Furloughs are fashionable these days. Back in November, Big Bill ordered 20,000 state employees to take 5 days off - without pay. All of this sounds good and perhaps for your average administrative assistant, clerk, janitor, mid-level manager (or top-level manager for that matter) or political appointee it's a hell of a lot better than having to look for a new job.
Unfortunately, there are a number of positions affected by Big Bill's unpaid vacations that are important and involve public safety even though they're not employed by police or fire departments. One such position is MVD Hearing Officer.
These MVD judges review the case against the accused drunk driver and determine whether or not they will be allowed to keep their driver's license. Hearings must be held within 90 days or the driver gets to keep their license. Of course if the drive is found guilty, the criminal court may revoke their license regardless of the determination (or lack thereof) of the MVD hearing officer.
The problem is that MVD hearing officers are overworked (and our Eyes tell us underpaid) as it is. There are 11 of them for the entire state and they struggle to keep up with the caseload in the best of times. Now they will be forced to take unpaid leave 5 times before the end of the state's fiscal year at the end of June.
The move makes about as much sense as furloughing firemen or police officers. If MVD hearing officers cannot hear an accused driver's case in the allotted time, they could be sending a driver with a serious problem back out on the street to be picked up again or much worse.
Richardson and his merry band of Democrats are using every trick in the book to attempt to cover a deficit created by their own out-of-control spending. They're even looking at borrowing the money!
The truth is the Governor and the Legislature need a 12 step program for themselves. The first step is to admit you've got a problem. The second step is to identify the root cause and change the behavior. Richardson and his cohorts won't admit they've got a problem much less make an effort to fix the problem and in the case of the MVD hearing office - they're actually putting the public in danger.
19 comments:
Like they care. I totally agree that spending has been out of control, but it is not just limited to the Democrats. People need to wake up and realize, but parties are corrupt. Day after day we hear about some one in politics padding his/her pockets, etc.
Please, whatever we do, make certain the government employees are taken care of. They don't have it as easy as people in the private sector. Poor babies.
Maybe the 100 APD Officers involved in illicit affairs while on 'duty' - according to today's Journal - could pull their pants up and get back to work! We taxpayers don't feel like paying for 'love in the afternoon' - try fighting crime for a change.
I'm just sayin.....
The problem is that here in NM it is the Democrats. Top Dems statewide are being indicted for padding their pockets. It is a real tough problem to tackle because they are very good at covering for each other ( Attn. Generals refusing to prosecute ). The only relief is when the Feds weigh in and begin taking action. This is what happens in a one party dominated state. Hopefully the FBI will continue to take notice and investigate the corruption that is NM politics.
How naive to believe it is only in NM. Are you not aware of the Senator in Alaska that was doing construction on his house (Republican). Bribes, embezzlement, theft the whole system is with it. Look who Berry appointed Darren, Ray just to name a few. The last couple of days there has been an article about an APD wife that was most likely murdered. From what the article said there was a lot of wrongdoing going on with a bunch of cops. Gee, I wonder if they are Democrats or Republicans. Where is the chief in all this and I wonder why Levi wasn't fired. Maybe the top brass are all fooling around on their wives and that's why Levi is still around. What you officers can do is come forward and give that poor family closure. Of course, I'm sure you won't.
Ray Schultz is an embarrassment as chief. He needs to go. With the culture of affairs at APD, his million dollar lawsuit, 11 dead women, APD officer accused of killing his wife, the evidence room scandal, etc etc etc. Schultz has no leadership skill and it is harming APD and Albuquerque. Mayor Berry please show Schultz the door and bring in a chief who knows how to lead.
Let the furloughs in APD commence because not only will they be short lived but we'll be a stronger department because of them.
DO NOT ACCEPT ANY OFFERS TO RENEGOTIATE!!!!!
Maybe if big porker Bill stayed around NM for the last two years instead of spending our money chasing after the Obama asshole, we wouldn't be in this fix. Maybe he should furlow for the rest of his term; unpaid of course. Maybe with all of his campaign supporter jobs he gave out, we should count and see how many actually do anything or are needed at all.
The City's $50+M in the whole.
How 'bout we do some furloughs right here, staring with all of Campbell's friends fake jobs for $97-$100 grand a year. Oh, and especially his friend Ed Adams.
Campbell is giving RJ a big SNOWJOB
Too bad the eye didn't see the story coming in the Journal.....Another black eye for APD and sorry, but this one is on the Officers.... The brass has no control over who you are screwing... I read what Hindi said and the Department is not responsible.... You have to Police yourself when off duty... But thanks for making those of us who are faithfull to our wives look like crap because it seems to be so rampent.
If im not mistaken Levi went to DC to represent APD fallen officers!!!! You go APOA!
The brass does control whether or not adultery is promoted and encouraged. Wasn't there another female who committed "suicide" recently?
ha ha "love in the afternoon" how true, how very effen true.
Watch ot for the snakes at City Hall. They want to renegotiate APD's contract. Campbell should look some where else to make cuts.
Though there are areas where cuts can be made like ED Adams(Campbell's buddy) and another position that was supposed to be eliminated such as Dir. of Public Safety. That job is not only un necessary, but would save the tax payers a half million over the next four years. Unless there is a national emergency, he has nothing to do. The Cheif should be reporting to the COA or the Mayor, period. We don't need a Darren to filter out or be a go between APD & the Administration. He's there simply to keep the mayor from what's really going on.
What will happen when Ray retires in May? Will we still need Darren around. I think not.
Rick DeReyes at Animal control makes over $100,000. WTF????
and don't forget the afternoon
drinking. drunk driving. these are some great cops we got out there.
keep it up guys. eventually one of you will be in an accident or kill someone. just a matter of time.
Furlough, yeah right. Each and every "open" position at cultural services (library) are NOT frozen to save money. Instead, Dean Smith at the library hires a gaggle of temps to put into those "frozen" positions as well as other positions that don't even exist, he makes it up as he goes. He learned from Ray Darnell. The mathi is that there are 79 temporary workers at the library making about $15.00 or more per hour. Mayor Berry, administration at the library is lying to you about the numbers.
Let them layoff officers, see if we care. It begins with rehires and we all know Berry & Co (or is it Schlutz & Levy?) don't have the balls.
Ask for volunteer furloughs from the APD civilian staff. I know some who would love to give up a few hours for some extra time off.
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