Time for a change
Published By Vallejo Times Herald Online
Posted: 10/02/2009 01:01:34 AM PDT
This election is a time for change to Vallejo's elected officials. A recent letter writer stated, "The present candidates for re-election have had to make some unpopular decisions." At this time we need stability.
What unpopular decisions? These:
* Voted to write-off (loss) the $13.5 million loaned from the General Fund to redevelopment, transportation and the Empress Theater. Then blamed the firefighters for the city's deficit, because we all know that's were it started.
* Voted to file for bankruptcy instead of working out (fair) deals among all city unions. Remember, the council voted for the VPD contract. And it is now imposing salary and benefits cuts only to IBEW and Local 1186 (fire).
* Started the charter review committee to get rid of section (809) -- binding arbitration only. Now the committee doesn't know what to do.
* Received the $900,000 from Lennar and now are not going to re-open the fire station. Are the residents of Mare Island aware of this? Where are the savings of $2 million per a closed fire station going ? I would be at every council meeting complaining about that.
Are these some of the "unpopular decisions"? No these are popular (attacks) decisions by your elected officials (activists).
You want unpopular decisions? Here are a few. Remember the city is in bankruptcy -- they can do what they want, or is that just to the fire department?
* Every city employee (department head, city manager, etc...) making more than $150,000 a year take a 10 percent cut across the board for one year (not just IBEW and fire). That's at least 230 employees; it's about $15,000 per person. That would save the city about $3,375,000 million per a year.
* Charge $3 a day for ferry parking. There are about 710 spots; that's about $777,450 a year in revenue. If the riders don't like that, then drive to the city and try and find a spot for $3 in San Francisco.
* Not pay full medical coverage to elected officials that have served two terms. Not sure how much that is.
* Now with the 9-1-1 hang up fee, 4,000 calls X $200 per a call -- that's $800,000 a year.
That's a savings/revenue of $4,952,450 in one year. Those would be unpopular decisions.
We all know none of the current council will do this, because they haven't done it. That's why it's time for a change, Vallejo.
Todd Swanson, Napa
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