Bobko confirmation
Dear ER
Hermosa Beach Councilman Kit Bobko is right in his thinking that the police, firemen, and public employees are overpaid in Hermosa Beach, and the unfunded liabilities are an issue which must be addressed (“Hermosa Beach singled out for pension costs,” ER Website). The Civil Grand Jury’s admonition to conduct a cautionary analysis of pension liabilities is independent proof of the correctness of his position.
Jacobus Rex
Web comment
It ain’t broken
Dear ER:
What do you expect when the city violated one of America’s great axioms last year, “If it ain’t broken don’t fix it” (“Manhattan Beach mayor says too late to cancel Six-Man,” ER June 30, 2011). We have been partying hearty at the beach for decades. That is what living at the beach is all about. The Manhattan Beach 6 Man Volleyball Tournament is just one of the great beach traditions in this country. The city should charge Police Chief Rod Uyeda for the tournament’s $100,000 short fall. It’s his fault for making a mountain out of a molehill.
Web comment
Octavio G
Bad call
Dear ER:
The Manhattan Six-Man Volleyball Tournament is now just a drunkfest frat party and an accident waiting to happen. Another bad decision by the Mayor. (Manhattan Beach mayor says too late to cancel Six-Man,” ER June 30, 2011).
Nancy Daylen
Web comment
Run for the money
Dear ER:
Hermosa residents with interest in their city’s government should consider running for Council, City Clerk, or especially City Treasurer, a position compensated very well for so little to do, and definitely available to a man or woman with rudimentary financial expertise.
Election Day is November 8. However, candidates must pull and file nomination papers between July 18 and approximately August 12 to appear on the ballot.
Councilmen Peter Tucker’s and Michael DiVirgilio’s seats are opening. Tucker unquestionably deserves reelection; however, DiVirgilio, with no business, home-ownership or historic stake in city, unfortunately has used his position for little more than smiley-face, photo-op resume-building. Perhaps he can follow his apparent mentor, former Congresswoman Jane Harman, to Washington, D.C. and continue on the government-dole there.
Council members receive a $530 monthly stipend. However, the part-time City Treasurer’s pay is up to around $34 thousand/year, plus retirement (PERS) and additionally, substantial family health insurance. Current Treasurer John Workman has been taking about half the available salary, but also retirement and the family health insurance. His incredibly lackluster performance, though, is reason-enough for his being retired.
Workman’s failure at even simple laddering of safe investments during some two decades has cost Hermosa’s treasury probably in excess of $200,000 each year in lost interest on the city’s millions of inactive funds. Workman also placed his self-serving-interests in being a Director of the Hermosa Chamber of Commerce business-lobby above that of the very residents who elected him. This is a gross conflict of interest.
It can actually cost nothing to run for Hermosa office. Call the City Clerk at (310) 318-0204 for information. Time is very short to file.
Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach
MBCC lacks a plan
Dear ER:
Manhattan Beach public employee unions achieve negotiating leverage through deserved community support, not via destructive political pandering. We value our public employees because of their hard, dedicated work as professionals. Recognition of their customer service excellence is the well-established norm and almost taken for granted.
Why then is the Manhattan Beach City Council (MBCC) imposing regressive measures on city employees rather than taking responsibility for its lack of the management of human and financial resources? Why has MBCC failed to define strategic priorities correlated with clearly defined roles and responsibilities of employees to meet those priorities?
Why, conversely and perversely, is the MBCC requiring city employees to submit to an archaic and counter-productive assessment of their jobs? Why hasn’t the MBCC stated required results of each position and then allowed employees to demonstrate they have the requisite knowledge, ability and skills? For over 15 years, this and prior MBCCs failed to provide oversight on personnel policies and procedures that have fallen into disarray.
Why is the MBCC demanding cuts in pensions, benefits, and salaries while not requiring the same of itself and the favorite few? For over 15 years, this and prior MBCCs failed to ensure the utilization of modern and professional management policies and practices. Our city does not even have a strategic plan, a management tool for enhancing organizational performance by keeping everyone focused on mission-oriented goals and objectives.
Concerned about our city’s fiscal soundness? Focus on the Manhattan Beach City Council, not our city employees.
Edward C. Caprielian, Ph.D.
Manhattan Beach
Lifeguards pay defended
Dear ER:
Los Angeles County Lifeguards have consistently paid higher monthly contributions and worked for more years of service than their Orange County counterparts, who bought into the controversial 3 at 50 equations ( retirement pay equal to 3 percent of annual pay times the number of years worked if retired after 50 year old).
The attacking of public safety workers because they are limited in defending themselves is such a cheap shot. Lifeguards save lives, period. Are they any less public safety workers? LA County figured this out many years ago.
What is a life worth? Millions of people will be on the county beaches this year and they will be safe because there are qualified and experienced lifeguards protecting them. We need the best lifeguards possible to do this essential work, and it does cost money – -it can’t be done on the cheap. I know the Newport lifeguards will try to do the best they can and I pray no one will drown because of this political bullying and fiscal shortsightedness.
Buddy Bohn
Section Chief, L.A.County Fire Department Lifeguard (Retired)
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