The first thing Berry did when building his team at city hall was ask most of the new appointees to take a 10% to 20% pay cut. As a result the Berry administration is about 13% leaner at the top than the Chavez administration was. The problem is Berry is sending mixed messages to the public and to city employees by hiring a few select positions at considerably higher salaries than their Chavez era counterparts.
Worse... Berry seems to be protecting former CAO Ed Adams who along with his $147,000 a year salary was transferred to DMD where he is a "special projects manager" (whatever that is).
[Mayor Berry] rejected a council resolution that would have forced the city to legally challenge the $147,000 annual salary drawn by former top administrator Ed Adams.Berry is right that the council needs to clarify the city's ordinance regarding unclassified political appointees returning to classified positions and the commensurate salary. But that will never fix the Ed Adams situation.
Berry said although he disagrees with the salary, the legal expenses and the possibility of a countersuit make going to court a bad deal for taxpayers. He proposed amendments making it clear no similar salary deals can happen again.
Right now we're paying for two CAOs (actually more than two since CAO Campbell pulls down $159,000 a year) and getting the work of one. Over at DMD the city gets to pay for a CAO that does "special projects." All of this at a time when Berry would like city employees to accept a pay freeze.
Berry's mistake is only considering the legal cost of defending Adams' pay reduction. What about the cost of having to fight the city's public safety unions over a pay raise that - like Adams' sweetheart side deal - was agreed to by The Almighty Former Alcalde?
Berry took on union President Diego Arencon and successfully returned the firefighter to the pay of a firefighter. What's the difference between a firefighter and the former CAO? Nothing.
They both had side agreements with Marty. The message that Berry sent with his veto is that high ranking administrators have a different set of rules than rank and file employees. How much long-term trouble has Berry bought by "saving" a few bucks on legal fees?
Hopefully, the council will save Berry from his own misguided veto. Otherwise the mayor's mixed messages will land him in stormy seas at a time when he needs calm waters.
----- Correction -----
I have been rightly chastised for mixing up my union presidents. In point of fact the IAFF local President is Diego Arencon not Joey Sigala, Segalla, Sagala the APOA President. It has been corrected above.
Is our Eye red! Yet another correction. Uuugh! First Joey now Diego. Not Joey not Garcia. The IAFF union President is Diego Arencon. Really, really, we've got it right this time!
43 comments:
Gosh Eye you have made a couple mistakes on this post. It was Diego Garcia, the Fire Union pres, not Joey Sigala.
Second, we are not just $54,000,000 in the red, add the ABQ Uptown / St Pius lawsuit in and our deficiet goes up to $65,000,000!
Also, don't forget Lawrence Torres and his crooked little agreement with Ed Adams to retain his director pay (this included this rate for his retirement cashout), when he was reduced back to a P 1/c with APD.
The city is going to have to put a halt to the police and fire union raises. We are on track to be just like all the other cities in this country. We are about to start laying off police and firemen. Welcome to the depression!
I hope you both check your info and sources before you say a whole lot more. Diego Arencon is the pres of the iaff. A little research would bode well for your credibility.
Don't forget Westmoreland, the "Transportation Czar" who gets paid $110,000 to do nothing. The parasites all over the place but if they pledge loyalty to Campbell they're left alone. Campbell is ruining you, Berry. Wake up.
Most states and cities across the country are cutting pay for public employees. Why do the public employees here feel that they are exempt from the economic crisis that we are in? People have lost their jobs and in some cases their houses. It's just another glaring example of how out of touch public employees really are. Their attitude has completely changed my opinion of their need for unions! I really believe that only a few of them could actually function in the public sector!!!!
He doesn't act like any business person I know.
Can somebody answer this question: If Berry is such an R why was that D Campbell hired as the city's CAO????
And if the Republicans were so selective in who got hired (enter Darren White) what the heck are they thinking?????
Berry your ass is gonna get tossed out like virtually every other Deomcrat when reelection time comes up (and I'm a D!) if you don't get your shit together and starting acting like a mayor.
Again with the Ed Adam's stuff.
Remember Campbell & Adams are best buds, that's why Campbell-White & company are veto-ing the Council's resolution to go after his outlandish salary and keeping a job. A job by the way, that should have been eliminated, like the Public Safety Directors job. If this City and the individuals running it had any interest, besides self interest and were looking out for the taxpayer money like Mr. Berry touted during his campaign, then the following would have already happened.
1.Ed Adams should man up and voluntarily reduce his pay.
2.Campbell should settle for the pay HIS job was; $147,000 not $159,000.
3.Public Safety Director Position should be eliminated. (useless anyway)(useless person)
4.Combine and streamline departments and eliminate overlapping high paid positions.
5.Listen to NEW vendors ideas in ways to safe the city money instead of keeping the same 'good ole boys' con artists.
Seems as though those in the high perches of this administration won't make any concessions, but it is sure expected of the police and fire fighters of this city.
HEY, CITY COUNCIL.
Taxpayers are fed up with your pussy- footin around with this Adams crap.
ONE of the FOUR that voted against the resolution better damn well step up and override the mayor's veto next Monday night.
The taxpayers need justice and that means 6-3 Monday night.
Clueless people send mixed messages because they don't know WTF they're doing. Maybe it's time to have the wife step in and clean up another financial mess for him.
Stop acting like Obama,Berry.
The whole world is going to shit on issues like Terrorism, the economy, two active wars and the global political posturing, yet the 'man child' president is focused soley on this girly health care crap for the entire year.
In Albuquerque we have a mayor (in this case a figure head), running around playing mayor and pressing the flesh at Lobo games and social functions,while Mayor Campbell is firmly in charge, looting the system with his own self serving cronyism and Darren running the public safety show.
It would be really great if we elected a guy that really knew what was going on.
Union contracts are just that...contracts. If you are short money can you reduce your mortgage? Of course not, it's a contract, they will take your home. Will the City of Albuquerque let you off on paying your water bill? Well, unlike government, we have to budget properly so we don't go broke and lose our homes, etc. The government just raises taxes if they need more money. Economic crisis or not the Government needs to get control of itself and its spending. Paying the officers and firefighters what was promised to them is just good business.
By the way, here are some ideas to save money. Lease out City property that is not used often, Ie: sustation at Rio Grande and Central, and The sub station at Central and Girard. Do we really need a Northwest area command? Close it and consolidate west side.
What's the deal with Campbell's law firm having to close up because of financial problems? Was he representing Doug Vaughan?
Once again, we find "The Eye" clouded by partisanship.
1. There is no one in this entire state as qualified as David Campbell to be the CAO of ABQ. Period.
2. The Ed Adams story is a dead duck. Get over it. He's a self-serving a-hole who never gave a damn about this city. Fighting him in court would be more expensive than paying him. What they should be doing is building a case to fire him for cause. They should start by documenting all of the "city time" he and his pal Greg Smith spend at the shooting range.
3. If you want blood about Ed Adams, go after Bruce Perlman. He's the one that executed the contract without the knowledge of the Legal Department and Bob White who would have told him not to do it, which he knew, so he didn't ask them.
4. You are bristling about scraps when millions go out the door daily. Why are we paying the DA to chase Methers when the Feds already pay her for every conviction she gets? Why isn't Senior Affairs merged into Family and Community Services? Why is the Balloon Museum still open?
Again, "The Eye" proves myopic. Sad.
Ed Adams: Have you no shame?
"There is no one in this entire state as qualified as David Campbell to be the CAO..."
David, please quit posting comments while you're on city time. Supposedly we're paying you to run the city since your boss doesn't know how.
"Why isn't Senior Affairs merged into Family and Community Services?".....
That would be because County Commissioner Michael Brasher's wife Jorja Armijo-Brasher who was moved to the director position of Senior Affairs from would be without a high paying job.
""There is no one in this entire state as qualified as David Campbell to be the CAO..."
Hahahahahahahah, LMFAO!!! Right, that's why he's paying somebody to do slick willie, I mean Lawrence Torres' job, for 50% more!!!
LIMP DICK! And don't think I don't overhear your conversations at downtown coffee shops Campbell...especially ones with Ike Benton....
$$$$ The city does not need the money. I heard that city employees no longer need to pay for parking in the city lots. Parking at Plaza Del Sol is free. The Parking Enforcement Officer's have been told no parking violations will be issued to city employees. Plus all the voiding of tickets that is going on. Doesn't sound like a Law and Order Administration to me.
Ken Sanchez for Mayor
Is it my imagination or did we elect
THE WRONG PERSON TO BE MAYOR !!!!!!!!
It appears that everyone that comments here and all over the city seem to think so.
Got any Orangutans loose out there?
From the ABQ Journal, Feb. 11
"On Tuesday, Campbell said his ERRONEOUS conclusion was based on an online review of the case. Campbell said he has since found out that an appeal was indeed filed."
This case involved Campbell's attempt to rehire a city employee who pled no contest to child molestation of a two year old. If the Journal hadn't called Campbell out, he would have done it.
For that reason alone, Berry should fire him. Campbell is as slimy as they come. Can Campbell, RJ before he does you more harm.
Comment above- "there is no one in the state that is more qualified than David Campbell"
Are you F_ _ KING serious. Berry could have picked any number of people for that position. For starters, how about a Republican,
(you know, spoils of war). How about a fiscal conservative. How about some one that would support conservative core values.
And there's no one out there in the entire state of NM that could fill that position? PLEASE !!
Instead we got a left wing, tax raiser, Obama progressive Socialist, with a failed law firm,
who was forced to take a diplomatic position for Obama for
$45K.( Who by the way attempted to sue the City for his clients and failed.)
Then came the win for Berry.
The opportunists came out of the wood work, (ei; Campbell -White)as it was a sure bet that this guy could be fooled into thinking that there was nobody else out there that could run the city for Berry than these two phonies.
Marty may have been a lot of things and an a-hole from time to time, but he knew how to run a city. I'm not a big fan, but we got a lot of stuff done.
This next four years will be about nothing, except pulling the wool over the public's eyes as if they know anything about governance.
Election night October 2,2009.
" Send in the clowns"......
Most people like to promise hot dogs and deliver steak.
We're promised Conservative values, financial responsibility, crack down on gangs, end 'Sanctuary' status for illegals, and end corruption and cronyism at PD and other departments.
What we get is the 'winnie'(hot dog) for a mayor and CAO.
True liberalism at it's finest.
Marty was a DEM., but he was a better Republican than Berry.
Good job David, you're a good comrade ~~~ Barrack Obama ~~!
Hello - give me a break - if the police department is corrupt - Obama did it. If we are 54 million in the hole - Obama did it. Please find someone else to blame because you conservatives sound stupid. Go join theTea Party and get the hell out of here.
ref: city employees not having to pay parking tickets, not true. At least for my recent experience I parked in a city lot (not Plaza del Sol, got a ticket, went to pay it at Plaza Del Sol, I pled my case & they said too bad, city employees are ticketed just like regular folks out there, in fact they are ticketed MORE often and they still have to pay full price. Go figure.
Dear Mayor Berry:
I have been a city employee for 10 years. I love my job. I worked hard to get my job and work hard to keep it.Although I am a "tank and file" employee, I am willing to take a furlough day for a pre-determined amount of time to help keep the city afloat. For I am also a taxpayer. I have a house payment, a car payment, credit card payments, the requisite monthly bills to pay and kids to support, as a head of household single wage earner. I urge you, if you plan to furlough rank and file city workers who live paycheck to paycheck that you also include the higher paid department heads, administrators, and managers. If I am willing to make such a sacrafice to help keep the doors to the city open, I hope that you will be even-handed and fair by also furloughing others higher up the food chain, who earn more and basically keep the chairs warm all day. Thank you
Ask Berry about the new City Vehicles that he bought for members of his staff.
Comments above:
I second the employee's opinion who suggested that the city's upper management also take furloughs as well. Campbell certainly can give up some time, especially since he convinced Mayor Berry to give him $15,000 more than the previous CAO position paid.
Most people in the real world haven't taken a vacation in years, so give up a week's paid vacation to balance the books.
You're all luck to even have jobs; well paid one's at that.
As for new vehicles for Berry's staff: Tell me that just ain't so. For now, they can damn well use their own vehicles, like the real world and pay them 36 cents a mile, as federal guidelines require. What hypocrisy !!
We go to the polls and assume that we are voting for honesty and integrity and always wind up getting the finger.
Marty was no saint, but this newest group 'sheenies' and 'pikers' make him look good.
Watch out 'D', Campbell's out to bone you.
Darren needs to investigate Berry over the purchase of those veilces.
WAY TO GO DAVID MAES AND NICE WITNESS LIST FOR THE STATE GUESS GARY BARBOA HELPED OUT THE LIAR THAT HE IS
Ken Sanchez for Mayor? ARE YOU KIDDING? Kenny is Smarty Marty's poodle. Please. We've had enough of that bunch.
What is the new investigation into Marty's 'Cultural Affairs Department' about?
I am a republican and I regret voting for Berry. I wish Chavez had got out more and not though he was a shoe in. You want to compare Berry to Chavez. New city attorney $20k raise, hired John Martinez $50k every 6 months so that is a $20k raise over Lawerence. He kept the made up job of Public Safety Officer, really we were fine 5 years ago without it, so another $130k. Then he made a job for Sal Barriolga to come back to the city at whatever he is making. This is the same old politics but with increase in pay. Ken Sanchez is a fair upstanding citizen and he will have my vote if he runs in the next election.
Mayors Office needs to look into two city employees who got in a fender bender out at Pino. The security dept. is trying to blame the water dept. Lets see the LT. and the Sgt. are married and the Sgt. has not been with the city very long. Please mr. Mayor there is a video.
SAVE MONEY, START WITH NO FIRE ACADEMYS FOR TWO YEARS. WE ARE WAY OVER STAFFED. PUT THE ALARM ROOM BOYS OUT IN THE FIELD, ALONG WITH THE TECH SERVICE CREW. THIS ALONE IS A TWO MILLION DOLLAR SAVINGS IN MAN POWER ALONE.
Ken Sanchez for Mayor
Darren investigate? he has to know how first. He left the SO in the biggest mess ever and had been compared to Gallagher and none of us thought that could get any worse. He needs to be asked why he let a Lieutenant and Narc Sergeant get by with an attempted break in at another detectives house while that detective was on vacation..AFTER this detective raised questions about the Lt. and Sgt. being involved in evidence and money missing. Now the new Admin is having to tidy up all of Darren's little messes. Good luck ABQ you're gonna need it.
PLEASE; WILL SOMEBODY EXPLAIN WHY WE USE E85 IN OUR CARS. I HAD TO BE TOWED IN FRIDAY, BECAUSE THE 4TH STREET FUEL TANK IS CONTAMINATED FOR THE TENTH TIME. I WONDER HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO FIX ALL THE FUEL PUMPS. RANDY CHAVEZ SAID ALL THE EXTENDED WARRANTYS ARE NULL AND VOID, BECAUSE OF THE BAD FUEL. LARRY BARKER; HELP!
Ray Darnell is being investigated in the cultural services. Darnell also had a big impact on library admin. they were his puppets and did what he told them to do. Not promoting from within and hiring out of staters, hiring way too many temporary workers, overlooking qualified internal employees, especially hispanics. Library needs to be investigated.
At least Ken Sanchez wants to keep our unions! Berry is a union buster and what he doesn't realize is that city employees are both voters and taxpayers. So when he starts his tired rhetoric about "we will do what is in the best interest of the taxpayer" he's forgetting about city workers, whose taxes are now going to pay the likes of Martinez, who want to destroy us. Berry you are a one term mayor. I can hardly wait until you are gone.
G. Amato for Sheriff
Thanks for the information. I think There is no one in this entire state as qualified.
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