Reading about this recently passed pay hike brings to mind the
phrase
”
stupid is as stupid does.
”
I certainly hope that you re-think your vote. I applaud
Councilman Craig Gartman’s decision as he’s brought up some valid
points.
‘Stupid is as Stupid Does’ Comes to Mind With Regard to City Pay Hikes
Dear Editor,
Reading about this recently passed pay hike brings to mind the phrase “stupid is as stupid does.” I certainly hope that you re-think your vote. I applaud Councilman Craig Gartman’s decision as he’s brought up some valid points. I think this issue of a pay hike needs further thought and discussion.
From the pay rates that I’ve seen, most of the exempt employees are adequately paid, maybe more than adequately paid, for their value. Value is in the eye of the beholder. As an example, were I to have a fire in my house a firefighter responding would be of more value to me than a fire chief. Speaking of which, when’s the last time a fire chief or a police chief has made a life or death decision? How often are they even on the scene?
It seems like one of the main issues is when an employee’s pay approaches the level of his/her supervisor. How much overtime, off-shift work, and weekend work must that employee put in before that happens? One of the perks of getting into management is to have a sensible work schedule while being well paid. Another perk is not having the physical demands that some jobs require. It seems to me that supervisors will now be given the best of both worlds; higher pay as the result of the long and hard work that their employees put in and the perks that come with their position. I’m from the old school that if you want to make more money, you work for it.
One of the things that caught my attention was that city managers would get 10 percent more than their peers in nearby cities. I take this to mean that if those peers get a raise, then our city managers would also see a bump in pay. Now what would happen if those cities were to institute a 10 percent more policy? Talk about a spiral out of control.
From what I see, hear, and read, a lot of what should be done here in Gilroy is not being done because of budget problems. Other cities, as well as the county, face the same problem. If everyone is so short on money, who can afford to steal the talent that Gilroy may have, so why is that a concern? Having worked in a supervisor/employee environment in the private sector I know firsthand that supervisors typically just manage people, a difficult task in itself, and that it’s the employees that often drive the work and provide the facts and figures that may be channeled through their supervisor. Assuming such an environment exists here in Gilroy, I suspect that there may be hidden talent in a department should a manager be lost. Ever notice that a manager can take a vacation for a month and be hardly missed, but an employee’s absence may be felt almost immediately.
Also mentioned in a recent article was a statement made by City Administrator Jay Baksa and supported by Councilman Peter Arellano that all department heads are of equal value. If that be the case then that might make for a strong argument that all employees are of equal value and all should be paid on the same scale. An argument I’m sure that would now be supported by department heads as that would result in a bump of pay for them. We could be on the road to where the entire city budget goes to paying salaries.
A common practice of workers, exempt and non-exempt, where and when possible is to boost their yearly earnings prior to retirement as this will increase the amount of pension they receive. This makes me rather suspicious of Baksa’s motives behind this pay hike as this would certainly affect his pay and pension as he approaches retirement.
Bottom line: I think this pay hike issue and its impact should have been and needs to be looked at in more detail.
John Walski, Gilroy
War Drags on Because We Handcuff Troops and Liberals Help the Enemy
Dear Editor,
I would like to give you my perspective of a person born and raised in a region of Middle East regarding the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr. Daniel Garcia please read carefully. The biggest problem with this war that I see is the liberals in this country, including President Bush, that just don’t get it. You cannot fight a conventional war against an enemy that does not fight conventionally. History shows many so called civilized nations falling to this stupid notion that you must fight according to specific guidelines no matter what.
We are losing lives of our brave soldiers (not in vain Mr. Garcia) due to stupid and illogical set of standards that do not fit the environment that have been thrown in to fight. You cannot throw a boxer in the ring with his hands tied behind his back telling him to fight and win. That’s flat-out stupid. Let the soldiers fight the way they are trained to fight and you will see how quickly this war will be over and they will come home.
Not understanding your enemy will increase the chances of this war dragging on longer than needed. Liberals don’t understand the enemy. Many of them have already bought into the idea that Bush caused 911 and was perhaps personally behind it himself. These ideas and beliefs are the greatest weapons that we as Americans give to our current enemies.
As a matter fact they don’t even have to fight because liberals like Garcia are doing their fighting for them right here in the good old USA. Can any of you liberals please explain to me how we in this country are not any safer today than we were before 911?
What makes this country unsafe, again, are people and organizations such as ACLU and CAIR and the destructive ideas behind political correctness. I have no problems with government official ever questioning me in the airports or anywhere else that requires additional security measures. My wife’s grandfather (an American elderly gentleman) was not the pilot of the plane that was flown into the WTC towers. So why do we have a stupid system that let’s me (a Middle Eastern looking man) pass through airport security, but stops him for a full-blown check? It’s a system created by mindless, illogical, liberals who always blame America first for everything that happens in the world.
Finally, Mr. Garcia, before you start ragging on our soldiers about bridges and electricity and other stuff in Iraq, please learn about the pre-war conditions of that country’s infrastructure first so you can see that the war had little to do with those issues and stop supporting the enemy with your ideas so our soldiers can finish the job and come home.
David Kaeini, Gilroy
‘Macho’ Camacho’s Rescue the Stuff of Superhero Legend – Way to Go!
Dear Editor,
In regards to Dave Camacho’s daring rescue of the Delgado family who were being held at shotgun point.
Way to go Camacho!
Dave not only looks like a super hero, he really is one. As a member of the Old Gilroy Neighbor Association, we are proud to have Dave and the Muscle House Gym on Old Gilroy Street.
Patty Sweeny, Gilroy
Issues Plaguing Gilroy, But It’s Easy to Complain, Cry Foul and Scandalize
Dear Editor,
There are issues plaguing Gilroy, some not so pleasant or positive, doesn’t every city have issues today? Has everything been handled 100 percent correctly, in hindsight probably not but then again isn’t hindsight usually 20/20?
I appreciate that the Dispatch keeps the citizenry of Gilroy abreast of current issues, I don’t appreciate the continual attempts to scandalize everything that is taking place in Gilroy. Facts can be reported based on their merit, the facts don’t need to be twisted or slanted.
I read the letters to the editor, expressing opinions that are perhaps fueled by the negative approach of the reporting in the Dispatch. What I don’t see is anyone stepping up to the plate, giving up precious time away from family and personal life to do the job the individuals we elected to City Council are doing.
How easy and comfortable to complain and cry foul, how difficult to step up, put your personal life on hold, have every word you speak up for scrutiny, your financial life on public record and then being held up to a standard that not many of us can attain. I understand that these things are done willingly by those individuals who aspire to be councilpersons and that they know it is part of the job.
The Dispatch is quick to report the “scandalous secret schemes” of the city administrator and council; what about reporting the positive things that have been done? I believe that there is room for improvement in our city government, isn’t there always. I don’t have my head in the sand, I am not seeing the world through rose-colored glasses; I know that there are weaknesses and shortcomings within the council and administration, I am grateful that they are reported by the paper, just not always appreciative of the manner in which the reporting is done.
In closing, I offer my gratitude to those individuals who have been elected by the citizens of Gilroy. Thank you for putting your personal lives on hold for Gilroy and me, thank you for putting in the time and effort to attempt to make Gilroy a better place in which to live. I don’t always agree with your decisions and how you arrive at them but I still say thank you for being there and trying and doing the best job you are capable of doing.
Barbara DeLorenzo, Gilroy
Want to Really Help Out the Earth – Go Vegetarian – and Save the Environment
Dear Editor,
Earth Day is has come and gone. Most may say that this day is already important to them and that they contribute plenty to the conservation of energy and recycling. That is all fine and dandy, but what most may not realize is that factory farms are a major contributor to global warming.
Farmed animals produce about 130 times more waste than humans in the U.S. These wastes just sit there and dissolve into the ground, destroying our top soil. Think that’s not enough? Nearly half the water consumed in the U.S. is used for livestock.
Now … how does one help to stop this tragedy? Become a true environmentalist! Go vegetarian! This seems to be an outrageous statement. How can I just expect someone to lay down the steak knife and pick up a carrot?
Going vegetarian is so much easier than most think. Most grocery stores have a wide variety of healthy, meat free items such as: meat free burger crumbles, fake deli meat, soy “chicken” nuggets, and plenty more.
Erica Sanchez, Gilroy
