Don’t pay them, it’s that simple. Lay down a new state law:
Unless a state budget is passed on time
– the deadline is July 1 – no elected state official or any
member of an elected official’s staff will be paid until a budget
is passed.
Don’t pay them, it’s that simple. Lay down a new state law: Unless a state budget is passed on time – the deadline is July 1 – no elected state official or any member of an elected official’s staff will be paid until a budget is passed. No retroactive pay, no per diem pay, not one thin dime, nada. California has now set a dubious record this year for the longest budget delay in our state’s history. Meanwhile, the Gilroy Unified School District and the City of Gilroy, for example, are left in a state of petrifying limbo. The state budget deficit grows, the legislature and governor seem content to turn the budget into a November election pawn and our local governments are left struggling to make the best guess about what pot of money the state is going to steal from next. So, for starters, vote Yes on Proposition 22 which will protect local government funding. But don’t be fooled by Proposition 25. Vote No. Without forced compromise and checks and balances, spending will run amok. Lastly, the axiom I believe almost always proves true: the further away the money gets from the local source, the less accountable it is.
Though, honestly, I can’t account for this locally: In the 2009 calendar year as reported by the City of Gilroy, 30 employees received more than $20,000 each in overtime compensation. In the private sector, we’d call that a serious management issue. In the public sector, I guess they’d call it the gravy train. To take it a step further, consider that the SIX who topped the OT chart in 2009 were captains in the Gilroy Fire Department. Here’s what the city reported: Fire Captains Ed Bozzo ($54,368 in OT pay), Paul Butler ($41,267 in OT pay), Chris Weber ($36,554 in OT pay), Mark Ordaz ($34,933 in OT), Joshua Valverde ($34,539 in OT) and Tim Price ($34,277 in OT). Those I know are nice guys. That’s not the issue. The issue is balance for our community – especially as economic times get tougher. Our tax money needs to be managed well and our fire captains are being paid far too much in overtime pay. It’s become absurd. Remember, too, that in the recently inked contract only the fire captains (which appears to be more than half the entire department) were given raises. That was explained as a compaction issue – the rank-and-file needed a monetary incentive to move up and take on captain responsibilities. C’mon City Council, wake up and smell the smoke. If $40,000 in OT pay a year (that’s more than a starting teacher makes in a year) isn’t enough incentive to move up, then too bad. By the way, of the 30 city employees who topped the OT pay threshold of $20,000 per year in 2009, 23 worked in the Gilroy Fire Department. Unbelievable …
Our parks are unbelievable, too, though we need to be able to designate more money toward park maintenance. Bill Ayer, former parks director, and the man responsible for fighting to build our wonderful system for umpteen years, put out the call to a bunch of getting-long-in-the-tooth buddies and 40 or so answered the call for a golf tourney and BBQ dinner served up by Troy “Fire up the Grill” Garcia at one of our nicest parks, the public Gilroy Golf Course. Not sure if Bill whipped the field, but am sure a bunch of new fond memories were made.
Saw another parks and rec staple in the aisle at Nob Hill. John Garcia’s battling health issues, but he looks good and his typical can-do outlook is intact. When our committee ran the Tee off for Youth Golf Tournament which benefitted the youth center at Sixth and Railroad, John always showed up. Whatever we needed on game day, he did – run to get ice, help with the food, stock the coolers, he always pitched in. That’s why he’s been such a good football coach for so many years. He’s the consummate team player.
Team Derry’s oldest next generation member, Shannon, has a birthday Monday and a tip of Dad’s cap to the eldest beautiful lass named after the enchanting river on the Emerald Isle. So dearest Shannon: May joy and peace surround you, Contentment latch your door, And happiness be with you now, And bless you evermore. Seems like just yesterday Shannon graced that STAR stage … and now she’s made me a happy grandpops …
Time does fly and here come the holidays right around the corner. The South County Realtor Alliance is kicking off the annual drive for canned food and donations at Jason Stephens Winery on Thursday, Sept. 23 with a $25 Diamonds and Denim event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Appetizers, wine and live acoustical music at the charming setting at Jason Stephens on Watsonville Road just north of the intersection with Day Road. The vineyards are gorgeous there and the Can Tree Drive has contributed more than $80,000 for local charities in the last four years. Coordinator Kathie Kingston at Intero Real Estate can answer any questions at kk*******@**************te.com.
Speaking of winery treats, Martin Ranch Winery on Redwood Retreat Road is open this weekend, and the deck there with a glass of wine in hand is one real South County treat.
Tearing out treat after treat … that’s what Rich Arioto, the Solis Winery tasting room manager who is also a professionally trained chef, has been methodically doing with 30 years of Bon Apetit magazines. Now that’s a priceless recipe collection.
