Make a couple of phone calls.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors recently decided to waste taxpayer dollars on a frivolous lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of pension benefits granted to first-responders across the state. Public Safety employees in California are universally granted pension benefits called 3% at 50.
Orange County Second District Supervisor John Moorlach is the mad scientist behind this challenge. Mr. Moorlach thinks Sheriff Deputies and Fire Fighters make too much money and that the pension benefits they get are to generous. His colleagues on the Orange County Board of Supervisors all agree with him.
Over the past couple of days more than 3,000 people have visited this website searching for information about the Santiago Canyon wildfire. Please take a moment to give the Orange County Board, and specifically Supervisor Moorlach, a call today and tell them how much you appreciate the heroic efforts of the public safety employees of Orange County and across California to fight the recent wildfires. Tell them to stop wasting time and taxpayer funds on Moorlach’s Folly. Tell them that you already know that public safety employees are well paid and that’s the way it should be.
While OC first responders are helping keep us safe, the least we can do is make a couple of phone calls on their behalf.
Here are the numbers to call.
Chris Norby, Chairman
Fourth District
http://bos.ocgov.com/fourth/
714.834.3440John M.W. Moorlach, Vice Chairman
Second District
http://bos.ocgov.com/second/
714.834.3220Janet Nguyen
First District
http://bos.ocgov.com/first/
714.834.3110Bill Campbell
Third District
http://bos.ocgov.com/third/
714.834.3330Patricia C. Bates
Fifth District
http://bos.ocgov.com/fifth/
714.834.3550
While you’re at it, you may want to drop an email to Orange County Register Editorial Writer Steven Greenhut, a supporter of Moorlach’s plan, and let him know what you think. sgreenhut@ocregister.com.
Thanks for making this point.
I always note how people LOVE the firefighters when they are fighting fires but when time
comes for justice at the negotiation table or on the ballot all that love for the heroes
evaporates.
On another note, we’re blogging about the fires too at:
http://dissenttheblog.blogspot.com/
Our blog is sually dedicated to all things South Orange Countyv College District but
has been taken over by the fire as all the hosts of the blog live in the canyon and are
now evacauted.
Good luck to all of us.
Reb, thanks for posting about your blog. I keep thinking I should check it to see what Chunk has to say about the fires since I know he lives in the area, but I forget! I appreciate the reminder — I’ll go check it out right now.
Thanks Gila – it’s been a rough few days all around.
One day, we’ll party.
Sure, I’ll remember to send a message to Janet. Our firefighters have been working their behinds off to save our communities from this inferno, and how do the Supes reward their courage? Oh, the Supes just want to waste our tax dollars in court as they sue to take away their retirement benefits! What a f***ing joke… If only it weren’t so serious. If the Supes can’t see Moorlach’s Folly for what it truly is now, then they’re all worthless & weak (as my high school Math Analysis teacher would put it).
It isn’t fair to link this issue to caring about firefighters. It is possible to care about the firefighters as people, appreciate the job they are doing and balance that against concerns of bankrupting the county.
To Anonymous @9:49 am
The retirement benefits for safety personnel WILL NOT bankrupt the county. I’m so tired of hearing that BS. People like you and those at Lincoln’s Club are always looking to get something for nothing. What I’m hearing from you is this….”Firefighters and Sheriff Deputies go and risk your lives handling our catastrophes but don’t expect a fair and decent compensation. Just be happy with a complimentary pass to a local Amusement Park, you chumps.” I personally think ALL government safety personnel should receive a special tax credit for their services. Now stop your whining. You, my friend, are a pathetic hypocrite.
Sherrif’s Deputies and Firefighters making in excess of 100k per year are adequately compensated.
You will say that only a very small number make that much. I would respond that sheriff’s deputies and firefighters making more than 60k are adequately compensated.
Heck, they make more than me.
One way of determining adequacy of pay is how many people are lined up for the jobs. When you have hundreds of qualified applications for three positions it suggests that the pay is pretty damn good.
By the way, the tax credit is a pretty good idea. I could support that. Almost 100% of your salary for the rest of your life is a little harder to stomach.
It really is a question of priorities. County government has a limited amount of financial resources. Their choices on how to allocate these funds are worth questioning. Every decision is a trade off.
Unfortunately, we have boardmembers who see office redecorating as a priority while trying to weasel out of other obligations.
Should we taxpayers pay for top of the line furnishings and state of the art technology in Supervisor’s offices, while skimping on fire protection services?
How much in pay and benefits would YOU require to run toward out of control flames and try to save a stranger’s home?
Celeste Fremon over at her blog: http://witnessla.com
reports that the entire fire-fighting air fleet for the county of Orange
consists of TWO, count ’em TWO helicopters.
She compares it to LA’s much more substantial fleet. Check it out.
The sacrifice of putting one’s life on the line (possibly) as a fireman or a police officer should not be one of minor account nor of exceedingly greater import than that of those most honorable young men and women advancing our great nations purpose and cause by armed service whose oath is just as solemn and whose cast is more likely and whose effect is far reaching.