" type video......

Anonymous

|December.16.2008

Bob Schussel rocks! Thank you, Bob, for breaking it down for us. Henke et al have buried all of this in overly complicated contracts for years. It's shocking to see it all together, as someone else said, in the harsh light of day.

Waz up wid dat?

|December.16.2008

Right on man! The PSU is like a naughty spoiled child that wants it's way. You dont hate your naughty child, but hate the actions of the child. Right now the naughty PSU is lying on the ground kicking and screaming, you've seen it before, usually at the check out counter near the candy and toys...

On Fire

|December.15.2008

Hey Outty, if Marc wanted to only give a slanted view of the paper doll display, wouldn't it have been easier to simply "edit" the interviews? What was clear is that people don't hate police and fire. Unlike the propaganda poll put out by the PSU's, the videos are not edited to push a biased opinion. If the comments made by the people in the video were so drastically changed to make it into some other message, don't you think they would have said so on these blogs by now?

The people were free to disagree with the questions that were posed to them. For the most part,
they totally missed whatever point the paper doll display was trying to convey. It wasn't until Marc asked further questions that some of the people even understood what the billboard meant. Talk about missing your mark!

Contrary to how the PSU sock puppets attempt to label us, we don't hate police and fire. But it's easier to demonize those who question the salaries and the contracts, and call us haters, then it is to validate any reason to continue paying salaries/benefits that the City can't afford.

Did I say that out loud? You betcha!

On Fire

|December.15.2008

Boy oh boy Marc. Think Robert's coverage of the sacred benefits has caused some people's panties to twist!

Touchy subject for some. They are acting like they were sucking on lemons all afternoon and were beat with the "angry" stick.

Sort of like when their salaries were posted!

So much hatered for VIB and the citizens who dare to question their salaries and benefits. I think the exposure of the reality of working for Vallejo and living the good life has been a dark secret for so long that the sunshine hurts their eyes.

Did I Say That Outloud

|December.15.2008

Hey One VIBer,
It was as funny as the way Garman tried to steer his questioning session on the street to get the answers he wanted when the majority supported Safety. Especially the cut-off of the lady who blamed those high paid ones in charge of the budget. The resentment is starting to get in the way...........

MISSMARVELOUS

|December.15.2008

BTW, when Little Old Lady says Napa made a real attempt to clean up it's historic district for the tourists, where do you think some of the section 8 run off went? To Vallejo I am sure... Napa County has still done nothing to satisfy their 3400 units of affordable housing they are suppose to build (google the DeHaro lawsuit online) they are still fussing around if they can dump part of it in American Canyon, or dress it up in some part of the commerical part of Napa called "Napa Pipe." Napans do not want any new homes (especially affordable housing) built in Napa. They prefer to
send their low income housing down river to places like American Canyon and hopefully out of county to Vallejo.

MISSMARVELOUS

|December.15.2008

With all the talk of Napa and Vallejo recently on the VIB site, I was wondering if anyone can speak on the following topic: I have read and heard that the run off from the many and ever growing wineries in Napa County are creating a possible eco-disaster from all the silt run off flowing into the Carquinez Strait. Not only are the wineries sucking up all the table water,(which forces residents to dig expensive deeper wells) they are also adding to the silt build up in the Carquinez Strait which of course runs to the Bay. Napa and Vallejo have been at odds with each other now for the past 20
years, Napa bad names Vallejo and Vallejeons think Napans are snobs... Um, maybe that's the way the politicans want it, Keep Napa and Vallejo separated, that way the right hand and the left hand...

streetsweeper

|December.15.2008

council I mean.

streetsweeper

|December.15.2008

wow, what happend? This site is blowing up. All this emotion came from where? How about everyone head down to the council meeting tues night to throw shoes at the coucil?

Anonymous

|December.15.2008

Did I say that outLoud

As you stated,"the morons on the council are the ones that broke the bank".

I would find it difficult to disagree with you. I beleive your statement is fair and I share your frustration - you get it!. It absolutely had much to do with past council members, many of whom were funded & endorsed by the PSU's, that ratified these bad contracts. They gave away the keys to the Tax Payer Vault and now the money is in the bank accounts & pension funds of the PS union members.

Nancy Reagan and her "just say no" campaign is in full swing - it's called
bankruptcy.

Truth Teller

|December.15.2008

This guy is cracking me up:

"I don't need your permission to post here. I made an observation and all you have done is attack me with names." Which begs the response "neener, neener, neener".

You go on with your bad self, stomping that foot and demanding attention. And what exactly have you shared of depth or importance? Thaaaat's right, nada.

I too got the poll. I asked if there was a SUPER strongly disagree for some of those questions like raising the tax by 1-1/4 percent and if I thought FFers should be paid more. I did actually say "are they out of their
minds???"

And for the thought that Osby might be willing to be bought, let me remind you this the same guy who thought Grigsby could be our savior? 'nuff said.

Firebug

|December.15.2008

Onfire,
But the Alligator and Crocodile only know how to "roll" their victims when in doubt. I feel behavior never changes and if this is like the Rose report kept secret for so long they will likely make assertions that Tanner didn't do his job trying to raise taxes and fudge the results for a smear campaign and to convince Judge McManus that the city has not bargained in good faith.

Robert Schussel

|December.15.2008

If people get called would you please try to write down the questions and share them on the site.

The City survey did not have any biased questions . Hopefully the new survey done by the PSU isn't a push pull type of survey with biased questions.

An example of a potentially As you may know Vallejo has severe finanical problems and is losing Police and Fireman.Taxes may be the only way to keep the City afloat. Would you support a new tax to help out the City.

The last survey conducted by the City showed that those who were most likely to vote were the most opposed to any new tax.
While there was agreement that people might support a new tax,interest dropped when specifics were given.

I suspect with the current national finanical crisis and all of the negative information about the PSU in the past year ,the numbers will be much lower this time.

On Fire

|December.15.2008

Firebug, from what I've heard, the pollsters appeared to be resigned to the responses by the people they called when it came to the responses about increased taxes. ("Are you crazy?" or "Are you kidding me?"

So if this is true, we may never hear the results of this poll. Hopefully this time around, they will reveal the responses from the "most likely voters" instead of "those who haven't voted in most of the elections". While some would likely consider additional taxes at some future date, they want accountability for where the taxes are going and if it will
simply keep the PS employees in the lifestyle they have become accustom to, it may not be as appealing right now.

Just when I thought

|December.15.2008

you couldn't be more petty. No surprise there.

I don't need your permission to post here. I made an observation and all you have done is attack me with names.

Bravo!

Firebug

|December.15.2008

I think this poll is going to be used to contradict Tanner and a smear campaign along those lines. Only one problem no one will forget the "pass the abalone" war cry for a very long time.

On Fire

|December.15.2008

Speaking of the push poll, I hear that one of the questions is regarding our mayorial seat and questioning whether or not we would like to see it chang into a strong mayor position. If this is being paid for by the PSU, does that mean that they are trying to feel out whether or not they can "buy" the mayor's seat in a coming election? Now are they referring to Ozzy? Is this a Blagojevich in the making?

On Fire

|December.15.2008

Uh, it's "burred ONE" not "burred on".

So if we aren't "brilliant" enough for you, why are you (still)here?

Oh great BURRED ONE.

But Who's Counting

|December.15.2008

The Mayor's seat was won (stolen)by one vote. The signatures for the removal of binding arbitration was only short by a couple hundred from what I understand. That means 7,000 plus signtures by people who felt it was worthy of getting on the ballot. Hmmmm, that's more than the total votes a lot of candidates got in prior elections!

By the way angy one, how many people have been down at council expressing their anger over the fact that the city is moving forward with the bankruptcy? None you say?

Yeah, you can try to downplay the numbers all you want, but it seems your only fooling
yourself. Get with the program or get out of the way.

Okay, burred on?

|December.15.2008

Wow, how enlightening and intellectual.

On Fire

|December.15.2008

Okay burred one, now we are getting to the meat and potatoes. You just want to be ugly!

I suppose the vile and ignorant comments being made on the horrid just aren't enough for you so you have come on down to our side of the playground and spread it over here?

Trust me, there are plentiful opinions on binding arbitration and maybe it was a couple of hundred short this time, but by the time the court hearings are over and the public becomes even more aware of the greed of the unions, it will come to pass and make it to the ballot. Who knows, maybe we don't need to worry
about binding arbitration. From what is being said on the horrid, all the public safety employees are leaving anyway. There will be nothing left to bind or arbitrate right Great Burred one?

And by the way, we have so gotten over the last election and moved on. Suggest you try to do the same.

But don't you just love the fact the THIS entire council was in agreement that the PS contracts were a big contributing factor to the city heading toward bankruptcy? Funny how things work out that way!

Firebug

|December.15.2008

Now that your love affair with the Chamber of Horrors is over, it will be interesting to see how much votes PSU candidates can get. You have a lot of name recognition now

On Fire

|December.15.2008

Just where exactly is it that the sock puppets have such a disconnect? It seems that it's simpler for them to say we "hate" public safety than to understand it's the salaries and benefits that is eatting away at our budget.

What part of BROKE is so hard to comprehend?

Even the hard nosed UAW has seen the light. They understand that it is better to have a smaller paycheck then to be unemployed.

You can't even

|December.15.2008

get enough signatures to get Binding Arbitration on the ballot.

How arrogant of you to say there will "never be" because you and "hundreds" like you will take care of that!

Well, if that was the case, just like with BA, Cloutier would be mayor and TP would still be on the council.

Sorry to break it to you, but BA is not going to be on the ballot, Cloutier is not mayor and TP, although he schmoozed himself into a nice income with Fighting Back to compliment his generous retirement checks, he is not a member of the council, either.

Hundreds? (laughing)

On Fire

|December.15.2008

Oh great burred one, you just want to fight.

So it appears that you're of the opinion that the sock puppet's comments over at the horrid are filled with pearls of wisdom. So why are you here if you don't like what we have to say?

Maybe some fiber in your diet would help you?

One of many VIBers

|December.15.2008

And here it is explained again to you "you feel the need to jump up and down and demand we pay attention to you? When you have something of substance to contribute, come over."

This site has highlighted the good works of many (real volunteers not the paid for one of the local FF'ers) in cleaning up the city, coming up with better, more creative ways to address housing, promoting events that will bring money to worthy non-profits that had their funding striped so the PS'ers can drain every last dime...the list does go on. There are many ideas of how to improve this city posted on this
site but noooo, you want attention!!! For me, you are insignificant. And as for showering you with my brilliance, as I said, you are insignificant.

Now some of the other fabulous bright people on here - LOVE you all!

The "Smart Kids"

|December.15.2008

that come up with words like "troll"? That's your version of intellect?

I haven't read any great "positive" ideas here recently. Blaming public safety is not going to cut it, though it is part of the problem. Revitalizing downtown for the 4th time in 20 years won't cut it either.

Shower me with some of your self-imposed brilliance, because that would truly be refreshing.

On Fire

|December.15.2008

Okay "Not", I take it to mean that "just me" means that you are angry with me.

So, a simple solution why don't you just ask the questions you have?

Calling NBR a Troll has never stopped him from posting nor has it driven him away.

Otherwise, it appears that you just have a bur that needs attending to.

One of many VIBers

|December.15.2008

Oh Trolly, are you tired of playing with yourself over at the TH? You want so badly to play with the smart kids that reside here but you can't keep up, poor little guy. Just because most of us have completely turned our backs on the Romper Room Boys over at the TH, you feel the need to jump up and down and demand we pay attention to you? When you have something of substance to contribute, come over. Otherwise be gone you annoying gnat!

Wouldn't it blow you away if you knew that there were not 10 of us but 100's of us who live here, pay taxes and resent the hell out of the greedy safety
unions who want to take every last dime to fill their gaping maws?

That push poll was a delight to answer the other day. Poor woman asking the questions even seemed to agree that the editorializing within the questions was outrageous. I laughed so hard at a couple of the 'questions'. No, I don't think the PS'ers who sponsored the poll are getting much support. And again I am surprised that VPOA didn't try to separate themselves in this poll from IAFF so they will get treated with the same brush. Oh, I see, IAFF set the whole thing up.

You desperate, misguided fools. There will NEVER be
a 'strong mayor' nor will there be a voter approved tax hike to pay off the greedy unions. I and many others will make sure these things will not happen. Oh and any union supporting candidate's this time around will be outted - loud and clear.

Now, run along...

Firebug

|December.15.2008

Gun to their head? Remember the 2002 hate campaign against Shively? The PSU's according to the late great Lily Heyen hired a hitman to dig up dirt on her for questioning PSU contracts. Now we have Gomes, Cloutier, and Perasall questioning the contracts and well you can see the hagte" being thrown their way.

Anonymous

|December.15.2008

Outloud, neither this Council or the previous Council approved ANYTHING in these contracts. Try two or three Councils ago.

Did I Say That Outloud

|December.15.2008

Can someone tell me what type of gun was held to he head of the Vallejo City Council so they were forced to say yes to everything in the contracts? It appears from the video that the morons on the Council were the ones to break the bank. As good old Nancy Reagan used to say : Just say no! Must have been to easy for them to utter, much easier to blame the other side.

Not everyone

|December.15.2008

Just you. And, you don't control where I post.

Basically, you just turned around what I initially said about you. So much for creativity on your part. I am not a troll, I took exception of you calling someone else a troll, whose opinion I was interested in reading about. What is your problem with that? What you are doing is trying to eliminate and bully away opposing views from your own and labeling people "trolls". Just like you just did with me.

Does this site have a mission statement that includes rejecting viewpoints from one poster to another?

If so, please direct me,
I would be interested in reading it.

Firebug

|December.15.2008

With a court decision getting closer and the delusion of a safety tax fading I expect much more outbursts like these from the PSU's.

On Fire

|December.15.2008

So anonymous one, your point is?

Did you just wake up with a burr and need to vent?

Are you in the mood for trolling or just angry with anyone that has a difference of opinion than you?

You seem to need to be in the company of people who share "like opinions" so maybe the times horrid would suit you better. There is a lot of hate toward the citizens of Vallejo there. Maybe you would feel better posting there.

The Rest of Who?

|December.15.2008

There's less than 10 of you, which hardly makes a majority of anything except for maybe the opinions you deem worthy on this site.

"There are none so blind as those who will not see".

Or, those who Google, cut and paste definitions to try and win a debate, then pat themselves on the back and say "I win".

On Fire

|December.15.2008

Well "I'm Not", hate is such an intensive and extreme word. This is the term that the PS employees have made into their "mantra". Anyone that questions their pay and benefits, or motives and actions, instantly becomes a "hater". Or like Stevie would say, a "hatter".

There has been nothing in what I have been saying that could be construed as having hate for our safety employees. As the saying goes, "don't hate the player, hate the game"! Public safety games have cost them their support within the community. Their union talking heads have cost them
their creditibility.

Now that's not hate speech, that's the truth. My opinion of course and I don't have to keep re-posting other's comments and asking repeated questions to give my opinion. We are speaking to other's motives and not their inquiring minds. There is a difference you know.

Firebug

|December.15.2008

When fear didn't bring the desired reaction, and anger and hate now PSU's are resorting to begging for peace to pander for a tax. Sorry fellas you earned this slop now enjoy the fruits of your labors.

Anonymous

|December.15.2008

I'm sure you've made Marc's day, NBR. Such high praise coming from you. And the rest of us are just crushed you don't think we're heroes. What will we do with our lives? Sigh.

I'm Not Going to Argue With Y

|December.15.2008

But, it is not the Public Safety verses the Vallejo citizenry. That's in your imagination and is really quite dangerous and divisive.

I'm not ****ed off at anything. I can listen to two sides, make up my own mind and not call someone a "troll" or a "PSUer", whatever that supposed to be.

I'll use an analogy from the present Bush Administration. It's like calling people unpatriotic and not supporting the troops if I do not support the invasion of Iraq. Same mentality, same stupidity.

The police and fire are not our enemies, however, I am beginning to think you are.

By
the way, I think Mark Garmin has more guts than most people in Vallejo, and that is refreshing and I thank him for this site. However, I do not put you or any of the other minions who post on both sites in the same category.

On Fire

|December.15.2008

And just out of curiosity, just what is my mantra?

Firebug

|December.15.2008

Congratulations! You have enraged another PSU troll six more weeks and counting

On Fire

|December.15.2008

First of all, suggest you try looking up the discription of a TROLL! :woohoo

NBR fits the discription because he only posts questions to comments that others have made, but never comes up with conclusions of his own. Hence, becomeing the baiting troll:

An Internet troll, or simply troll in Internet slang, is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the intention of provoking other users into an emotional response[1] or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

or:

Another form of trolling can occur in the form of continual questions with obvious or easy-to-find answers. Of course, sometimes what is obvious to one person is obscure to another. If a user seems to be asking stupid questions, try to give them the resources to help themselves. If they continue asking the question even after you have clearly answered it, or begin complaining that you will not help them, there is a chance of them being trolls.

Very few times in the years that he has posted, has he stated a postion or opinion. There is a difference in the two you know! (Or
maybe you you don't)

In either case, I'd suggest you do a little more research into for whom the Troll bell tolls!

TO ON FIRE

|December.15.2008

You sure are full of yourself.

Who named you king or queen? One thing they say on the "Times Horrid" is true. According to you, the VIB can NOT tolerate any point of view, but your own.

I find you repeating the same mantra over and over again, too, and then taking your usual self-righteous stand when someone disagrees.

Get over yourself and realize their are more than one, two or even three points of view, other than your own.

Trolls come in every shape and sizes, even yours.

Little Old Lady

|December.15.2008

The long time political agenda in Vallejo is not to make the community more prosperous...only to enrich the few. And that has worked extremely well! Look at the salaries and bennies for City staff! Look at the millions made with Section 8 empires? Look at the Redevelopment schemes and the huge fees to lawyers and consultants. Yes, indeed Vallejo's economic strategy is working just fine for those that set it up.

Obviously you can't see the view slivers in Napa because they are huge swaths. They tore down all of the buildings on the east side of the river downtown so you can see the new
building now which is a mixed use project slightly lower that Vallejo's Triad Project already approved.

On Fire

|December.14.2008

For those not aware of "anon" aka NBR, he isn't trying to engage people to have a rational or intellegent conversation. He repeats what you say and repeatedly asks the same questions over and over again.

HE LIKES TO HEAR HIMSELF TALK!

Go back to the times horrid NBR. We are tired of feeding the troll! Join the others on the t-h who like to hear themselves talk and are full of nonsense. Grow up and learn to hold a logical conversation without the unnecessary repetition and to get to some sort of conclusion instead of wasting space with rhetoric.

anon	\|December.14.2008

Little ol Lady .... you a Napa resident? "Actually I participated in the planning process for the Napa River Project and the Napa City General Plan"

Downtown Napa is situated in a valley, downtown Vallejo is located on the edge of a bay. There are no hills/mountains to view that any 4 or 5 story building would block from the waterfront area. Your description of Napa "as flat as a pancake" is ironic because the bay adjacent to downtown Vallejo is flatter than pancake.

I'll stand by my comments regarding the views and I can see there is no rebutal to the amount of office/
commercial/ residentual space being allocated to the Riverfront plan.

If you are going to use " whole river reach restored as open space and natural habitat including opening levees and restoring former marshes to their original flood plain." as an argument for "open space" Vallejo easily exceeds it with its established flood plains/ marshes and open channel. The more people friendly parks and walking paths in the Callaghan DeSilava plan absolutely dwarf the parks planned for Napa.

You helped plan the Napa Riverfront project and yet you protest the Callaghan DeSilva
project? Where do the two projects differ that gets the support for one and opposition for the other?

VHS	\|December.14.2008

LOL, just curious. What work has been done to make Vallejo more prosperous?

Troll

|December.14.2008

Wow. All of this insight! You all forget the failure of Vallejo is because of the fire and police. In spite of the economic troubles across the nation, only Vallejo blames their fire and police departments.

Little Old Lady

|December.14.2008

Actually I participated in the planning process for the Napa River Project and the Napa City General Plan as a part of the stakeholder coalitions. The participants in that process make the Vallejo people you call obstructionists look like total and complete wimps. The Napa "obstructionists" stopped the concrete ditch originally proposed cold (the funding was almost lost) and "settled" for a whole river reach restored as open space and natural habitat including opening levees and restoring former marshes to their original flood plain. The Army Corps now uses the Napa River
Project as a model for the nation. There are no view corridors in that plan because there are no view corridors in Napa. It is flat as a pancake. Vallejo is built on hills with fabulous views. Again, keep smearing those that work hard to make Vallejo a properous, livable community. It makes you look like the dumb bunnies you are and gives us a chance to tell the truth to your innuendo, slander and slime.

anon	\|December.14.2008

Troll watcher .... truth must hurt. The Napa Riverfront is devoid of "view slivers" which were a major complaint of those against the Callaghan DeSilva plan. The Napa Riverfront has less "open space" than the approved Vallejo Waterfront plan which means it is woefully behind the open space demanded by the Gomes alternative plan. Another complaint by Gomes and company was the space dedicated to "offices", which would be unused at night creating an 'unused feeling'. Napa Riverfront plans are almost 50% office space with 50 residentual units as opposed to the 300+
residentual units planned for Vallejo.

If the progressive gentry did not like the Callaghan DeSilva plan, the Napa plan and its lack of "view slivers" would have been shouted down by the basic VIB crowd.

Oh! and according to the artist conception, the 4 and 5 story building right on the rivers edge would definetly be a deal breaker.

streetsweeper

|December.14.2008

your right about all the red tape to get anything done. I just think we should expand what is working. The northgate shopping center - the auto mall does well. The only problem getting off and on the freeway over there. Pinole did a great job building off ramps to make it easy for people to get off 80 to spend money. We need to develop next to the Honda dealership with all that land thats just sitting there. The only people making use of that land are the dirt bike riders and day laborers. We could put in more stores and a in and out burger.

Anonymous

|December.14.2008

streetsweeper, I know you don't want to admit this, but city management is way more complicated than you and the rest of us sitting in our armchairs know.

It's easy to complain and offer simple solutions that will never work in the real world because of laws and regulations that must be followed. It's so easy to call people stupid for not just "borrowing" another city's general plan and save $1 million. When those "stupid" people know that can't be done. Take the time to learn, educate yourself and possibly realize city management can't be done by just any untrained person.

Little Old Lady

|December.14.2008

Nope, you can't just copy someone else's General Plan because, according to all of the State's requirements, it has to factor the existing situation...roads and capacity, inflastucture and capacity, flooding and geomorphic hazards such as liquifaction and landsliding, housing types and population. Things that are particular to each community. Plus the requirements include much public input, something that the GOB's studiously avoid because they don't like what they hear. Then there is that troublesome Environmental Impact Report that must be done correctly or it can be legally challanged.
That's what has happened to all the stupid developments planned for Vallejo. City staff, the developers and their paid hacks tailored the facts to the desired outcomes and got nailed by an informed citizenry. The same kind of people that stopped the concrete ditch planned by the Army Corps of Engineers through the City of Napa that cleared the way for those glitzy condos and shops now under construction in downtown Napa along a restored, natural Napa River. Stupid developments have cost us citizens dearly in opportunities lost by doing it over and over and direct costs for the staff that
push the paper back and forth.

streetsweeper

|December.14.2008

a million bucks to come up with a plan? What are the managers doing in economic development? Why can't we just copy another city's plan and save the money? Fairfeild or berkley seem to do well. Build up along the freeway with outlet stores or somthing. All those cars driving through the middle of town every day on 80 would be a good place to start.

momster

|December.14.2008

I also remember when Napa wasn't so nice. In the 80s hardly no one went downtown. My hub and I just went to Napa to shop at Trader Joes. I remember when that little strip mall only has a grocery store, Wards, and a bowling alley. I was really impressed with the planning of that strip mall. The leaders were smart by locating Whole Foods, Target, Trader Joes, Pete's Coffe and Childs Delight all in one area. Business was booming.

Little Old Lady

|December.14.2008

I moved to Napa City in 1985 and the old town was blighted and really rough. The older neighborhoods (the historic ones) were filled up with poverty especially Mexican farmworkers pushed out of housing in the agricultural areas by the Napa County General Plan. Some in my neighborhood were living 20 guys in basements and garages without sanitation while City staff turned a blind eye to Code enforcement because the tony up Valley folks needed a place to dump their poverty. The tiny 1889 house next to mine had been chopped up into 4 units all occupied by welfare single moms some of whom had
drug dealer boyfriends who were selling openly right from the porch. In fact, that tiny house was originally owned by the Fire Chief and head of Code Enforcement. So I know first had how bad Napa City was. The tourist guides recommended that visitors bypass Napa City. So what happened? Informed, smart and engaged citizens (same ones you rail about stopping progress in Vallejo) stopped the stupid developments and pushed the City in the direction of economically sound and smart development. The GOB's recognized the economic value in that and jumped on the bandwagon.

Little Old Lady

|December.14.2008

Street...

It's called a General Plan. Vallejo's is a cobbled together bunch of internally inconsistant junk based on a document originally prepared in 1970 when the US Navy still operated Mare Island. But a General Plan costs at least $1 million and Vallejo doesn't have that because of the greed of the PSU. So where do we start???? By stopping the bleeding.

streetsweeper

|December.14.2008

little old lady, I've been here since 1975 and Vallejo has never been like napa. You say napa has tourism and Vallejo needs to focus on somthing along the same lines. So, what would you suggest? We can sit around and point fingers all day but without a real solution we are just making noise. I agree that the city needs to control their costs but they have to come up with a real plan that does not throw money away on projects that will not increase revenue and that create more financial holes.

Troll Watch

|December.14.2008

Just ribbing you in good humor, Streetsweeper. But you are partially correct. Yes on the housing fee dependency of past leadership. No on BK keeping cops away. The city has hired two recently, and could attract more if the funding was there.

Little Old Lady

|December.14.2008

The reason the Vallejo schools are failing is that 43% of the kids can't graduate (and many more are shoved off into continuation "preprisons" so they don't run these percentages up further). These are the kids from very low income families often headed by a single mother that are concentrated in Vallejo under the City of Vallejo's housing policies because the City gets a cut to prop up their paychecks in Economic Development. This cycle is required because the PSU suck off all of the general fund and those that are left scramble to figure out ways to pay themselves...more fees, more
subsidized housing, more special assessment districts, more poverty programs and (they hope) more property taxes. All things are connected and the parasites have just about killed the host. Napa City is not run by the Unions and the poverty pimps. It is tied to the Napa Valley tourism industry. Napa cleaned up their pretty historic downtown neighborhoods so the tourists would feel welcome and safe which induced the homeowners in those neighborhoods to pump more money into fixing up their houses. It is a circle. Our historic downtown neighborhoods are filled up with Section 8, welfare
families, group homes, parolees including child molesters and halfway houses with no political will (the PSU owns that) no staff in code enforcement and a police department that responds only to the "important" calls. Vallejo is a perfect example of what happens when the uneducated and self absorbed control politics for their own selfish benefit.

Streetsweeper

|December.14.2008

sorry about my spelling errors last night but I went over what I wrote and feel its what I meant to say. And yes I had a glass of whine with dinner, is that against the blogging rules?

Troll Watch

|December.14.2008

Anon, go troll on the Times Horrid. You don't make stupid, blanket statements like that without just wanting to **** people off so they'll engage in your stupidity. Your Times Horrid pals will play with you, troll.

And Streetseeper, put down the bottle before blogging, dude. Your posts were obviously under the influence last night.

anon	\|December.14.2008

If you like what is happening in downtown Napa then the development along the Napa riverfront should be pointed out to the anti-development gentrification crowd in Vallejo. If the new progressives here in Vallejo were in Napa, that whole riverfront development would be protested and locked up in court and the city council for the next 10 years. It would look like our waterfront. Grass and a parking lot.

streetsweeper

|December.13.2008

deeper

streetsweeper

|December.13.2008

the bottom line is this town has not brought any industry or anough business while other towns have. We should have hit rock bottom after the navy left but the housing industry prolonged our fate. Now the housing boom is over and we have nothing but the discovery kingdom and our beloved empress. Many feel its all labors fault but it goes much dealer than that. Being branded as the bankrupt city has hurt us. Now cops dont want to work hear people dont want to move hear and business is not coming.

2 Cents

|December.13.2008

I do see some logic to the post by "curious". The demographics of Vallejo really are lousy. Low income, high number of section 8 housing, poor levels of education and nothing really in our future to improve those basic areas. Development with low fees is really not going to change much when we have council members and good ole boys who work the system to help themselves at the expense of the rest of us. This sort of city is not going to move up unless gentrification happens and forces (developers) come into Vallejo to disrupt the good ole boy system that has ruined this place. My
opinion is that Triad is being driven away because the good ole boys and their council cronies don't like that an outsider is moving into their turf. And it is truly a turf war if you think about it and all about control. It's a fact of life unfortunately. I just drove up to Napa today and that place is growing like crazy. New hotel downtown being built, new housing and office space on the river and lots of activity. Pay attention to the differences between these two towns of Napa 75,000 and Vallejo 120,000. Better everything in Napa is about as clear as I can say it. I am seriously going to
look into my options to leave Vallejo when the economy turns around.

anon	\|December.13.2008

Curious, the last of your points "Vallejo's dangerous and failing school system" may be the biggest reason for young families not wanting to move here and it has nothing to do with PSU contracts.

Curious

|December.13.2008

How can you PSU folks and hangers-on talk of revenue when everything you are doing will ensure that no one in their right mind will ever invest in Vallejo? You may have fooled the naive part timers you elected to City Council but you can't fool all the rest of us. Without a demographic with disposable income to spend, there will be no commercial development. Without an educated, nimble workforce and a favorable fee structure, no employer will locate here. With Vallejo's dangerous and failing school system, middle and upper income families won't buy homes here. What are you all smoking?

streetsweeper

|December.13.2008

thanks, but I do not know all just have common sense. I am not saying the unions will not have to feel some pain but this mess will not be solved by labor alone. The economy is bad now but even when it turns around do you feel confident that those in power have a good plan to increase revenue. If we go by their record up to this point the answer is no. Can anyone tell me what the plan is to bring in revenue once contracts are rejected?

Anonymous

|December.13.2008

Oh Streetsweeper, you just know so much more than everybody else. How do you live with the burden?

streetsweeper

|December.13.2008

why are you folks so worried about what other are making? Nobody cares about tanners huge salary and he has done nothing to bring in a dime to this town. You complain about the high school educated psu tricking the degree having managment into paying those high salaries yet dont hold those managment morons responsible. Now the psu have binding contracts that will not be easy to reject. I know many think the city will march into bankruptcy court and shred the contracts then come out and all will be good. Believe me, thats not going to happen.

Little Old Lady

|December.13.2008

The Feds will cut positions but not work load so the same amount of work will just have to be done by fewer people which means more hours each week just to keep the status quo. Of course, professionals will do their job no matter what it takes and if that means more hours for no extra pay, so be it. They may whine a bit but they won't sit on their hands and sulk. That is what being a professional is all about.

Little Old Lady

|December.13.2008

Professionals, including GS 12's, do not get overtime. But it is industry standard to put in extra hours in most professions. My firm required 44 hours billable each week...so figure 60 hours for that $75,000 max. That drops the hourly wage way down.

Pyriphlegethon

|December.13.2008

Loud, you have highlighted Vallejo's biggest problem: the PSU parasites. Yes, parasites. Why? Because they're killing the host.

I am NOT scared of the billboard. I don't think many are. I'm talking about the intentions. Anyone who loves this town should be infurtiated by that billboard. Do you actually live here and think that billboard will bring Vallejo any closer to financial health?

When the Feds start cutting, I guess Gomes and Fed employees will get cuts too. That's life - it sucks sometimes. And you can find her salary as others have already posted. The average PSU would
have to take a huge cut: 50K-$100K to get down to her salary. And I have a feeling she does NOT get the platinum benefits the PSUs get.

streetsweeper

|December.13.2008

gomes is not payed a huge amount of money but she is payed well. Her hourly wage is close to a fire fighter and she would make close to the same if she worked those large overtime hours.

Little Old Lady

|December.13.2008

GS 12 for 2008

First tier $57,709 to 10th tier $75,025

That requires a 4 year degree from an accredited university plus experience. The Feds pay less than the private sector but everyone who selects that career track does so because they want to serve the American people. So we pay guys with high school who care only about themselves more than that??? The reason this is relevant to this discussion is that the PSU trolls use smear campaigns and slander to try to undermine anyone who does not do exactly what they tell them to do and, as we all know, they have no problem getting real ugly.
This whole argument is a "red herring" but the glaring spotlight of truth normally sends trolls scurrying back under their dark bridges and rocks.

Watcher

|December.13.2008

Gomes has never been silent about her salary. She said when she ran that she was a GS 12. I looked that up on the gov't salary list, and that's about $85k per year.

The question is, why just ask for Gome's salary? Ask about all Council members salaries. But you don't want to do that, because you just want to go after the person who has YOUR panties in a bunch.

Go back to the Times Horrid, Outloud/NBR, where you belong. You can trash people with stupidity there and not get called on it. Here, no way.

Little Old Lady

|December.13.2008

Federal pay scales are not secret and do not vary by agency. Gomes USFS job is probably a professional level which requires a least an accredited degree from a 4 year KSA's (Skills, Knowledge and Aptitudes). That would be a GS 11 or 12 with a top salary of $75,000 at step 10. No comparison with what our City employees pull down.
http://www.govcentral.com/benefits/articles/1754-detailed-salary-table-of-the-gs-pay-scale---2008-

Did I Say That Outloud

|December.13.2008

Anonymous,
I could care less what Gomes makes, but thank you very much for proving my point. She IS a employee that is on the taxpayers salary dole and yet you (and a few others) are once again twisting your panties over the suggestion that her salary be publicized. She is, for that purpose, no different than any Public Safety employee in that she doesn't get to keep her salary a private issue. Yet, you use the argument that she isn't part of Vallejo problem. Well, if you don't understand that the lousy economy extends beyond Vallejo and covers the entire country, then that could very well
be the reason your panties are twisted. EVERY public employee is part of the problem as that's where our tax dollars go, not a single one of them are exempt. Oh wait, I forgot, unless you are anointed by this website, as Ms. Gomes appears to be, THEN you're exempt.

2 Cents

|December.13.2008

My 2 cents if you care to hear is that the Feds have been on the low end of public service salaries for decades. City and State public servants have far more generous salaries and retirement perks than Feds. Congress has continually had bills before them to bring Fed salaries to par with the going rate of commercial business in order to compete for workers. Year after year Congress votes it down.

On the other hand we have high school grads holding a hose and squirting water on a fire for $150K. If not for Unions these guys would make what they do in right to work states which is about half
of it. Cops, they deserve what they get. A shame that they've joined ranks with the IAFF. The little brother hoping for a chance to play ball while filling the water bottles for the big boys is IBEW.

Anonymous

|December.13.2008

If you follow that reasoning anon, then much has also been made about comparing private sector salaries in Vallejo to our PSUs. So let's compare everyone's salaries on the Council, not just single out Gomes, "as a comparison." Erin at State Farm? Ozzy as a lawyer kicking poor people out of their homes, Wilson as an architect, Bartenke as a "businessman" and Hermie as a, whatever. You have no more control over their salaries than you do over the Feds.

Truth Teller

|December.13.2008

I see the Wee Witted Ones from the Times Horrid have come over to the smart side to try and stir it up. Well your efforts are laughable so keep it up, if just to amuse me.

How can you compare Gomes salary and professional level with the PS'ers? Seriously? It has been clarified - several times - that w her council stipend and salary she doesn't break $100k. Not like the overpaid PS'ers with a WAY overly generous benefit package. NOT EVEN CLOSE. Plus I've met with some of the 'brainiacs' PS'ers, these guys would be suitable as plumbers or clerks if not for their cushy,
over-compensated gigs the have now. No wonder they are so threatened.

I laugh my ass off when I go by that amateur billboard because their very greed has turned Vallejo against them. Good job boys!

Curious

|December.13.2008

Vallejo in the Channel 5 news again last night. Seems some poor Vallejo homeowner who has been broken into 10 times put up video cameras and caught the bad guys in the act. Good pictures too! You can definintely see the faces. They called our overpaid boys in blue and they were way too busy to respond because, the news reported, they are handling so many commercial breakins that they can't deal with mere residents. This plus the taxes extorted from Mare Island homeowners to pay for PSU services to houses that were never built? How much evidence do we need of the City of Vallejo extortion
racket to get some help from the FBI?

anon	\|December.13.2008

Much has been made that PSU members make so much more than those in the armed forces in Iraq. That comparison has nothing to do with our GF. It may be useful in a discussion of 'relative worth'. Gomes certainly supports any argument against current compensation levels. Her salary has nothing to do with the GF, but she could be used as an example of 'relative worth'. If she isn't "overpaid" as a NFS adman compared to our troops,.... could the PSU?a

Anonymous

|December.13.2008

Outloud, Gomes' salary working for the Feds has absolutely nothing to do with Vallejo PSU salaries. If you think federal employees are paid too much, call your Congressman or Senators and ask them to do something about it. But complaining about her salary here does nothing but stir the pot and deflect the discussion from Vallejo's problems. Of which the PSU salaries and benefits are a major and direct part.

Did I Say That Outloud

|December.12.2008

Pyriphlegethon,

The biggest crock is that anyone who comes to this website to show any support to Public Safety is suddenly a "member" of Public Safety. Guess it's easier to believe that, than believe that there are many, many, people not directly connected, or employed as Vallejo Public Safety, who support them. I think that "scares" you more than the billboard. As for the posting of the salaries, got a flash for you, it's been legal for quite a while for anyone to ask for the salaries of Public Employees, as they are paid with tax dollars. Ironically, when the amount of Ms.
Gomes tax paid salary by the Federal Government was brought up by a few people wondering what she made on the Public dole, many of you got more than your panties in a twist, posting comments that amounted to outrage that anyone needed to know what she made. Funny, huh? Now that's a crock.

Troll Alert

|December.12.2008

Go back to the Times Horrid blogs, Anon. We don't play with trolls here.

anon	\|December.12.2008

The PSU billboard is accurate. Why would any of the VIP supporters have a problem with the truth? Don't you want the citizens of Vallejo who don't read the TH know the truth?

Cal Fire fixes 1/2 their probl

|December.12.2008

Of the 2.1 million they need to save, Cal Fire would save more one half of the money their city needs. 1.2 million alone just by contracting with Cal Fire. Hmmmm, maybe Vallejo should look into the Cal Fire thing again?

"CalFire South Bay Division Chief Bill Murdock piped up with a plan he says could save the city $1.2 million each year: have the city contract with them instead of Santa Clara County Fire Department for fire protection services. The city's contract with county fire expires in September. The city is currently studying joining the county fire department as a possible
cost-saving measure, Stott said."

City employees plead for jobs,

|December.12.2008

http://morganhilltimes.com/news/251752-city-employees-plead-for-jobs

City employees plead for jobs
Dec 11, 2008
By Natalie Everett

Morgan Hill

Union contracts, crime statistics and a NASA scientist were invoked as city employees pleaded for their jobs during a public and a council workshop on the five-year budget reduction strategy, which includes 13 layoffs.

The Morgan Hill City Council has to cut $2.1 million from its budget each year for the next five years to make up for lagging property tax, sales tax and development-related revenues. City staff, led by City
Manager Ed Tewes, came up with a five-year plan to restructure the city's general fund and related funds to make up for losses and keep steady reserves.

The plan will deeply cut into city-provided services and lay off 13 city workers who provide them. Those workers have laid out why their jobs are important, with the help of union heads.

The workshops early this week will be followed by a public hearing 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 17555 Peak Ave. The council is expected to adopt the budget strategy at its Jan. 14 meeting.

Staff proposes gutting the community
services portion of the Recreation and Community Services Department, resulting in the layoffs of two recreation coordinators and a community services and planning manager. Meanwhile, the Community Development Department could see a secretary, planner and two building inspectors lose their jobs.

At Tuesday night's public workshop, the crowd of about 70 was an even mix of city employees and citizens. Another 60 people attended Wednesday night's council meeting. Be it keeping the streetlights on, the police force strong or environmental programs intact, each attendee cheered their cause - but
without many ideas for alternative ways to balance the budget.

For example, some city employees suggested saving a job or two by cutting pay or consolidating work hours for others. Acting Human Resources Director Brian Stott said these options weren't possible without union negotiations. Layoffs, on the other hand, are.

Another popular idea Tuesday night was to cut management wages or positions. City managers aren't union, so cutting their wages wouldn't require lengthy negotiations. Tewes told the council Wednesday night that every 1 percent in management pay was equal to $40,000.
Therefore, a 10 percent pay cut would save the city $400,000 per year.

Others, like AFSCME secretary treasurer Kad Corrales, a municipal services assistant in the city's public works department, said she'd like to see an Adopt the Street Light program, akin to the popular Caltrans Adopt-a-Highway program, in which participants adopt a section of roadway and spend time and money maintaining it. Corrales said since some residents didn't want to live in darkened neighborhoods, they should be willing to support streetlights being left on but not at the expense of a city worker.

After more than
an hour of deliberations Tuesday over turning off street lights to save $150,000, letting some park grass die to save $20,000 and other miserly measures, CalFire South Bay Division Chief Bill Murdock piped up with a plan he says could save the city $1.2 million each year: have the city contract with them instead of Santa Clara County Fire Department for fire protection services. The city's contract with county fire expires in September. The city is currently studying joining the county fire department as a possible cost-saving measure, Stott said. He was skeptical that CalFire could save money
while providing the same level of service as the county.

Police Chief Bruce Cumming's plan is to reduce his force from 39 officers to 36 over the next three years. As it happens, all three positions are now vacant. Stott noted that the 39th position was only recently authorized and never filled. In exchange for the on-paper-only reduction from 39 to 36 officers, Cumming would higher two municipal service officers, who would have paperwork and courier loads but couldn't respond to anything dangerous. Municipal service officers cost about $50,000 less per year than a police officer. Cumming
said the effect of working with fewer officers will be continued stress on the officers themselves, more overtime and cutting back on service-oriented programs to reduce crime.

"If I move a school resources officer to the streets, in my opinion, the school becomes less safe," Cumming said. "It's just moving the danger from one place to another."

Councilman Greg Sellers wondered if cutting back officers would really save money in the long run, since paying for overtime is costly.

Police Officers Association President Shane Palsgrove said he wasn't there to beg or ask for
more, but to tell the council they have other areas to cut before going to officers.

"We are and have been operating with the bare minimum as it is. We have the fewest officers (per capita) in the county. Should we be dead last?" he said. Morgan Hill's officer to resident ratio is 1 officer per 1,000 residents, the lowest in Santa Clara County. Gilroy's is 1.21 officers per 1,000 residents.

Generally, the public expressed a desire to save jobs where possible.

"It's cold, icy water out there that we're throwing them into," resident Frank Manocchio said. "We ought to stick
together."

Carole O'Hare said she'd rather have the street lights off than see city workers lose their jobs.

Environmental programs coordinator Rebecca Fotu, whose job is on the line, gave an impassioned speech Wednesday night.

"I'm no stranger to struggle or strife, but this is a little more disappointing than usual. I'm trying to make sense of what's going on in this world and country," she said.

Fotu, who was hired on full-time with the city a year ago, said she and her husband - who was recently laid off - had planned to build a life in Morgan Hill.

"Our dreams are
being put off," she said. "I really fell in love with this community, and I love this job. When I was hired a year ago, I was extremely excited. I could barely keep up with the ideas you all had to keep the community sustainable."

Fotu said environmental impacts don't wait for the economy to get better, and that a NASA scientist recently said the next 10 years are vital to stalling the effects of global climate change.

The city council didn't suggest overhauling the budget reduction strategy, but offered a few directions.

Councilwoman Marby Lee was concerned with the skate park
construction continuing, while other council members felt it would cost more to put off building it until later, since construction project costs typically rise.

Councilwoman Marilyn Librers, in her second council meeting, said the city already has a reputation as being unfriendly toward businesses, and with the Community Development Department cuts she was concerned that that trend would continue.

Sellers said he was concerned that the council would get close to passing or even passing the January cuts, only to go through the same thing once the state budget is finalized and the expected
trickle-down city effects are realized.

Natalie Everett
Natalie Everett covers education and city issues for The Times. Reach her at (40

779-4106, ext. 201, or neverett@morganhilltimes.com.

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Fed Up

|December.12.2008

The PSU billboard on Georgia sends a huge fear, threat, and intimation message to Vallejo citizens. Any thinking person driving through Vallejo looking at that billboard is going to decide to not stop in Vallejo to shop and spend money. Any thinking criminal will look at that billboard and say hey, the pickin's will be easy in this town. So I guess I agree-it is informative and very educational.

Pyriphlegethon

|December.12.2008

Let me say it again:

Billboards are ALWAYS ads. Public Safety Messages - they sell fear ("your brain on drugs"); to encourage people to change their behavior by taking some action: stop smoking, stop or don't do drugs, put your seatbelt on.

What action does your ad want to encourage? Here's the message plain and simple for you since you don't seem to get it:

Raise taxes to buy more PSU or Vallejoans won't be safe (sounds like extortion to me).

And to the criminals: come to Vallejo because PSUs are disappearing.

You know whats so funny? When this site posted all the
names of PSUs next to their salaries, one of you posted here that exposing your names in a public place would be some sort of detriment to your being apply to carry out police duties.

But its OK for you to plaster your faces at Georgia/Marin.

What a crock.

Fly on the Wall at City Hall

|December.12.2008

Streetsweeper, that's completely untrue -- fairytales the PSUs like to put out there. For example, the city just hired a new cop from the Sheriff's Department, and a cop that left Vallejo to go to Oakland last summer asked to come back to Vallejo and is now working here again.

Streetsweeper

|December.12.2008

even if the police are over paid and continue to leave, why are new cops not trying to apply here? The answer is they can make good money in other cities that try to honor contracts. Plus the unknown of the contracts ect.

PSU Watch

|December.12.2008

Outloud, if they were only interested in providing information via their billboard as a public service announcement, like teen drinking or smoking, that's great. But they didn't and we all know it.

You checked the facts about the stations closed and police officers gone and agreed with it. But ask the question beyond the surface of their adertisement. Why are the stations closed and cops gone?

In the interest of honesty, they should print the HUGE salaries and benefit packages above the heads of each of those PSU employees on that billboard. THAT would tell the whole story.

Yes,
we're losing cops and fire stations. But we're losing them becuse these greedy, spoiled children are making way more salary and benefits than this city can afford.

On Fire

|December.12.2008

Yes, billboards are used for informational puposes as well as a sales pitch. The times horrid along with our PSU sock puppets have done their best to tell the PS side of the story of doom and gloom, yet no real outcry by the public! Maybe it's because we get it about the reality of a recession (depression) and how our city's economic woes are impacting our saftey staffing levels.

So, what's next from the PSU playbook? "Bloody their noses!" Straight out of the playbook comes the "larger than life" paper doll display. Guess what? Still no large public outcry!

People
get it. We are not stupid. But the citizens appear to have a better grasp on reality when it comes to being broke, living within our means, and understanding that cuts have to be made and life will not be as we would like it, for some time. Crime is esculating all over the State. You don't have to read the times horrid to know that. Cities that have plenty of revenue, plenty of PS employees, are suffering from the same scale of esculating crime if not more.

Maybe the citizens of Vallejo don't suffer from tunnel vision or have this false sense of doom and gloom and that it is ONLY affecting
OUR city and understand that this is happening nation wide? The Big 3 and the UAW is getting a big dose of reality right now. Either find a way to live with cuts in salaries and benefits, or face unemployment. Hellloo!

So we hunker down, and deal with it. Maybe the unions and their membership so get a clue from the taxpayers that not only pay their salaries, but are living in reality with our own financial issues.

Did I Say That Outloud

|December.12.2008

Well, if according to your standards, then billboards, you know, the ones that show information about drug use, drinking and driving, click it or ticket, teen pregnancy and std's, etc. need to be classified as scare tactics as they provide information and don't "sell" anything. God forbid, with your stance, we could wipe out all these social dilemma by just eliminating those billboards. Get real, billboards are informational, period. Whether they entice people to buy materials objects, or think about a certain thing, it's all informational. All you should worry about is "Is that
information on the billboard I read correct?" In the Public Safety one referred to, yes, "25% gone and 2 stations closed". If that scares you, well, just pretend you read it in the newspaper most of you who post on this site call the Times-Horrible, you never believe anything out of it anyway. But you really do need to understand whatever you want to believe is not necessarily reality. P.S. Ironically I'm not selling anything, just a person that read the billboard, checked the facts stated and didn't have a meltdown because the information was being distributed on a wider scale.

Curious

|December.12.2008

Lots of finger pointing on the Channel 5 news last night about Mare Island homeowners getting a 33% higher tax bill because not enough people bought homes out there to even out the special tax district. Only a few have to pay the whole thing. Then the City interviewed saying they would be cutting services. Why would anybody invest anything in Vallejo? I guess we will just leave it to the absentee owners of rental properties to milk their cash cows to death. I am sure they will be happy to pay more taxes....(not)

Pyriphlegethon

|December.12.2008

Billboards are for ads; they send a message to encourage people buy something.

It IS a scare tactic: you are selling fear in the hopes that people will increase taxes to pay for your salaries.
If this is not correct, please explain what you are "selling".

And a tax increase won't buy us more police & fire since we are so in the hole.

Did I Say That Outloud

|December.11.2008

In the video it appears that more people are for Public Safety than against. Congrats on at least being honest enough to run it, despite one obvious edit of a gentleman who was pro-safety and the cut-off of a young lady that placed the blame on high paid people who were in charge of the budget. By the way, when does stating reality (25% gone and 2 stations closed) constitute a scare "tactic"? Yes, it is scary, cause it's the truth.

streetsweeper

|December.11.2008

Robert stout was just on the news talking about how mare island residents will have to pay high taxes and have services reduced. Lennar spokesman said Vallejo is not cleaning up the island soon enough to bring in industry. Also lennar owes 3 million and stout said they are not optimistic about getting paid. What a mess.

streetsweeper

|December.11.2008

they wanted to increase our dues five bucks a month to help pay for legal bills then some members started to complain so they put it off. What's five bucks a month going to do when the cost for lawyers is a million or so? We should just let the national pick up the bill.

Waiting for February

|December.11.2008

Apparently the PSUs are conducting a phone poll asking us po' residents if we'd vote for a new tax to pay for public safety (aka their high salaries/bennies). If anyone out there gets called, write the questions down and email them to Marc. It would be good to see just how they torture the questions so they get the answer they want. Watch for a blaring Times Horrid headline after the poll announcing public support for more taxes.

But Henke -- no matter how you manipulate the poll, I'm still voting "HELL NO" on any new tax that will pay for your salary and bennies. Not. One. Red.
Cent. And my power over yours? I can vote in Vallejo, and you and 75% of your PSU buddies can't.

i wanna be a fireman

|December.11.2008

i guess you're looking to the future at the point after the appeal (stall tactic / waste of money) gets rejected. how do u feel about your member dues jumping up?

streetsweeper

|December.11.2008

the judge has to look at the contracts seperate from what I hear. Even if the ibew got their last increase it might cost a couple hundred thousand for the general fund and thats not a back breaker.

i wanna be a fireman

|December.11.2008

it would be something special if they actually did have to prove IBEW's was a burden. i don't think they would leave IBEW & Camp's contracts in tact and throw out the other 2 burdens.

streetsweeper

|December.11.2008

shoemaker? Is that our union rep your talking about? Never have talked to him just frank our president. That shoemaker guy has only been with the city a couple years. I dont know how the hell he got the second spot in our union. Most things I hear from the other members and some camp members. I'm hearing that it will be tough to prove in court that our contract is a burden. I mean why would they need to throw out our contract its small potatoes.

i wanna be a fireman

|December.11.2008

streetsweeper, why is it that you sound so much like shoemaker = henke = gloster? maybe you're really shoemaker in disguise.

so, Shoemaker, the city will take what you give it, just like IAFF & VPOA did.

plus, they have to at least give the appearance of equal treatment btwn. unions. this is one of the accusations in gloster's goofy appeal, remember?

maybe if you didn't blow the dough, you'd be able to make a strong case for the IBEW contract. cuz now, it's kinda like your hard earned money went out to project IAFF & VPOA's contract, capisce? stay strong buddy!

streetsweeper

|December.11.2008

psu watch, I'm not worried about taking furlough time or maybe even paying some of my medical as long as all employees do the same. My concern is the city getting rid of many of us and then contracting out our jobs. Also, you are right about many cities feeling the financial pinch. I worry that when the economy improves other cities will be ok and Vallejo will not. Unless of course they just start allowing new houses to be built again. I think the outlook is bleak no matter what.

PSU Watch

|December.11.2008

Streetsweeper, that may or may not be the case. But if you're "way below market," then why be afraid of new contracts? The city has to be somewhat competitive in what they offer to employees, so the new contracts couldn't be much different than what you have now.

In the end, the fact is that everyone is going to have to take a hit, in or out of bankruptcy. The general economy and federal and state deficits will demand that. I bet that "market rate" will be changing too.

Streetsweeper

|December.11.2008

psu watch, I wish that was true but the fact that union offered to give up our cost of living increases for a couple years and would have considered furlough time to help, but the city said they wanted more from us tells me we are on the hit list. Now I'm hearing camp will seek legal help now that they know they are going to get hammered also. I think the city wants to reject all labor contracts even if they are not a burden. Thats not fair for those of us that are way below market.

PSU Watch

|December.11.2008

Streetsweeper, don't you get it? The City never intended to go after IBEW's contracts because public safety comprised the biggest nut (75%) of the general fund, not you guys.

Whether your contract is thrown out in February with the PSU contracts or not is irrelevant as it doesn't really impact the city's bottom line. So you've basically wasted your union dollars jumping into a fight you should have just watched from the sidelines, like CAMP. Sheesh. Let the PSU bullies fight their own battle -- they created it, they're sustaining it, they're going to lose it.

Streetsweeper

|December.11.2008

I live in Vallejo and its a honor to provide my services to my city. My problem is managment has told our members we are not the problem, then they file for bankruptcy and to reject our contract. What is our union to do? Stand by like camp and do nothing? Camp is in the cross hairs of the city also. I've heard the city is trying to hammer them also and they have always Been the city's lapdogs. These upper managers come in work a couple years and leave with retiree medical for life. How fair is that?

Pyriphlegethon

|December.11.2008

I think Vallejo should unincorporate.

Firebug

|December.11.2008

Streetsweeper,
I haven't heard of an "appeal of an appeal in Bankruptcy court" And the U.S. Supreme Court has only heard about 15 cases since 2000. As for binding arbitration, since the City is in Chapter 9 protection, it would seem that the process would fall under the Chapter 9 protection statutes since it involves money. In short the longer your union, IAFF, and VPOA drag the city into litigation costing millions the more you reduce their ability (Thr City's) to pay thus requiring all the services and protection the courts provide under Chapter 9 protection. Translation : You
fellas are making a better BK case for Vallejo every day!

streetsweeper

|December.11.2008

if the city needs to they can lay us off because nothing in our contract restricts it. The city does not have to provide our services but the cost is not out of line with other cities. Robert compare our public works costs to fairfield or any city our size and you will see we are cheaper.

Waz up wid dat

|December.11.2008

Streetsweeper, please do not belittle your occupation, the PSU love when you do that, they are in "their hero club" and you and your brothers are in your club. It's how we have gotten to the place where we are at, trying to pay city PSU employees more and more as they try to establish reasons ("hero status) of why they deserve such luxurious salaries/benefits. The citizens of Vallejo appreicate their city employees, the PSU because they are not getting what they "want" would have you belive otherwise. Its just like a spoiled child not getting what they want and telling
the doting parent "I hate you!" We can tell the "spoiled child" is getting losing ground and is frustrated, it's evident by the blogs on the Times Herald, by the large billboard on Georgia St. and by the scare tatics of statements of the PSU "babies will burn, crime will run rampant." So few of the PSU live in our town that it is difficult for them to gain the sympathy of the Vallejo tax payers, they have often said the "best thing about Vallejo is when I see it in my rear view mirror on the way home." They should also know that we dont sympathize with them
as we see the tail lights of their BMW's and Hummer's leave our city. Viva Vallejo!

streetsweeper

|December.11.2008

your right I'm not a city hero and my pay reflects it. I'm happy if I get a 3 percent Cost of living increase every once in a while. Oh and my union reps told me the city has to prove our contract is a burden to reject it. Hey Robert tell me what percent the ibew makes up out of the general fund? Looks like 10 percent.

Anonymous

|December.11.2008

Hey Streetsweeper, I just saw you cleaning the street on my way to work. I waved but you didn't look too happy. Anticipating how it's going to feel when IAFF and VPOA throw IBEW under the bus? One way or another the next cuts will come from you, not them. I think they're calling it "non-essential services.".

Waz up wid dat?

|December.11.2008

How I see it, government/city employees have been gradually over the years receiving better and more generous contracts. Remember what a retired Vallejo firefighter told us all at a public meeting? He said no matter how good their contract was, they always asked for more. I guess it's the "sense of entitlement" that really bothers me. Unions have convinced their members that they deserve everything they can squeeze out of the tax payers, and that the private sector is doing as well or better. WRONG! Remember years ago why folks went to work for government, so they could obtain
skills to transition into private sector. It was well know that government pay was sub-par with private sector, but the benefits were good to make up for the sub-par salary. Now, both the salaries and the benefits well exceed the private sector, but the Unions keep asking for more, and teach their members that this is what private sector jobs pay. Wrong! If you want to earn the pay of a doctor, lawyer, CPA etc, go to college and do your time, dont expect government jobs to fulfill the needs of high salaries and benefits packages.

Turnip

|December.10.2008

Streetsweeper, unfortunately you can't get blood from a turnip. How is it possible for the city to negotiate a solution if they have nothing to give in return? This is a one way deal and the only way this works is if the Unions give something up. The alternative is that the lights go out at city hall.

i wanna be a fireman

|December.10.2008

good ol' streetsweeper. the most illuminating rascal I ever did hear.

you keep fighting that good fight!

streetsweeper

|December.10.2008

the city is using bankruptcy as a tool to reject contracts they signed rather than negotiating a deal outside of bankruptcy. This in the end will cost this city at least 10 million since they have dropped 5 million so far like I have heard. If the contracts are rejected it will end up in the supreme court if not binding arbitration like the city charter says. Our union is backed by a national union that will pay several million for our locals share of legal fees while the taxpayers are getting tired of the council reducing services and spending all this cash on a unknown outcome. Really this
will be bad for all of us this bankruptcy is not a silver bullet just a bullet for this city.

Pyriphlegethon

|December.10.2008

Streetsweeper, are you not paying attention? Vallejo was already bankrupt and now the State is in a crisis the Country is in a crisis not seen since the depression.

You and your fellow workers managed to get a wonderfully generous retirement and benefit package because the City was never run as a business it was run as a hand-out. Workers deserve good pay for a good job done, but what Vallejo hands out is over the top. There must be some balance!

And Vallejo just can't pay anymore. You all were incredibly foolish to roll the dice with bankruptcy. IAFF and its little brother VPOA
convinced you to go along and you are all headed over a cliff.

The judge will be deciding your fate in February...best of luck to us all.

streetsweeper

|December.10.2008

well I hope you folks are wrong because if wages and benefits are driven down every time the economy goes south or a city cannot make money it will effect everyone sooner or later. We will all make minimum wage. Thank god gas is $1.57 at costco.

PSU Watch

|December.10.2008

That's the problem Streetsweeper. Most of us non-government workers don't get the high level of benefits that you're getting in Vallejo. I'm betting that you won't have those benefits for much longer, either. Welcome to our world.

streetsweeper

|December.10.2008

Robert, ok sounds like you could use better benefits. Vallejo is hiring right now into our labor group you should apply.

PSU Watch

|December.10.2008

Waz Up, you're right. I've seen a Vallejo firefighter who is so fat he couldn't rescue a kitten from lemon tree. But then I've also seen firefighters who look extremely fit. It's a mix. I'm sure we have good ones and bad ones, honest ones and dirty ones.

Speaking of, nice to see Tweedy on the news this morning. I guess the new light duty rule convinced him that his injury was all better. Welcome back, Tweedy.

Anonymous

|December.10.2008

Michael, the officer left Vallejo because it is so terrible here, went to work in Oakland, then hightailed it back to Vallejo within the span of a few months.

We keep hearing about officers threatening to leave -- then go. See what it's like. I bet they don't take police officers with minor traffic accident injuries by helicopter out of Oakland. We treat our officers well in Vallejo, yes indeed-ey.

On Fire

|December.10.2008

Skip the last comment, the link isn't there.

On Fire

|December.10.2008

Found this from earlier this year too:

by Anonymous
Where to find more on Buchongo Settlement Agreement: http://www.ci.vallejo.ca.us/GovSite/default.asp?serviceID1=573&Frame=L1 -Redevelopment Agency 5-Year Implementation Plan
April.02.2008

On Fire

|December.10.2008

Curious and Waz Up, there was a previous discussion on the Buchongo Settlement some time back, during the election season if I recall correctly, on this board. The issue at that time was Ozzy's connection to the settlement case, as he was on the Board of Sups at the time. I'm sure it's in the archives of VIB.

Robert Schussel

|December.10.2008

VHS
You need to ask why Clark and Ballard are challenging the BLS.

While actually fighting a fire is dangerous on a relative basis Fire Fighters are at high risk only a small percentage of the time.

If you used Clark and Ballards risk adjustment many activities such as crossing a busy street would have a higher mortality rate than being a fire fighter.

The problem I see with their methodology is that it doesn't take into account how often the event/activity occurs.
Thats why the BLS numbers are normally used.

A roofer is at risk most of their working day.Thats why more Roofers
die per 100,000 than fire fighters.

Robert Schussel

|December.10.2008

Street sweeper
Most of my employers have contributed 5%
or less of my wages to my 401K.

My 401Kpayout is not guaranteed --it depends on the stock market.Recently my portfolio dropped over 30% in value.

finally once I retire I have to 100% of my health insurance costs.

WANT to TRADE

streetsweeper

|December.10.2008

Robert, ok now look at the cities around us and tell me if my 9 percent contribution and the city's 16 percent contribution is excessive. 2.7 at 55 with my wages is not a huge amount of money and when I will have to pay a third of my medical after I retire it lowers it even more. And yes these benifits are more than the private sector but thats always been the case.

Micahel Tatham

|December.10.2008

i heard that a vpd officer who recently left has returned to our department, finding the grass is not really greener on the other side. anyone have more info on this?????

Waz up with dat?

|December.10.2008

In reponse to VHS comments regarding the "better habits" of the fire department. I have family the work for the fire department in Santa Rosa, I have been around their firemen/women friends at many parties, they always strike me as typical "blue collar" workers. There are dumb ones, smart ones, fat ones, fit ones, ones that live beyond their means, thrifty ones, wife/husband cheaters, "true-blue" ones, smokers, heavy drinkers etc. A real cross section. My cousin who is ranking fire fighter is proud of the people he works with, and disgusted at ones that take
advantage of the "system" such as ones that are on permenant disability who either did not injure themselves on the job, or are not really injured and run marthons, hike in Yosemite and do construction jobs on the side. I would say this is "typical" American blue collar workers, nothing less, nothing more...

VHS	\|December.10.2008

This is a good thing. When we finally meet over coffee someday we will have a lot to talk about.

Captain

|December.09.2008

VHS

WOW! I think your stereotypes are backwards. I'll leave it at that...

VHS	\|December.09.2008

Anon, I liked the approach these researchers have taken in analyzing fire fighters job risk. They noted the problem of normalization to other occupations when trying to make risk comparisons. I agree with them. Now normally I dont give much weight to anecdotal studies such as these; I prefer to read papers produced by scientific organizations or large colleges. In this case, however, I feel Dr. Burton is correct to challenge the BLS statistics. Perhaps someday a scientific institution will take a serious look at this question.

My take: If you pull 10 roofers aside and then pull 10 Fire
fighters aside and compare these two groups, I think you will find the roofers are at increased risk while crossing the street. Not to say that roofers are not good people but you know, some might be into habits not considered healthy. Firefighters on the other hand will likely be in better physical and mental shape. Perhaps this is due to the better pay, background checks and/or the extensive training we give firefighters but this all tends to skew the risk comparisons.

Regardless of the risk factors, it looks to me like the PSU and everyone else in the country is going to take a hit here.

Captain

|December.09.2008

I doubt VFD actually spends five hours per week fighting fires (during their two+ days of work per week). So, would it be fair to assume they're only exposed to actual work for 5 hrs per week vs roofer exposure to work of 36 hrs? - based on the report.

Sonic Toad

|December.09.2008

Thanks for the clarification Robert. Seems the Rose Report isn't the only place that numbers are cooked!

Robert Schussel

|December.09.2008

Both the Dept of Labor and Clark & Ballard are correct. The issue is how are you using the data.

The Dept of Labor clearly shows that occupations such as loggers,roofers etc have a higher mortality rate than Police and Fire.

Clark and Ballard show that if you only look at the actual amount of time spent at risk (for example 5 hours for FFs vs 36 for Roofers) FireFighters have a riskier job.

What Clark and Ballard tend to down play (in their example ) is that a Roofer is at risk for significantly longer periods of time (36 hours vs 5 for Fire Fighters per week ) and thus have a
higher fatality rate than Fire Fighters.

While fighting a fire is risky , Fire
Fighters are only exposed to risks for relatively short periods of time compared to roofers,loggers etc.

Thus the probability of dying on the job is much lower for Fire Fighters than some of the other professions in the Study.

Personally I think its a waste of time to continue the arguments around this issue.

The reality is fighting fires is dangerous .However, because FFs spend relatively little time at risk they
are less likely to die on the job than those in occupations such as
logging,construction and truck driving.

If you have a choice become a FF as you are more likely to survive than a Trucker etc.

armyoftherich

|December.09.2008

Dr. Burton Clark. The only thing missing is his degree from Almeda University.

Waz up wid dat?

|December.09.2008

Thanks "Curious" for bring up BUCHONGO SETTLEMENT again, we do need to find out how funds were mis-spent,on what and by whom. Vallejo has so much sub'ed housing compared to other cites, it's hard to imagine what evil deed was committed that forced the City of Vallejo to build more affordable housing, that quite some punishment! Can someone point us in the right direction or give us a clue where to look for documentation??????????

Captain

|December.09.2008

I've read the statistics and the FD is about as dangerous as a flower delivery driver job - whom, by the way, gets paid about $90 per hour less.

Burton@firehousezone.com. Gimmie a Break.

Firebug

|December.09.2008

Looks like another creation ala "the citygate report". Our IAFF Local 1186 is adept at cooking up things besides abalone. If the mortality rate of safety service retirees is so terrible I wonder why they (retirees) are challenging the BK ruling.

anon	\|December.09.2008

Complain to Dr. Burk. Ask Dr. Ron York if he thinks Dr. Ballard is "total BS"?

Dr. Burton A. Clark, EFO is the Management Science Program Chair for the National Fire Academy and Director of an Emergency Support at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. . Burt writes and lectures nationally on fire service research and professional development. If you would like to contact Burton, he can be reached at burton@firehousezone.com

Dr. Burton A. Clark, EFO, CFO has been in the fire service for 36 years, he was a firefighter in Washington, DC and Assistant Fire Chief in Laurel,
Maryland. He is the Management Science Program Chair at the National Fire Academy and serves as an Operations Chief during national disasters and emergencies for the DHS/FEMA. Burt has a BS is in Business Administration from Strayer University, MA in Curriculum & Instruction from Catholic University and Ed.D. in Adult Education from Nova Southeaster University. He studied fire science at Montgomery College with Professor Frank Brannigan, Emergency Management at the Emergency Management Institute, National Security at the National Defense University, and is a graduate of the National Fire
Academy Executive Fire Officer Program. He is a nationally certified Fire Officer Four and Chief Fire Officer designee. Burt writes, lectures, and teaches fire service research, safety and professional development.

Captain

|December.09.2008

Anon

Those numbers are total BS. Sounds like a study that was commissioned by IAFF local 1186.

anon	\|December.09.2008

Now, based on our research, firefighting can be reported as 41 times more deadly than manufacturing and 248 times more deadly than mining.

Clark and Ballard

anon	\|December.09.2008

VHS: "I spent quite a bit of time trying to find mortality studies that compared PSU jobs to other jobs. I couldnt find any in the US. "

A study by Dr.Burton Clark and David M. Ballard MS:
http://www.laurelvfd.org/Firefighting_paper.htm

"Firefighter's risk factor per 100,000 workers adjusted for time at risk is 128. This puts firefighters at the top of the fatality risk list equal to timber cutters/logging at 128."

"The fire service is the most dangerous occupation, career and volunteer, in the U.S. This is a reality."

Curious

|December.09.2008

Expect more propaganda about the need to build more subsidized housing. The TH had an article today about the sad plight of the poor concentrated in Vallejo spending way too much of their limited incomes on housing. The study was based on 2000 census data so is way out of date but that does not count to the "poverty pimps". Remember that the sunseting Redevelopment Authorities covering the downtown were consolidated and extended for another period thus requiring another dose of subsidized housing when 56% of the downtown census tract is subsidized already.

Curious

|December.09.2008

I notice that no one has come forward with any answers to the question on the Buchongo settlement yet. Probably because the details are hidden in the black hole that is the Economic Development Department. So lets add up the facts that we do know. Redevelopment Law requires that a certain percentage of the tax increment that goes directly to the City must be spent on subsidized housing. I'm betting that the City spent it on something other than that required and got caught. But by whom????

VHS	\|December.09.2008

Damn commas

I spent quite a bit of time trying to find mortality studies that compared PSU jobs to other jobs. I couldnt find any in the US. I did find some credible medical research that found a greater incidence of cardiac arrest among FFs while responding to alarms. The researchers could not say definitively why this was happening but they speculated that increased adrenaline and the stress of wearing heavy gear my play a role.

VHS	\|December.09.2008

I spent quite a bit of time trying to find mortality studies that compared PSU jobs to other jobs. I couldn

Anonymous

|December.08.2008

75% of the deaths are Internal trauma/crushing or sudden cardiac (for any age)

Anonymous

|December.08.2008

Death rates increase with age
http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/OS.FFFtraining.pdf

Figure 6 shows a spike in deaths after age 36

Robert Schussel

|December.08.2008

Streetsweeper
Yes I am talking about you.

You are getting 2.7%@55.

You still get a better pension plan than the private sector .

Currently you are 31% above the total (average) statewide contribution and 41% higher than the teachers total contribution.

Your total contribution of 25.75% vs 37%
for the PSU shows why the City needs to go back to 2.7%@55. The cost savings are enormous--approximately $2.2M per year.

Also are I haven't seen any studies that show PSU can't function after the age of 50.

streetsweeper

|December.08.2008

Robert, your not talking about me. I contribute 9 percent and the city pays 16 percent to pers. Oh, and I dont get the summer off paid.

Robert Schussel

|December.08.2008

PENSION FACTOIDS from the Todays SF Chronicle

1)CalPers portfolio dropped 31.1%,
Teachers dropped 20.3%

2)estimated contribution increase 2% to 5% to CalPers

3) Average CALPERS total contribution 19.7% (vs Vallejo's 37%) .

Teachers 18.25%

Private sector ( 10% or less--max usually less than 20%).

EMPLOYER 12.7% statewide vs 28% Vallejo
EMPLOYEE 5% to 7% statewide vs 9% Vallejo

Teachers Pension fund contribution
School district 8.25%
State GF 2%
Teachers 8%

"Paying the commitment to pension obligation is a high priority and ,and it will take
precedence over many other spending"
CA Treasurer Bill Lockyer

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assoc feels that defined contributions rather than the current defined benefits need to be institued so that the taxpayors obligationis are not ramped up.

A final thought
Why is the the percent TOTAL contribution made to teachers retirement about half of what City workers get--aren't teachers just as valuable to our community?

missmarvelous

|December.08.2008

Yes! Love the garden center on Broadway, it's like a jungle inside, great plant selection and I think Dante added a parking lot at the North end of his nursery. I usually only buy from what I see on site, but I believe Dante can order most anything you need. Nice to have a local garden supply business in town!

Waz up wid dat

|December.08.2008

This weekend, while at a party in Vallejo, fellow Vallejeons were discussing the situation of our city. Someone asked what the Buchango Settlement was (it's the settlement to the lawsuit, where in the City mis-used redevelopment funds I believe.) The question came up, how can we find out what the funds were used for and the details of the lawsuit? There is no information on the internet that I could find. Does anyone have any insight? I believe the city was forced to build 450 low income units, we have 8 more to go? Its funny that with has much low income and affordable housing we have we
were forced to build/supply more...

VHS	\|December.06.2008

Harrell nursery at Broadway and Sereno blvd. Dante Harrell is the owner and he uses only organic pest controls. Great guy, very friendly.

Laisseraller

|December.06.2008

I recently learned that Christmas Tree farms are using Ladybugs for Organic farming!

Do we have any nurseries in Vallejo?

Empress Volunteer

|December.05.2008

Ed, unless you are Erin HaHa Hannigan, I wasn't talking about you. I don't know who you are or what you look like, so wouldn't know if I'd seen you at the Empress or not. But thanks for supporting it. I'll be sure to say hi tonight if you're standing next to Randy.

Ed Buck

|December.05.2008

I have attended about 15 movies at the Empress. I will be there tonight. To there volunteer who says they have never seen me there, come introduce yourself. I will be in the lobby next to Randy if he is there.

Laisseraller

|December.05.2008

I do not know if you saw tonight

momster

|December.05.2008

I love the Empress but b/c I have children, I can

momster

|December.05.2008

I love the Empress but b/c I have children, I can

Empress Volunteer

|December.05.2008

Erin Hannigans pandering to the television audience Tuesday was laughable. If she's such a supporter of the Empress, why hasn't she been to any events there? I volunteer at the Empress and haven't seen her at one fundraiser or movie in the past year.

Looks good for TV, Erin, but once again the lack of substance behind your words speaks way too loud and clear.

Straight Talk

|December.05.2008

Ed Buck wrote: "Hey Marc, in the article on the Empress presentation to the city council you only cite the supportive comments of Gomes and Schively. "

Because they are the only council members that go to the Empress. Support comes in many ways but actions speak louder than words. BTW, no one can recall seeing your trolly self there - ever.

The Beav

|December.05.2008

Hey Ed, did you write to the Times-Horrid too and tell them that they failed to mention the concern expressed by Gomes and Schively in their article about the Empress?

Ed Buck

|December.05.2008

Hey Marc, in the article on the Empress presentation to the city council you only cite the supportive comments of Gomes and Schively. The other council members voiced their concerns. Also Ms Hannigan and her husband donated at least $5,000. for the Empress rehab. Bartee and Sunga at least $500. as has Ms. Shively. The Vallejo Times Herald has donated over $20,000. My source is the Empress website donor page.

Gabriele

|December.04.2008

Regarding the Empress Holiday Fundraiser on December 4, 2008.
I do not know about anybody else, but I would have loved to attend this event, however, who decided to hold it during the week and not on a Friday or better yet a Saturday night?
There may be just a few of us here in town with actual jobs that will require that one shows up on time to perform some type of work. Since I do belong to the working stiff group who has to be up before the crack of dawn, a worthwhile cause lost my donation.
Too bad!

armyoftherich

|December.04.2008

On Friday's empress fundraiser, I have to say that I was sad at how heavy that request for City staff/ city official assistance came across. Today was worse, with the TH article. Empress staff should strategize and attract people with courtesy and good manners, and showing stuff that people are interested in, and lowering their prices. I think the Rocky Horror picture show idea someone was floating was great. But to go around say 'you must' 'you owe us' or 'you have to', is, personally, a turn off to me.

On Fire

|December.04.2008

Firebug, I totally agree on the Charter school issue. But for now, it's hard to imagine that the schools can't function without having a police presence. If the district had previously agreed to pay for these services, then they have enough money to hire a private security firm. I'm sure the $500,000 that was budgeted for police coverage will go a lot further considering the difference in security pay and VPD pay. The city is not in a position to take up the extra cost for the school district and the district is responsible for the well being of it's students. It seems more of need for the
school district to refigure their priorities just like the city. Maybe they should consider putting the new administrative office on the market and move to a less expensive space. Who needs a shiney and costly office when they can't figure out how to keep our kids safe?

My take on it is that Nichelini will cut every service that he thinks will get the attention of the tax payers, thereby putting pressure on the city to leave his contracts intact. What everybody needs to take into consideration is that there is NO MONEY and no potential for new money any time soon. There has to be a new
way of thinking brought onboard by the policy makers. It's no longer possible to have things done "the way they have always been done" and that whole strong arm union mentality. If UAW can figure it out and see the writing on the wall, so should all the other unions. Less pay is a lot better than no pay.

Firebug

|December.04.2008

Onfire,
The reason the teachers are pushing the City is they do not really want the School District to be saddled with paying for 6 Police FTEs. The reason is that if that happens they are already asking for a raise and to have their health benefits increased from 80 percent to 100 percent. As I recall when I first came to this City in 1999 the enrollment was over 20,000 students and now it is around 15,000. It appears that almost all families that can afford, or have the where with all to get their students out of Vallejo Schools have done so. I doubt there will be much more of an exodus,
but the real concern is the safety of students and staff that can't go anywhere else. Ultimately the liability is with school administration to make schools safe, I think it is an excellent time to start more charter schools with smaller populations (perhaps this is the motivation for Vallejo schools admin behavior). This was done in Oakland 5 or 6 years ago when their Charter School enrollment soared, and regular school enrollment plummeted. It is an excellent way for parents without the money or where with all to get their students in a potentially better environment.

VHS	\|December.04.2008

I agree with you Waz, Dr. Bull seems like a good get for us. This district is a real challenge no matter who sits in her chair.

momster

|December.04.2008

how about the guardian angels?

Fly on the Wall

|December.04.2008

The School District hasn't paid any of that $500k to the city yet this year. They have failed to pay their bill for six months. Yet they blame the city?

Waz up wid dat?

|December.04.2008

From what I understand, the Vallejo school Dist. is paying $500,000 per year to the VPD to have police on campus. If they cant get the police protection, why dont they hire a professtional security force (ex-military would be great!) I am going to stick up for Dr. Mary Bull, she has done a lot for the schools in the past year, and so far is not well liked by the teachers (this means she is doing her job, not working as "usual."

She doesnt have an "agenda" to bring down the school district by hiring non-credential'ed relatives, keeping folks on the pay roster that dont work
for the school any longer,mis-appropriating funds-cooking the books and belong to a club of principals that have their "own agenda." I have a direct insiders view as to what has been going on for years, if Dr. Mary Bull uncovered 10% of it, she was probably in shock.

streetsweeper

|December.04.2008

the cops have been at the schools since I was a kid. Thats 1976 untill now. My daughter goes to Jesse bethel and she called me yesterday to ask me if it was true because many of her friends are worried including her teachers. Marc why dont you go down to these schools and talk to the teachers and kids to get the honest scoop.

Anonymous

|December.03.2008

The School District and City are completely seperate entities, with seperately elected boards, seperate funding and seperate missions. While the two entities are need the health of the other to be successful, they function on their own. Why would people expect the City to pay for something the Diatrict is responsible for? All organizations in Vallejo have to pay for their own security -- County courthouse, Marine World, festivals and events like the 4th of July parade or Wednesday Night celebration. Why would the District expect the city to pay for security at their dances and football games?
That's their cost of doing business, and they have to figure out how to pay to do business.

That's not saying the City shouldn't help the District. But for the District to point the blame finger at the Cuty is shirking their duty.

On Fire

|December.03.2008

Hey Marc, maybe we should have a seperate blog string for issues that come up and need to be under the title of: "WHAT THE HELL?"

While watching the City Council meeting last night, I found it interesting how the school district representative went on about what progress they were making under the highly paid new leadership. But their parting shot was to complain about the decision made by Nichelini to cut the Resource Officers at the schools. There are supposedly so many innovative programs being used in the schools to help motivate the student's achievement level, yet they
haven't been able to figure out how to keep the peace on campus?

Now given the economic situation our city (country)is in, they (the School Administration) should be able to understand that our resources are stretched to the limit. Yet today in the times horrid and now on the news, I'm hearing that the School District is pushing the issue to another level and making statements about how the VPD is not setting the correct priorities!

WHAT THE HELL?

Now I understand the district's position on wanting the PD on campus, but when did this become the City's
responsibility to provide security for the school district? I believe that the Resource Officer came about initially through a special grant and did not use General Funds to pay for this service. In better times, the City was able to "assist" the school district by providing this service. When finances started dwindling, the school district made an agreement to pay for these services. Has the City received any payments from this agreement? Yet they now are "demanding" that the City find a way to continue the services, for free. Okay, so where is the funding supposed to come
from? If the present coverage is spread too thin, do they expect the PD to provide less coverage for the rest of the city in order to continue their security?

If they can't find a way to keep the peace in the schools, maybe they should eliminate some of those highly paid administration positions and contract with a security firm. Additionally, there are other funding sources that the school district can tap into to pay for these type of services, so why does it become the City's responsibility?

Another part of this issue is why are the teachers complaining to the City and not to
the School Administration to find funding? It seems more than a coincident that Riley, while acting in his union position has been actively campaigning with the teacher's unions to garner support for the PSU fight. Yet another way to try and apply pressure on the City's policy makers to cave into the union's position by crying "safety" to the teachers and telling them to complain to the City? Guess since that paper doll display on Sonoma Blvd. didn't garner the response from the public they were going after, they are now using the teachers? Are they the next IBEW?

WHAT THE
HELL?

Captain

|December.03.2008

PolicePay is in the process of modifying their seminars to reflect the declining economy:

"After six years of being on the offense, we must switch to defense..."

Ron will publish this special edition of the PolicePay Journal next week.

http://www.policepayjournal.net/#225

Firebug

|December.03.2008

I am always amused when comparisons are made from American Autoworkers to foreign. The $70 and hour union comparison to $40 (Japanese auto worker). I wonder if the bean crunchers took into consideration that 99 percent of Japans's healthcare is "public" and not "private", and they have a nationalized pension system. If we had such benefits in the U.S. the cost to the big 3 for would be much cheaper.

Captain

|December.03.2008

It appears that Ron (Bloody Their Nose) Delord is becoming kinder & gentler. Well, at least he's changing his tune.

http://policepay.blogspot.com/2008/12/ron-delord-public-policing-is-seeing

Firebug

|December.02.2008

Total denial we aren't in a recession, we aren't bankrupt

Right now they are melting down on the Times Horrid blog claiming everyone that posts is Sam.

Pyriphlegethon

|December.02.2008

The San Jose Firefighters union staged a vote of "no-confidence" against their Chief Darryl Von Raesfeld...

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11097689?nclick_check=1

Here's one of the reasons: An arbitrator...said the city can ask what the [union business leave] time off was used for.

HA! Von Raesfeld deserves a vote of Confidence from San Jose citizens! GO CHIEF!

On Fire

|December.01.2008

Well, in case some didn't want to believe it, we are now officially in a Recession.

We are now hearing the BIG THREE's union's UAW, talking about giving up more concessions in order to keep the car giants open and keep their employees working.

Wow what a concept! Maybe the big union heads need to give IAFF and VPOA union sock puppets a clue on "how to keep the City open and keeping their jobs?" I guess we will have to wait on the "trickle down" effect before our unions figure it out!

admin

|December.01.2008

It's December and 24 shopping days until Christmas. Time to post in the new Daily Scream. A few quotes to get the day going:

I planted some bird seed. A bird came up. Now I don't know what to feed it. - Steven Wright

The trouble with political jokes is that very often they get elected. - Will Rogers

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Daily Scream - December 2008

3.23 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."