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From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
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The union lawyers have absolutely nothing to do, except fight municipalities on their signed contracts.It makes no difference what's right or wrong. It makes no difference that these contracts were probably illegally signed. Yes, illegally. If the unions elect the politicians and then negociate contracts with those same politiicians, that's a form of collusion.
Everything has gotten absolutely crazy.
File bankruptcy, negociate reasonable contracts...or better yet, privatize EVERYTHING, and move forward. It'll never happen.
From: Don Roach: Religious Freedom isn’t Important to Obama
in Politics
You're right Don. And this is just the beginning; the prospect of a second term should be frightening to every freedom loving American.From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
“While our city workers, teachers, police officers and firefighters are foregoing raises, many of our retirees continue to collect 5 and 6 percent compounded raises every year,” he said. Taxpayers and business owners know that guaranteed yearly raises of this magnitude – or any magnitude in these economic times – make no sense. This must stop now.”Uhhhh excuse me mayor but you gave out raises to a select few,because you claim there doing more work now. I would say sacrifice
and do more work without a raise during this time,not to mention the people you gave raises to were already making a 90,000 plus a year!
From: NEW: Conservative Think Tank Says State is Not Competitive
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This report is obviously biased. When done right, taxes do not reduce economic competitiveness. In fact, by giving the government money to invest in the economy, taxes are actually good for the economy in the long run. That’s one of the main reasons why blue states are much better off economically than red states. Much as we may complain, Rhode Island still outperforms all those conservative states by a comfortable margin. As of 2009 (the latest numbers I could find), we ranked #16 in median household income. It’s just that we fall behind more liberal states like Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and California.From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
The retiree's should be ashamed of themselves for pushing the city to the edge of bankruptcy because of clearly irresponsible promises made by previous administrations in exchange for votes. Providence can not continue to be so irresponsible and must plug the hole once and for all. This is not politics...it is MATH! There is absolutely no need for 5-6% COLAS. It is so over the top that I can't believe these people can look themselves in the mirror and feel good about breaking the back of the City because they think their so called PROMISES should be upheld. This is disgusting!From: Dan Lawlor: Providence Needs More Murals
in News
Sorry Dan,I strongly disagree. Nothing smacks of urban blight more than a mural. They are rarely done well as evidenced by the photo that accompanies this article.
From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
Joe Penza, and the other retired people forget that we gave up more than just raises for this 5% COLA in 1989. The City wanted to promote police Captains by 50% oral board, which any idiot knew was the same as Majors and the Chief, appointment by the Mayor. I was one of three people that voted against the COLA, for that reason and because many knew it would be unsustainable. The vote passed and they began promoting Captains in this way. A short time later, a convicted felon was re-elected Mayor again, and he later became a convicted felon again for a second time. Imagine that a convicted felon appointing all three of the top ranks in the police department, Captain, Major, Chief. What a way to run a police department that had a rule and regulation making it a violation to associate with known felons. That’s right …. But these same people had to sit in staff meetings with a convicted felon daily. It gets better though. After losing any chance for upward mobility in the ranks of the Dept. I retired and immediately this felon Mayor refused to pay the 5% COLA, because he also knew it was unsustainable. It took 12 years before the Supreme Court of RI said the City had to pay the 5% COLA. You would think we won right? Sorry …. this Court violated the RI State Law that requires 12% annual interest be added to lawsuit costs for the winning side. No, this honorable Court said that the City didn’t have to pay the interest, or the first 5 years of the principal for the COLA money lost. You read it right, the State Supreme Court violated the State Law and screwed me personally over $110,000. But we WON. This lawyer representing the retirees at the time, Joe Penza said in response; that legally they couldn’t do it, but they are the Supreme Court, or words to that affect. I guess that is RI lawyer talk for they can do whatever they want to do, and sit down and shut up and be thankful you got anything. It gets better than that though. The RI Supreme Court violated RI Law and this lawyer said, and I confirmed that he was correct, that we couldn’t appeal the decision to the Federal Courts. HELLO ……. I always thought we were free in America to fight all wrongs committed by anyone – even Judges. Not in RI or the US. This RI Supreme Court decision was rendered in April 2007, and less than five years later the Mayor says that if we don’t agree to suspending these COLA’s he will TAKE THEM ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. We haven’t sacrificed though. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll see him in hell before I agree to anymore loss of benefits, and it appears that that day may come sooner than we both anticipate.From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
It appears these comments are being edited. Why was my comment regarding Mr. Taveras plain and simply abusing the elderly by taking away parts of their pensions and health benefits not including in my previous statements. It's plain and simple elder abuse!!!From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
The politicians created this mess by giving the store away to get re-elected. Now, you public idiots who probably voted for the same jerks that made this mess, are bying their message that the greedy retirees are at fault. Truly amazing. Make a mess then blame it on the folks who played by the rules.From: NEW: Conservative Think Tank Says State is Not Competitive
in News
A non-partisan public policy think tank?! Seriously, how do you guys print this stuff, Dan.For those that don't know this group's lone "Senior Policy Advisor" is the former Rhode Island Republican Party Chairman.
From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
the majority of retirees recive a extremely lower pension amlunt hen the high end examples continually referred to . many are elderly receiving under 40 ,000 annually ,paod weeklly their agrred upon amount towards their pensions , and municipalities did not contribute their agrred upon ampunts . thus the deficit . why not distinguish
From: Dan Lawlor: A Hole in the Mall
in News
Until the state understands that lowering taxes will create jobs space in our shopping areas will remain vacant. People with paychecks spend money. Get manufacturing back and promote RI as a vacation spot and you may have a chance.Drop the prices more people show up to buy the product. More revenue is created.
From: video: A LIVELY EXPERIMENT - State Aid
in Politics
If you tax the less more money will have never left the cities and towns. I see no reason to send money to Smith Hill so they can take some then give what they want back to us.From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
Fight pension reform and end up in bankruptcy and watch what happens to your pension. It may get zeroed out. -0-Ask the airline pilots how that went for them.
These pensions, as annuities on the open market, would cost millions. Try to tell me a snowplow operator, lucky to be paid the hourly high wages he earned, also expected or deserved to be rewarded with an asset worth millions after working 20 years?
You pensioners know this is an outrage. Reject the Colas or risk losing ALL your pension income!
From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
Few disagree that those that recieved the 5% and 6% COLA's got away with a biggy. Unless the city throws in the towel and cries uncle, the contracts should hold, giving in prematurely out of the goodness of their hearts could be a mistake for the pensioners.From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
The Mayor has basically one major hurdle that this city must address, either through the courts or the legislature regarding the over generous pension benefits. The idea of having 25 retirees enjoying 5 – 6 percent compounding colas and free health care benefits for life is just way over the top. Having these benefits jumping 70% in ten years is unsustainable! The union leaderships need to go back to these retirees and inform them that unless they accept less, they will be responsible for the hurting of fellow union members with layoffs. That action has not taken place yet. Why not? You can’t continue to pound the drum that you have a contract and you must honor it. If you maintain that position, instead of accepting a haircut you will get decapitated. Is this what these members want? Perhaps some of you need to speak to those Central Falls retirees. They took a similar stand and then saw the writing on the wall.The taxpayers of Providence should ask themselves - are you enjoying these kind of benefits?
From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
Let's take pride in our city an improve it's residents from just drunken disorderly college students!! Let's make the rental property owners pay more taxes that house these destructive little buggers!! Stop punishing our finest protectors and educators without whom none of use would be where we are today. WE wouldn't have our college educations without our elementary, middle and high school teachers; we wouldn't have our homes that went aflame without our firefighters; we wouldn't have protection from some of those wackos that are out there committing crimes daily without our policemen and now women too.Let's get real Mayor Taveras and tax those who are not living in the city and continue to rape its tax base with high rents while they go to their home countries of Trinidad while they don't provide their tenants with the basics of a good stove and refrigerator (Yes, there are many of our Providence citizens living in such squalor!) Let's rape the rental property owners, not the retirees Mr. Taveras!!
From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
AS for these poor elderly pensioners having health benefits and pensions cut I say cut the pensions, cut some COLAs perhaps on alternating years, but NO WAY CUT health benefits. These folks are aging and many are in need of good health benefits due to ill health. Most too retired to get good paying jobs with other municipalities or the state or even the government so none of them are starving, really, as they try to claim. Yes, it will be an adjustment not to have that fat 5% COLA, but try living on social security alone, which many too receive along with their city pensions, which virtually never gives a COLA raise and if it does it's perhaps a reality of 3%!! Come on, pensioners, come back and live in the city instead of Florida, come back and pitch in on the tax pool and perhaps you won't be shafted of what you really need, your money and your health benefits, not your fancy cars and homes in other states that never supported you for 30 years or more!! Come back to Providence, let's make city workers mandatory Providence residents again and gain some class back to the city. Let's have our teachers, fire and police mandated to live back in the city to pay some taxes back to who has paid them. Perhaps let's even institute a mandatory pension reform act that says those who don't live in Providence are SHUT OFF of their pensions altogether. Oh radical an idea it is I know but think of the revenues the city would gain if it did just that!!From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
I agree with Paniccia, no one should be making more than 100% of the working person. Why can't they just freeze those that are making more than that, and negotiate a new cola with them. Once the people who are retired reach the percentage of what they were entitled to when they retired of the working member now, then their cola would kick back in.It has to be fixed !!!!
From: Retirees Prepared to Battle City over Mayor’s Threats
in News
I will bet that the mayor doesn't talk to Ruth the way he talks to us, but then again all we are "are working stiffs" who paid for these benefits over the years after giving up pay increases.Go after the "tax exempts" with the same energy you go after us, and the problem would be solved.From: NEW: Conservative Think Tank Says State is Not Competitive
in News
Real Clear - I missed the reference to the Koch Brothers in the article.For the sake of argument let's say that the Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity is partisan. What about the statistics provided - did you delve into to them to refute or verify them?. It would provide a much clearer even real clear picture of this report which is covers such an important issue.
From: NEW: Conservative Think Tank Says State is Not Competitive
in News
So "Real Clear" what is your explanation of our high unemployment rate?From: NEW: Langevin Urges Passage of Cybersecurity Bill
in News
This is scary stuff. I don't like that Big Brother can shut down a web site to "protect us".Just go after the bad guys, catch them and put them away forever.
From: NEW: Forum on Flexible Work Environment for Employers
in Business
This would work for certain office jobs and even construction jobs if it can be done in an enclosed environment.From: NEW: RI Hospital To Pay $5.3 Million for Fraudulent Hospital Stays
in News
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