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From: Is Providence Going Belly Up?
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Letter about court ruling 1-31-2012Please,, the former mayors have given away everything so they can get the votes. If you spent 20-30 years on the fire or police depts, and were told that each week the city matched your 9-10% of your pay to go to your pension, then you find out they haven't done it for 50 years, WHO is at fault.???
People who get contracts thru CBa's are held to strict guidelines by law, because without the laws, the contracts would be voided every year by the city or state who failed to contribute the matching share to the pensions.
On 1-30-2012 the judge in the latest go around with the city of providence sided for the plantif,
the fire and police, stating that a contracts were in place all the time and the rule of law was clearly on their side. If people keep playing games electing the same people every year and expect a different result are not realizing what they are doing, Please stop electing pupputs and put people in these important positions that will reflect your well-being and your voice. These contracts are public info anyone can view them under the foia that is federally ordered. Look at the years and timming to elections and SUPRISE they seemed to be unaware of their own actions. When people see this what do they do ? they promote them to congress and other places.Fire and police work hard for the monies they earn, and yes I am a retired firefighter who retired with a broken back. I have lost a kidney to cancer, and 2 other cancers covered under the law and had 2 heart attacks as well. Here I am at 66 years old and feel like the begger at a corner looking for a hand out, no I just want what was promised in writting and fairly due me, my family deserves that at least for service to the city and the loss of earnings I could have made. REMEMBER fire and police do not pay social security tax's due to private pension. I worked enough in the 60's to get my quarters in so I started getting S/S. My 1st check was for $ 111.00 and no cola's for last 3 years , so now you might understand why this issue has pushed me to write this. If you want to screw someone at least have the #^%@'s to tell them up front, not after all these years. By the way I pay for medicare, so I really feel screwed by the city of providence. If the mayor or anyone in power has anything say,say it to my face abd stop this behind closed doors and behind my back bull-shit.
V.S.
From: Is Providence Going Belly Up?
in News
Stick a fork in Providence. They are done!It's simple math...they got state money and federal money in recent years past. Now there is none. They made little headway in halting their spending. Oh, I know, the police and firefighters gave a couple million here...a couple million there. It's a lot to them, but it's a mere pittance relative to the massive shortfalls Providence is experiencing.
The unfortunate thing is that a lot of people will be hurt by the obstinate union leaders who will not stop until they bleed the city dry. Witness the ruling in favor of the retirees today. They think they won?? Maybe for a few more months..but make no mistake about it - there will be cuts. And it's is right around the corner.
Providence has the potential to take down the State of RI.
Do you think the state is going to let that happen, or do you think they are going to ram it up the Providence employees/retirees?
Just askin'!
From: State Could Save $250 Million by Banning Collective Bargaining, Study Says
in News
This is not really breaking news. The problem is, there is no one with any real guts to stand up to the unions. Democrats have been buried for so long by union muscle/votes they know of no other way than to just cave into them. And there certainly isn't a history anywhere around here of standing up to the unions.From: Bulls Rush at the end, hold off Friars 81-78
in Sports
Hey John, great news regarding Kris Dunn. Have you heard any word on Sidiki Johnson transferring to Providence? He left Arizona in December and is from NY. I have not read anything about him locally but have heard people mention that he is coming. Go Friars!From: Guest MINDSETTER™ Dan Wall: Stop Trying to Silence Teachers
in News
I think the teachers should have a choice. If Mr. Wall thinks that the teachers want a union he should not be afraid to back the law. I believe there are a lot of teachers that would back out of the union, if given the choice.This of course poses other problems. Will the teachers not in the union have to negotiate their own contracts? Who in the municipality be responsible for this? What standards will be applied? PhD? Masters? Bachelors? Associate? GED? Is the mayor's niece going to get "special consideration"? Are you willing to pay a teacher with different experience and degrees more? Who judges good or bad teachers? I don't think a great teacher can do a thing with a child with no support from the family of the child. I'm thinking of a teacher coming to work with a bachelors, continuing their education and leaving. We would never have an experienced teacher.
Let's stop just coming down on the unions. Of course they are for pay and benefits. That's what they are paid to do. I expect the National Rifle Association to be pro gun. I expect Stop and Shop to sell groceries. I expect lobbyist for the oil companies to push laws that would benefit them. I expect unions to negotiate the best deal they can for their members.
But, I was expecting too much of politicians to do the right thing for the citizens.
From: Is Providence Going Belly Up?
in News
If I am not mistaken there was a recommendation from the municipal panel financial report last year to consider to privatize the Mayors police detail,this could save a ton of money. I just saw Taveras the other day heading to lasalle bakery in the big suv with police driver,one expensive pastry run!From: Is Providence Going Belly Up?
in News
With 50.4% of all revenues going to pay public pensions, Providence is unlikely to remain solvent. Declare bankruptcy, and start anew.From: Is Providence Going Belly Up?
in News
If you go to the lifestyle section of this page, look what Brown did for $2million. When you have all that money you need to spend it somewhere!!! Guess that's their way of saying they are giving back to the city !! But they don't want to pay more in taxes???? Even though they continue to take more and more property off the cities tax rolls. How much are they paying to get control of the property left over from the rte.195 move???From: State of the State Preview
in News
Chafees nuts,we have been in double digit unemployment for over 2 years now. People are leaving the state,we are the worst state for bussineess growth and now he wants to add on more taxes. Cut everyone's pay down to 50,000 for starters , remember public service ,not self service.From: Is Providence Going Belly Up?
in News
The Mayor has to stop giving out pay raises for starters and cut his budget and cut some more of those hundred thousand dollar salaries. Whats this jim bennett doing from economic development at 150,000, plus all his other perks. Maybe Taveras should start driving to work and ditch the suv and police detail,where does he think he is driving in New York.The city council needs to tighten up as well,heck they just hired kimball brace from election data services for 126,000 to draw up maps for the city's redistricting. Yup the same company that billed the state at 700,000 and that turned out to be a big waste of money. They should also stop giving out retroactive homestead exemptions ,especially going back 5 years!
From: Unmarried Couples Who Live Together Are Happier Than Marrieds
in Lifestyle
Did anyone notice that Mr Roberts misses one huge piece of this utopia un-married bliss and that is the CHILDREN born in this non-union. The women left to fend for her family when HE decides it is time to move on. Oh no, it is disguised with individual growth, flexability and AUTONOMY. That means no responsibility for the human beings these 2 supposed adults bring to the world and eventually to all our resources. Typical Liberal thinking and it is killing our State. Nancy Crawley,narr riFrom: Is Providence Going Belly Up?
in News
Right on John and Ed his petty pension is well deserved for 26 years of service!!!From: State Could Save $250 Million by Banning Collective Bargaining, Study Says
in News
Collective bargaining/public sector unions, taken together with venal politicians, is what got govt workers generous pensions and benefits, e.g., Blue Cross for life.Unions also defend poor, lazy and corrupt workers. I've lived it--have seen the poor attitudes and the "you can't make me work" attitude of some of our "civil servants." On the other hand, I've worked with some good workers also--mostly older.
How much better could our city be if we could get rid of the dead wood? With a 11% unemployment rate, competition could do much for our city....
From: Is Providence Going Belly Up?
in News
IF THE CITY WOULD JUST GO AFTER THE "TAX EXEMPTS" WITH THE SAME FURVER THAT THEY USE WITH ALL THE CITY WORKERS AND RETIREES, THEY COULD CLOSE THE GAP IN THE BUDGET. EASIER TO GO AFTER CITY WORKERS THAN THE "GOLIATH" KNOWN AS BROWN AND TO A LESSER EXTENT ALL THE OTHER UNIVERSITY'S AND HOSPITALS.From: Is Providence Going Belly Up?
in News
Funny how taxes can be hiked virtually infinitely, while cuts, never fail to hit a "bone."From: Guest MINDSETTER™ Dan Wall: Stop Trying to Silence Teachers
in News
See "Waiting for Superman" if you want to see what teachers unions have done to education in this country. Unions exist for the teachers, not the students. Google teachers pay in the U.S.--RI pay and benefits were #1 in 2009. Then look where our students fell in national rankings--slightly below average. We pay a high price and get mediocre results.From: Rob Horowitz: Obama Uses Bully Pulpit to Take on Rising College Costs
in Politics
In the past, reporters would actually do some research and inform the reader. No so these days. Why, Rob, has tuition at colleges and universities climbed at almost double the rate of inflation? Could it be because the Dept of Ed has decided that everybody should go to college and demand is up? Could it be that generous federal grants and loans have enabled these institutions to raise prices?So the President wants to hold down costs, yet also wants to increase assistance and availability. Sounds like he once he doesn't understand the problem and is talking out of both sides of his mouth. And you, a sycophant, just nod your proverbial head. Sad...
From: Is Providence Going Belly Up?
in News
Could the state oversight be from another state? Or country?From: Is Providence Going Belly Up?
in News
Maybe Politicians shouldn't be allowed to buy votes by sticking the taxpayers with public employee union contracts that last longer than their tenure. Union campaign contributions are nothing more than bribes for future benefits. The State's taxpayers have propped up Providence and other cities for too long.... time to let them fail. No more bailouts.From: Guest MINDSETTER™ Dan Wall: Stop Trying to Silence Teachers
in News
The "education reforms" proposed by the teacher's unions are a joke. When faced with actual competition that values student acheivement instead of increasing teacher benefits and salaries, the unions will pretend to relent mildly on this, that, or another issue, before digging in their heels again. They have fought tooth and nail against every modest reform that might even theoretically threaten the financial interests of their membership. That's what they do - they represent teachers. But we've long since passed the point where we can even pretend with a straight face that the teacher's unions have the best interest of students at heart.Parents opt for charter schools and private schools for a reason: to get the best education for their kids. As the cost of education has skyrocketed thanks in no small part to the unions, the public is rewarded with lower graduation rates, lower standardized test scores - indeed, almost every single measurable index of academic acheivement has gone down while spending has gone up. If this isn't an argument for the obsolescence of the union status quo, I don't know what is.
From: Is Providence Going Belly Up?
in News
Lombardi, the leader with intestinal fortitude and three pensions.From: State of the State Preview
in News
Ken Block, where are you?From: State Could Save $250 Million by Banning Collective Bargaining, Study Says
in News
How about cutting entitlements for the welfare state of the union... give me a break.From: Guest MINDSETTER™ Dan Wall: Stop Trying to Silence Teachers
in News
Seriously, the author had to have chuckled to himself when he wrote this tripe!From: Owner of Top Political Nightspot Arrested Over Weekend
in News
How do we know she jumped? What's the attribution for that?Page 816 of 1365 pages « First < 814 815 816 817 818 > Last »
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