Raises for City Employees


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 03:27:30 AM EST

Well in times of crisis why not give everyone a raise? While I'm not opposed to giving raises to those making less than $35,000 a year, especially because these could be easily funded by selling a few of the city vehicles provided to some of the department heads for their business and personal use, raises for anyone else that aren't funded by cuts in spending, are unacceptable in this environment.

I'm going to ask a question that probably won't get answered by anyone in Albany for at least a year but I'll ask it anyway.

What part of "Worst economic crisis since the Great Depression do you not understand?"

Apparently our state and city leaders are going to stick their heads in the sand until the repo man comes and drags their heads out of the sand to give them the news. Of course, if like most in city and state government, you've never run a business or had to work in a job where you face the very real possibility of being part of a "restructuring", you have trouble understanding this. By next year, you won't. I recommend saving any raises you do get.
The Common Council will grant 4 percent raises to employees making $35,000 or less and 2 percent raises to those earning between $35,001 and $70,000.

Originally, Mayor Jerry Jennings' budget called for a wage freeze for nonunion employees in 2009. Some on the lower end of the pay scale noted the mayor and department leaders aren't the only ones not covered by a union contract.
The common council and the mayor have once again kicked the can down the road. WARNING: This road ends in 3...2...1....

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Raises for City Employees | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)
DIA (none / 0) (#1)
by alfrednewman on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 06:31:08 AM EST
So which one of your Heroes on the CC stood up for fiscal responsibility and showed any real leadership?  Why the answer looks to be none of them. Surprise, Surprise, Surprise.

I would like to thank Richard Conti for making the effort and proposing a cut in spending.  

Does anyone know where his 15 page letter can be found on-line? I think it would be interesting to see how he sees the city's financial future.
"What? Me worry? " "whatmeworry.alfred@gmail.com"

i'm working on (none / 0) (#3)
by DIA on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 07:57:10 AM EST
getting a copy of the memo.  

I believe two years ago I posted that if you were thinking of leaving albany you should do it before 2011.    That was before the national economy tanked.   The numbers are ugly.

[ Parent ]

Who Should Get The Money (none / 0) (#2)
by Dan Van Riper on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 07:09:27 AM EST
The low paid City employees who live in the City deserve more money. It makes good fiscal sense to give more money to the taxpayers and consumers who pay their bills back to their employer.

The City is in bad fiscal shape partly because of corruption and inefficiency, true.  But a large part, perhaps the major part of our fiscal problems come from a long standing policy by City Hall of exporting our tax revenue out of the City.  One of many ways this is done is by giving annual raises to union workers, most of whom live in the suburbs.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against unions.  We need more of them.  The unionized suburbanites are simply doing what they think is best for themselves.  The responsibility lies with City Hall, which sees no problem with systematically impoverishing the City. It's up to The Mayor and the Common Council to find ways to recycle expenditures back into the community.

Raises (none / 0) (#4)
by citizenone on Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 07:30:02 PM EST
Anyone attending the caucus or the common council meeting would know that the information, published in the TU, was incorrect. There was no agreement by the CC regarding the pay raises. Several were shocked that the raises for those employees making over $35K was even suggested as it was never mentioned prior to Monday's caucus and a vote was being called for that evening! As of tonight, there has not been an agreement on the budget.it was announced tonight that the mayor telephoned and requested that the raises for those making over $35K be removed from "Sano's budget" (in opposition, of course, to Sano's pleas at the previous meeting.) In a "sincere" plea, the mayor asked the legislature to NOT grant the raises to those earning over $35K.  You have to admire such fiscal responsibility!
The TU presented incorrect information.
My suggestion, go to the meetings and use your brain rather than relying on second hand information.

Man-oh-man.... (none / 0) (#5)
by hawkny on Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 09:46:55 AM EST
The fellows who pick up trash placed at the curb deserve the biggest raises, union or no union.  

They are out there doing a thorough job every day, rain or shine, cold or hot.

I do not think that anyone works harder in all of city government..

How could they?  

Raises for City Employees | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)
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