Santa Barbara City Employees Granted 5% Raise over 2 Years

» The Change We VotedFor on 02.04.09 @ 04:35 AM

Government agencies are the only “businesses” that make money in a recession. As a business owner I would love to give my employees raises but the government takes half the income we make to give themselves raises. We are in trouble and the only way out seems to be to stop paying taxes so I can get an Obama admin job. I appologize to the greatest generation because communism here we come and that is the change we voted for.

» The city council majority... on 02.04.09 @ 05:03 AM

..has lost their collective minds. I can’t believe I agree with Dale Francisco on something.

» You have got to be kidding! on 02.04.09 @ 05:52 AM

Thank you Dale for your lone vote of wisdom and courage.

The city is facing a severe financial crisis and just voted for a raise, and another $45,000 to study composting???

When all is said and done, we are probably going to be more like $10,000,000 in budget deficits rather than $8,300,000.

Now, what do you want to bet the unions that represent various city employees endorse Williams, Falcone, Helene, etc. next election and oppose Dale?

» Huh?? on 02.04.09 @ 06:08 AM

People are going frickin’ bankrupt and losing their homes, and Das thinks the workers have given up a lot by agreeing to a smaller raise? What am I missing? I would love to see one of my employees ask for a raise during this crisis.  They know they would be the first one cut.

» Scotty on 02.04.09 @ 06:16 AM

... and Mr Spock… do you own your own home?  I’m a government worker who you say is “well paid”, and I can barely afford rent in this greedy town.  I work hard for my pay, I can usually be found working through my breaks, coming in and leaving early, etc… and not charging the city for my extra time. 

Maybe Mr. Francisco should have thought harder before saying YES to giving a raise to Fire and Police back in November.

» The End fo on 02.04.09 @ 07:08 AM

Doesn’t it seem strange that public servants, who are hired to serve and work for the best interests of the public, organize themselves into unions whose sole purpose is to serve the best interests of the employees often at the expense of the public?  Doesn’t anyone else see the inherent flaw here?  Case in point: pay raises for public servants while the public are losing their jobs at an alarming rate.  Where has reason gone?

» Another Fine Mess! on 02.04.09 @ 07:57 AM

Wow - another perfect example of government waste!  Here we go again.  Government employees have better pay scales, better benefits, more PAID time off and better job security than those of us working in the private sector.  I’m a very conscientious employee.  I work hard and put in some very long hours to the profit of the owner of the business that I work for.  I have been forced to use “time off” (without pay) and cut back on hours, with no regard to my personal expenses.  Frankly, overtime pay is what keeps me afloat in this town.  I have not had even a cost of living increase in my pay for several years!  I know I’m not alone and this comment will, as always, fall on deaf ears.  I don’t believe that we can blame Obama for this but, Das, and the others that voted for this, shame on you!  Get with the program.

» John Galt on 02.04.09 @ 08:28 AM

Perfect. While businesses across American are cutting jobs and tighting their belts, our city govenment is passing out raise. Instead, the council should be cutting back like the rest of us. Just another bonehead move by our socialist council.

“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” Margaret Thatcher

» The End fo on 02.04.09 @ 08:46 AM

Doesn’t it seem strange that public servants, who are hired to serve and work for the best interests of the public, organize themselves into unions whose sole purpose is to serve the best interests of the employees often at the expense of the public?  Doesn’t anyone else see the inherent flaw here?  Case in point: pay raises for public servants while the public are losing their jobs at an alarming rate.  Where has reason gone?

» john q on 02.04.09 @ 09:15 AM

These tools in the council except one have no sense of reality.

» Dinner at Starship Enterprise on 02.04.09 @ 10:14 AM

Star Trek Spin Off Episode: I can’t do it Captain. I don’t have the Power.

Captain’s Log (supplemental): A pike hike amid a budget gap and threat of layoffs are for the people who will not quit and leave the town – otherwise known as Retroactive Pay, a concept for larger employing organizations who have a deadly “Discretionary” Budget – planned the process out knowing what they have as leverage.

There are often questions people just ask but seldom know the type of questions to ask. Some questions may not be answered and others answered giving someone else a hint. In order to better assist the inquisitive population, apply the interactions involved at Dinner with the crew of the Starship Enterprise.

Kirk: I see we are all taking a Trip out to Disneyland this summer.

Spock: But Captain, what happened to The Enterprise, taking the Trip will set us back. I was looking to maneuver Operations, but the Hornet was positioned ready by Compliance at Command. NOOZHAWK is keeping Rogue as well as Coherence to venture out with Capital. The Enterprise, can she sustain Damage?

Scotty: The ion flux capacitor has been programmed in all the ships’ main computer. All you need is more Power to give it a go. Watch out of Compliance, she’s a bit slow.

Captain: Retroactive is great and so Venture her out.

Crew: That’s a good idea Captain.

NOOZHAWK will have the Mighty Federation and all her Ships ready for any Bird of Prey waiting for Attack. They were all in one Mind and Ready. Confused is left back and used as parts that will salvage all Vessels protecting the Federation…

» concerned in SB on 02.04.09 @ 11:53 AM

Let’s see…. we are asking some employees to take mandatory furlongs and giving others raises?  Something seems very wrong with this picture.  And because the raise wasn’t as large as it was going to be this is okay? Seems like bad business choice to me.

» Sick in SB on 02.04.09 @ 02:42 PM

What ever pay raise the employees may be getting will be taken away when they are given a 2 and half week furlough at the end of the year (like the County did this past year).  I wonder why Dale approved the increase for police and fire and thei lowering of their retirement age to 50 last year?

» Aaron Shaw on 02.04.09 @ 03:24 PM

In times of budget shortfall the spending addicts still cannot refrain. As usual, Dale Francisco is the lone common sense voter and Das Williams the arrogant self righteous untouchable. Just because you have met a “budget” is not an excuse to spend recklessly! It only means the budget is too high! THIS IS OUR MONEY AND THESE ARE HARD TIMES! Everyone else is suffering, the government workers can hold back and sacrifice just like everyone else has to.

» Council Unions shills on 02.04.09 @ 07:02 PM

This is wrong and the unions want to be paid off for putting weak leaders in office. Go union Go broke, and now even in government. How many millions of great jobs have left our country because of unions—more to come.
break them all..

» Shoreline Shark on 02.04.09 @ 10:22 PM

I think Das Williams has posted in this thread.  See if you can guess which one.

» Dayna Jordan on 02.05.09 @ 03:11 AM

Kudos to Mr. Francisco! This is a slap in the face to the community and taxpayers. No raises at this time for anyone whould be considered. If this is the decision then cut the workers by 10% to cover the costs. See how much support that decision would encourage. As for Mr. Williams find a real job and come back in 10 years with some new found wisdom.

» Don't be fooled by these fools on 02.05.09 @ 06:01 AM

This is all about ther Council members buying votes from the City employee union members.

What do they care it’s only taxpayer money.  they figure they can always reduce services to the taxpayers but they can’t afford to lost votes.

In this time of financial crisis this just goes to prove what poor managers they are.  all except Dale Francisco of course, who is a breath of fresh air and the only one of them with a brain.

Shame on them!

We need to get rid of Das, Helene and especially that idiot loser Grant House.

Remember this all you voters come next election time.  In fact we should impeach them now!

» Follow-up on 02.05.09 @ 06:24 AM

I finally got around to reading yesterdays Newpress.  Das states that it was only fair to give the raise as they are losing the same amount to being furlowed. Huh?? That was the whole point you moron….it was to take something back!! Now you have basically given them the same pay and more time off.  We furlow to save money!! What about that don’t you get as a representative of this city?

» CommonSense on 02.05.09 @ 09:50 AM

Blondy, it is not Dale but Das who gets the most bashing, and rightfully so. What we need to change is the entitlement culture from top down AND bottom up.

» WHAT AN INCREDIBLE OUTRAGE!!! on 02.05.09 @ 11:40 AM

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE OUTRAGE!!!

I’M SO ANGRY A THESE IDIOTS THAT I COULD SPIT NAILS !!!!!!

Lets show them what we think of them at next election time.

Das, Helene, and Grant—don’t let the door hit you on your way out, you idiots!

» It's a City not an Employment Agency on 02.05.09 @ 11:57 AM

The City Council is under the mistaken impression that Santa Barbara is an employment service. Since every one of them is beholden to the SEIU for $$$ and endorsements that got them elected (except Dale), that’s exactly what the City has become. It’s nauseatingly transparent, and shameful for them to take a handout and pass one along. This is a very good reason why another legitimate Mayoral candidate needs to come along because neither Iya nor Helene deserves re-election, and some very viable Council Candidates better emerge, too, because Grant House does not deserve re-election either. We’re stuck with Das (and Helene on council) for a couple of years. Maybe Dale should run for mayor as an um, logical alternative to Iya and Helene who act as though they’re entitled. Iya should know better, and Helene is just acting like the HR wonk she really is.

» ams on 02.05.09 @ 01:23 PM

The council must have been on vacation and unaware of our economic crisis. Many years ago in the state of Georgia when it couldn’t meet it’s budget, employees checks were cancelled for a month. Not one quit their job…there were no others to be found. I am not suggesting that this was a good idea, though it worked and grits was the menu on many tables. 
This would not work in this day and age….but an increase in wages at this time must be from that of an ostrich.

» rudolf the red on 02.05.09 @ 02:17 PM

As Das said the negotiations lasted a long time. When negotiations started the CPI of LA/Riverside was 5.7 and now it is currently .1 . So basically the economic disaster happened while we were negotiating the contract. Medical benifits cost to employees have skyrocketed with one of the highest cost of living areas in the country. We had to fight for benefits and a small raise just to try to keep up with inflation. All this with police and fire getting a 25% raise over their last contract. The negotiating team did not want to see the people we were representing have to drop their medical coverage for their families just to pay the bills. We were just notified that there will be a furlough and probably layoffs as well. That does not mean we are not going to bargain a FAIR contract to keep our fellow employees afloat.

PS When we had meetings with councilmembers Mr. Francisco said he would show up to talk with the employees and didnt show up leaving us feeling like a cheap date. He did make it up and show at a later meeting and pledged to us he would support Ceasar Chavez as a holiday, but that was before the financial collapse and things changed. Just like we did when we lowered our sights on the percentage of benefits we need to survive in this expensive town. Thankyou and goodluck

» reply to RUDOLF THE RED on 02.05.09 @ 04:37 PM

City employees are anything but a cheap date!

When I moved to Santa Barbara 30 years ago the population was 70,000 and there were 600 city employees.
Now the population is 90,000 but there are 1087 full time employees and hundreds of part time or temporary employees.

What is wrong with this picture?

What happened was city revenue went up and all the City departments knew that the had to either spend the money or lose it to another department so every department hired a bunch of middle managers.

When I went to work for the city 30 years ago there was one manager and a bunch of workers who did the work.  Now they have a a manger, an assistant manager, a business manager, a programs manager a supervisor and an assistant supervisor and then the workers who actually do the work. 

The city is top heavy with way to man middle managers.  And these middle managers all get paid around $80,000 to $90,000 per year.

On top of that city employees have a really soft job.  Most only are in the office 6 hours a day, come in late and leave early on a regular basis, especially if they drive heir kids to day care and pick the up.  Many take 1 1/2 hour for lunch.  what’s worse is when the city started giving every other Friday off the city employees were supposed to make up that 8 hours by working a 8 1/2 hour day.  But guess what actually happened.  Most all city employes work the exact same hours each day as they did before.  many are now supposed to arrive at 7:30 a.m. but those commuting from Ventura who used to arrive at 8:30 still come rolling at, you guessed it, 8;30.

  The salaries are not coming our of their pockets so managers look the other way on both each other and those they are supervising.  The city managers have a policy of ” don’t ask don’t tell” and “don’t make waves”  Its like one big country club.  All at taxpayers expense.  Such waste would never be allowed to take place in a private company managed by professionals and with an owner that actually pays their salaries.

And don’t even get me started on the retirement benefits which are double that of Social Security.  Given to the employees by the council in exchange for their votes.

It’s time to clean house starting at the top with the Council and work down by getting a new city manager then get rid of all those all those hundreds un-necessary of middle managers. .  Time to let go about 300 of the city staff and the remaining 700 can easily do the work.  Especially if they actually arrived for work on time and worked 8 hours a day .

» Liberal idiots on 02.05.09 @ 07:28 PM

Tax and spend your money to gain pollitical power, vote them out—None of them have any business experience.

» Liberals love higher taxes on 02.05.09 @ 07:54 PM

Democrats hate to pay taxes, but love to tell others they should pay more. Rangel Rule—Don’t pay taxes unless you get caught, and if you get caught don’t pay the late fees, or penalties—thats for the dummy’s..

» From us to them on 02.06.09 @ 08:23 AM

Give these socialist politicians a break.  That what socialist politicians do:

1. Buy votes

2. redistribute wealth.

If you don’t like it, lump it, or vote them out!

» Dan Seibert on 02.06.09 @ 05:29 PM

I saw a story on KEYT that said Das may run for Pedro Nava’s seat.  IF so, good luck. 

For him, Helene, Iya and Grant, I think their support for the union, on this issue will kill them in the next few months.  If I was running against them I would use this vote as a basis.

» SPATSKY – THREE MOVES 2 MATE on 02.06.09 @ 08:29 PM

For Ourselves and Our Posterity.

Now is not the time we all panic calling for something drastic; better be thinking ahead than to call out revolution the willing costs more. [I left the board for a day and panic ensues.] Any blame going on takes tolls later down the line – everyone calls their own future. As any planning decided, most important to place a pedestal because the recent rains have drenched many of us. Thinking as a High School math teacher, rains sprout disaster other wild fires will happen if not properly assessed. Best to plan the whole thing making sure our Funds, Civility, as well Fundamentals are intact.

In kicking Managers of key positions is not the answer, please scratch any petitions signing instantaneous change because calling for litigation to “BURN” coffers leaves none to put out flames when the real fires from the mountains come. Some of our leaders are slow, not only because being like everyone, they worry of their own livelihood; better to help push everyone along by doing and saying what follows. Be careful to look at riot involved, we start to make the sacrifice for everyone now.

When the Allies won Europe, leaders of various German towns and cities never left because Eisenhower knew troops needed to contain the loosing population – even when all GI’s stationed in Germany wanted home – cost more lives in counter uprisings. The American soldier fed up with having to comply being stationed abroad, wanted to come home became drunkards causing more calamity the Generals never planned for.

General Shensheki gave his testimony Donald Rumsfeld wanted more troops and more time, a very accurate statement which prediction now is correct, the last Gulf War was by far longer than The Second World War any had hoped for. Summing all ultimate results, everyone lost confidence in our leaders turning topsy-turvy by taking tolls in the Economy leaving workers employed by Governmental Agencies uneasy of their own jobs. More panic drops housing prices pushing the Nation deeper to another Depression.

Hope is both our vulnerability and invincibility; (1) leaving everyone to ponder questions what is left unanswered and (2) looking to senses offering ideas our own Forefathers sacrificed blood whole heartedly for their own Posterity in generations to come. Prosperity often confused, the idea enjoys wealth while looking towards Posterity, the future of any said riches comes. The Constitution stated only one – contemplation of Money or Capital left the Children neglected – many often forgotten the true meaning any said Generation. Any Money or Capital sacrificed today is also our Generation, nothing proclaimed continuing our Children the legacy we will ever call America.

Education is The Law. qed.

» IS THERE NO WISDOM IN OUR LEADERS? on 02.07.09 @ 11:45 AM

Let’s learn from the past or we doomed to repeat it.

A HISTORY LESSON

“The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.”
Cicero , 55 BC.

» Taxpayer on 02.09.09 @ 08:49 AM

Wake up know one around here is going to save our Ghetto economy. But if we can work toghether,  especially today in Our Santa Barbara City council maybe things will improve. Complainers bashers and imature people who make idiotic comments are the ingnorant thinkers of our city. I do think Das has been good representation for our communitty he is thinker along with Grant House and Horton. Helene did help with the 10 year homeless plan and is learning along with the others females.
  The truth is our nation of America is a ghetto but it’s going to get better. Being that Santa Barbara is the 3rd most expensive city it has really attractted some interesting new residents.  Let’s get real and start thinking about how we can save jobs and help each other instead of bashing one another with abusive lines. It take s these leaders courage to be where they are and they must remember it’s the people that get them elected and it’s not just for fortune and Fame. It’s for humanity and helping create change for the better in our lovely city of S.B. that has become overpopulated with 10 people living in a one bedroom house and workers working 3 jobs. Hummm no wonder our youth and retiries can not even get a job and housing is on the rise. Look at the whole political picture and not just the corner.

» Socialist run S.B on 02.10.09 @ 04:06 PM

This is the liberal left at work, and we the taxpayers are getting treated like S..
I say we take away their high pay and perks NOW. ENOUGH of the MILKING..

» concerned on 08.13.09 @ 09:24 AM

SENSE IN SANTA BARBARA wrote, “It’s not like the council approved a pay raise for themselves.

This raise (over two years) will go to people who barely make anything, like the custodians and secretaries who run the city offices. To someone who makes around 45 grand a year, it barely covers a cost of living adjustment.”

WTF!?!?

Many, MANY people are unemployed and are earning crumbs compared to 45 grand a year.  Many people ARE employed and STILL make much less than that.

Now, if this raise were accompanied by a pay-cut by those county employees making 100k/year or more, then alright.

As it is, we have WAY too many bloated pay checks in the county offices.