"Please understand that we are at war, a war of survival and a right to exist, and we will not go lightly into the night," [Andrew] Padilla wrote in a recent AFSCME newsletter. "Everyone must be prepared to assist the union in this most dire of situations."Sounds a lot like a line from the movie "Independence Day." More importantly, the highly charged rhetoric is ill-advised and factually inaccurate. First and foremost, Mayor Berry is not challenging AFSCME's "right to exist." In point of fact, the union's existence isn't being challenged or threatened in the least, but rather public employees' ability to continue living as if the Great Recession didn't exist.
Three years ago, Albuquerque's unemployment rate was 3.4% according to Workforce Solutions. Now, the Albuquerque's unemployment stands at 9.2% (New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions). In three years Albuquerque has gone from what is considered to be full employment to almost 10% unemployment. So what has been happening in the public sector workforce over the last 12 months?
Government added 1,100 new jobs for an increase of 1.3 percent. The lion’s share of the growth came from federal government, which was up 700. Local and state government gained 200 jobs each. Many of the new federal government jobs have come from the decennial census.Other winners during the current economic disaster are health care workers and you guessed it... teachers. Educational & Health Services added 600 jobs. Meanwhile, construction (-2,100); manufacturing (-1,500); professional & business services (-3,000); retail trade (-1,200); transportation, warehousing & utilities (-800); financial activities (-100); and miscellaneous other services (-200).
It's clear that the private sector has been hemorrhaging jobs while the public sector not only enjoys job stability but increases. Now, instead of being thankful for relative stability of their members' jobs - the organization charged with representing these lucky workers is marching to "WAR!"
Hmmm... we wonder just how well AFSCME's "war" will go over with the public when almost 1 in 10 of them are out there trying to find a job?
Like it or not, government workers do not create wealth. Government workers consume wealth created by others in the private sector. Each government job depends on the healthy existence of hundreds of private sector jobs. At a time when the private sector is shrinking, it's morally wrong and fiscally unsustainable to increase the burdens placed on a shrinking number of private sector workers and businesses.
They say it's wise to pick your battles. With 9.2% unemployment and 18 months of negative job growth, AFSCME is simply outnumbered. Mayor Berry and the City Council would do well to stand with the public that elected them and pass the mayor's proposed budget. This is a battle that AFSCME is unlikely to win in a "war" that should never be fought.
100 comments:
I have always been a union guy but times have changed and so have I. Unions were put in place to ensure workers had a safe working environment as well as a decent wage. Now unions have made it harder for employers to get rid of bad apples and have demanded higher and higher wages. With the economy the way it is why don’t the union leadership lower union dues instead of giving it all to support President Obama. I believe that the rank and file is fed up with the union leadership. The city unions better pick their fight wisely. The last thing you want right now is to piss off the tax payer (Your real boss). Be thankful you have a job because millions don’t.
Very Good Analysis, Eye On Albuquerque. This THUGGERY is going on and probably modeled after the SEIU (which is doing this same sort, but on a national level). Keep up the good work...
I didn't vote for Berry. But I think he is 100% right on this issue. Now will the city council have the balls to do the right thing. Take a look at what is happening across the nation. Someone in government needs to act and start controlling run away spending. What should the private sector suffer while public employees continue to get pay raises with not a worry in the world.
Went down to the budget hearing tonight to talk to my Councilor Trudy Junes about this. She didn't show up. No one could tell me where she was or what she was doing. Dan Lewis was helpful. Wish he was my councilor.
UNION LEADERS_ NOW HEAR THIS !!!
I am a citizen, a taxpayer, and don't believe in unions (personally) but they are a necessity in certain occupations such as yours as a protection against the political back stabbing hacks that run our city. I also don't feel it right to suggest putting this budget debacle on the backs of the citizens with another tax increase. The citizens won't stand for it. NO! on more TAXES. People are struggling, out of work and are loosing their homes; be glad you have a job.
NOW ON THE OTHER HAND. It is the politicians that got us in this 'hell Hole', not city employees,so let them be the one's to get us out of the same hole. 3% across the board pay cut is bullshit. Let those who make more take bigger cuts incrementally.( 3%-5%-7%-10%)
Berry, Campbell, White & Schultz should take the lead, set an example and take that cut at 10%.
We basically have the same dead,worthless fools in the upper levels as we did when the previous mayor was in charge. The only thing that has changed are the deck chairs upstairs. With a change of administration and political party for the first time in 27 years, you'd think that there would have been a total house cleaning.
INSTEAD, we have a mayor who takes orders from a Public Safety Director who shouldn't hold that position as it was supposed to be eliminated, (payback for endorsing Mayor Barry) and a CAO who is being paid $15,000 more than the last one. (145K to 160K)
That in itself is a disgrace.He should voluntarily go back to $145,000. He TOO is lucky to have a job.(Especially since Obama was only willing to pay him $45,000 for some shit job abroad)
HERE'S THE BEST PART. We have two individuals who have cost the city almost 2 million dollars in lost civil rights violation cases recently. Chief Schultz and Dareen are SUPPOSED to be PROFESSIONALS in law enforcement and have neither the ability nor the foresight to be tasked beyond performing what weasels do sniffing butts. They've been given some damn bad advise or are just damn stupid and shouldn't hold those positions.( The "Peter Principle" at it's best)
IF employed in the private sector, they would have been terminated if they cost their company $2M.
IF for example a Solid Waste driver or a Transit bus driver totaled a vehicle in an arroyo, you can bet your ass they would be termed,(fired) and probably sued by the city with David Campbell leading the charge.
Make no mistake, 'His Pompous' respects not, you peons.
This city is currently lead by con artists who can't make a living in the real world and cannot think outside the box with ideas on how to fix this mess. They certainly give new meaning to the word CLUSTER.
I just watched the city council meeting. Our wonderful police chief, Ray Schultz was addressing the city council. At first he said there were only around 1075 officers. Then when Councilor Lewis asked him about Darren White saying there were 1,175 officers, Ray started his spin cycle. At first he said it was military active duty officers. Then he said it was part timers that they shouldn't be counting but they were counting. Then when he was pressed by councilor Lewis he admitted that he did go way over the authorized city council budget, but that it was Marty Chavez fault and they thought they would get grant money. After 15 minutes he was finally asked if APD was over their authorized budget strength of 1100 officers and he finally said yes, but would not say how far over.
How can the City Council give him a budget if Schultz will not be truthful about the number of officers APD has? After his presentation no one knows just how many officers we have. No wonder Albuquerque is $66,000,000 in the red. With management like this we get what we deserve.
Then he went on to say how the rehired officers have helped to lower the crime rate in Albuquerque. Really????? New Mexico is 2nd in the nation in crime. Just where is Ray getting his numbers? He also said that APD has over 600 officers as first responders!!!! Really????? the last bid, which are the real first responders, was only around 400 officers.
Councilor Lewis did a good job in catching Ray being untruthful about the number of officers APD has. The city council and the media need to keep it up and force him to prove all he says. There is not one person I know of who thinks crime is down in Albuquerque. When Ray talks, all the numbers need to be verified.
We really need a police chief who doesn't spin. Who will be honest and straightforward when he / she speaks. We really need a new police chief.
Post at 9:12:00 PM
DEAD ON!! Watched the same thing on GOV-16. Un-freakin-believable!!! What does Schultz have on these guys?? There's got to be some reason he's hanging in there. If he didn't have dirt on someone (PEACHES???) he'd be packing his bags, esp after tonight's charade of bullshit.
Good for Dan Lewis. Keep after it Dan. Lewis for Mayor! Buck Ferry!!
The citizens of Albuquerque need to verify the chief’s numbers, he is misguided! Rehires have not done a thing for the department; they hide in the schools that the APS officers should be covering. Rehires are a waste of taxpayers’ money, they make well over $100,000 per year salary and retirement combined and should be the first ones on the chopping block. Show me where the 600 first responders are please!…..pull records from the dispatch center and prove him wrong, use the FOIA against these fools and get someone in there who has integrity.
After reading comments above, it is clear that mayor Berry has his head clearly up his ass when it comes to retaining Schultz and hiring Darren.
They really are a couple of con artists. Then again,he was also con-ed by the best shyster in town; Campbell.
Best be stocking up on Vaseline or your gonna get it dry.
I am a city employee and a union member. I would much rather take a 3 percent pay cut then get laid off. Why doesn’t the union lower dues? I am leaving the union and I will save a few bucks. I know I still have to pay “fares share” beside all my union dues go to support the liberal agenda. These are hard times boys better pick your fight. Take a look what SEIU has done to California.
If the city is in such a crunch then:
Why did Berry pay himself more than Marty as mayor?
Why are Berry's political appointees making 10-15% more than Marty's previous hacks?
Why are there just as many politically connected positions as before?
Why are secretaries and admin assistants for the above fools MAKING MORE THAN cops??
Why do we still have a "public safety secretary" when we have a Fire Chief and Police Chief that are eons more qualified than Darren in endless ways?
The rookie mayor wants the workforce to take a paycut to bridge the deficit. We are fine doing that IF there's an equal standard which means these hacks need to go AND there needs to be a major thinning of salaries above.
Joe Q Taxpayer and needs to remember that we the police, fire, solid waster are the true public servants, NOT these fools who are making incomes almost 4x what the average taxpayer makes....
cut barboa,he's busting my budget!
I am a city employee in the above-the-median pay ranks, a division manager, not a political appointee. I've worked hard in my career and worked hard to get to where I am by getting a degree and working in a related public sector job for many years. I have experience, knowledge and skill sets that others don't possess. I take offense at the notion that all higher paid city employees are part of the problem simply because they make more money. In most cases they make more money because they deserve more money for their experience, knowledge and skill sets. That said, I have no problem taking a larger salary cut than lower paid employees to prevent layoffs. But remember, we were making 3% less than now last year and we didn't hear the union guys stating how they could not afford to eat at McDonald's. But now that the mayor wants to take back that 3% they are crying bloody murder about how they'll have to forego fast food burgers. How did they make ends meet last summer? Why can't they do the same this summer. Or would they rather stand in the unemployment line? Everyone needs to take a deep breath and think a bit.
All the oficers whoread this blog do not know that they are also represented by a union, and they will be getting a pay cut. It will not be 3%. It will be about 8% when the increased cost of benefits are taken from your pocket.
The eye does not write about the hits public safety will take, because it will allienate the readers. The mayor does not want to include the benefit adjustment in his numbers, because it changes people's perception. It is more difficult to spin 8%.
They eye supports the Mayor's plan to reach into your pocket to removing 8% of your hard earned money. Who cares about AFSME, what about the pain officers will feel?
The eye will never talk about the Mayor's pay cuts for cops.
The public sector does not create wealth and ALL the Republicans in the race for Governor feed at the government trough.
Allen Weh made millions from government contracts. Our tax dollars are financing his campaign.
Doug Turner admitted to securing government contracts that were a waste of tax payer dollars. We are paying for his campaign.
Pete Domenici has represented the federal government in many lawsuits. We are paying for his campaign.
Susana Martinez is a government employee who receives a check as she spends 50+ hours a week campaigning as she collects a government check. We are paying for her campaign.
Three of the four are “small business owners” that claim to have created jobs. Their businesses would not exist if they did not do government work. That means the government created the jobs. They just skimmed off the top and called it profit.
The Republican candidates for governor need to put their money where their mouth is and give up their government contracts. If they are serious about cutting government, lead the way and with your socialist profiteering.
I am just a taxpayer who pays more than his fair share (due to tax lightning, although my most recent notices shows a big decrease)and I would like to make a comment. A 3% cut is reasonalbe and as mentioned above, much better than any layoffs. I personally think the highest salary types should have taken at least a 5% cut as an example. Leadership leads by example.
Speaking of leadership, or a lack thereof, we have the APD, run by imcompetents. Schultz doesn't know how many cops he has??? He does, but its over the line so ... If I was the mayor I would tell him to cut back to 1100 immediately, starting with himself. Followed by those on the DWI section who are taking bribes not to show for court. Followed by incompetent officers like Mark Dietz.
As A young Officer making seven dollars an hour and paying sixteen percent into PERA and just enough left over to afford a one bedroom apartment. I didnt hear the public screaming for the city to bring my pay up to match the private sector just to be fair. That being said i think most Officers would agree to the three percent if it was only temporary and we were not five years down the road fighting to get it back.
Comment above; saying that Republicans are paying for their campaigns based on the federal contracts that they have received in the private sector. Don't forget Cumbre construction,owned by the mayor's wife, received nothing but government money for construction jobs. In fact the entire business thrived on nothing but government funded jobs.
Comment above; "If he didn't have dirt on someone (Peaches???)."
She knows the dirt alright.
After all, she's sleeping with 'Big man on campus'
Darren's secretary make $59,000.
WTF !!
How much does Peaches make?
ANYBODY Know?
She drives a nice Tahoe
THE CITY SHOULD CONTRACT OUT ALL OF THE POLICE CARS THAT ARE WORKED ON BY UNCERTIFIED HACKS. I KNOW THIS WOULD SAVE ONE MILLION DOLLARS. GET RID OF THE SHIT FUEL AND SAVE ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS, IS IT THAT HARD!!
Did anyone else catch that Chief Schultz told Councilor Lewis that APD would be back to the 1100 officer cap in just two or three weeks.
Now how in the heck is he going to do that? APD is well over 1100. Some say 1115, some say 1150, it depends if you use the math Schultz used under Marty Chavez, or the math he uses under Berry (old math versus new math).
Are there going to be firings, layoffs, retirements, etc of a whole bunch of APD officers in the next two weeks? I think Schultz just blew any respect he had at City Council. There is no way APD is going to get down to 1100 in 2 weeks, he fudged before the council, again.
Remember that city employees are tax payers also.
Let's get rid of the folks that use the WIC cards at the grocery store while they have a wad of 20's in their wallet or purse.
It wan't the tax payers (city employees) who caused this deficit. It was the politicians and their cronies.
Stop paying 8 million dollars to maintain golf courses, close the balloon museum and cancel all "pork" spending along with reducing administrative pay by 50%.
Any council member that supports Berry's budget will loose the next election just like Berry will.
Thanks to Mark Reinsch (or however you spell that stupid name) for the brilliant insite and solution to all that ails the city. Your brilliance and exceptional whining skills are truly amazing. Actually you should be grateful that Dietz is a cop with integrity honesty and the strength to put up with your constant sniping.
YOUR CRAZY IF YOU THINK APD IS EVEN CLOSE TO 900. I HEAR CSA'S AT THE RANGE ARE MAKING $29 ANYONE KNOW IF THAT IS TRUE?
I have been a supporter of The Eye. You seem to always want what is best for officers when they are getting the raw end of the deal. But this story makes me wonder, why you would not support AFSCME union members. Clerical union workers are the lowest paid in the city and usually the ones with single parents working 2 jobs. I know there are lazy workers, there are lazy workers everywhere. This is not the private sector, we chose just like everyone else could have chose to work for city government. There are certain benefits that we wanted in our lives so we chose to apply for the jobs we have. Not supporting the unions and only police and fire makes me ashamed I have ever continuted reading this. Think about it. No one wants their pay cut or hours cut, but stop bad mouthing the unions.
As a taxpayer and city worker I am outraged that APD has overspent their budget and now it is costing me and my family money.
Why isn't the mayor or council holding Schultz up to blame for busting his budget? As a taxpayer I demand that some type of discipline be done. The police budget is his sole responsibility and he went over by millions, which has helped lead us into the deficit we are not in.
He admitted he knowingly went over his authorized strength, on a hope that he would get grant money. A smart person waits until he has the grant money, but not Schultz. Heck it isn't his money so apparently he doesn't care.
I would think my union, AFSCEME, would be up in arms over APD's budget explosion. Come on Andrew Padilla, do a press conference and point this out. We want these folks who have caused this finincial crisis held accountable.
My family is going to lose money, and Schultz is partly to blame.
to Jake 34.
City employees are tax payers themselves and many that I know did not vote for Obama.
Go back to your little corner of the city and continue to suck your thumb, when you're ready to leave the corner go get some education so you can actual produce a accurate statement.
Mayoor Berry told one of his friends at a dinner party that APD officers make way too much money..........Let's see that fool do the job.
Berry what about the money the city paid out for Schultz to officer Castales? Did you forget how much that cost the city. How funny it is that you dont want to talk about those tax dollars.
I am a managerial worker. I fully support APD officers and what they do. That said, many of us believe that APD chief needs to be held accountable for this horrible overspending of the budget. Much of our current budget burden is his fault because of his inept management of the police department. The biggest example of this is the over hiring of police officers, causing the city to over spend almost $5,000,000 because he hired more police than the city council allowed.
I know where I work if I did such a blunder I would lose my job. Chief Schultz needs to lose his. Accountability at all levels, now that is fair.
Who is peaches??? Is she Kevin Rowe's woman???
To the people who really think that there are over 1100 police officers quit kidding yourselves. Schultz answers the way he does because he doesn't have the amount of officers that he should have. He includes reserve officers and CSA's these are certifed citizens not sworn police officers. They are ready to assist full time officers if the city falls apart. For the one asking what a CSA makes it about $19.00 an hour not $29.00!!!!
Real accountablility at city hall???? Come one, it is easier to just blame the low level union worker, who has not budget, than to place blame where it belongs.
Blame belongs with the high upper managment who continue to over spend our budget. Just look at APD, Sally Mayer, City Wellness, Weststaff, etc etc etc. No one in the media even questions Berry, the city council or any of these people about the millions they have squandered. Yet they blame me and want 3% of my 17.45 per hour. Simply amazing how this works.
I am a clerical worker @ COA. I make the lowest wage in my department. There is a glut of middle managers and administrators in this department. The rest of the employees are temporaries. There is no hiring from within in this department. Recently, 2 job postings for M-level positions went out for bid. Just about every clerical staff person applied for these positions, some of which have 20 years experience working in this department, but most of which had a least 5 years experience. Ultimately, admin. hired 2 people from outside Albuquerque. The admin. in this department not only does NOT hire from within, they only hire whites from outside Albuquerque. This is why we need unions to help us against discrimination by this department.
Sounds like the library, they hire NO hispanics at all!! The library is guilty of racist hiring practices.
Don't you know - Schultz got himself out of the lawsuit with Costales, by making some back door deal not to appeal. At least, that is what I thought the journal reported. That's why the city paid out. Schultz is so arrogant and was mighty surprised he lost that lawsuit. However, there's always a way out - not for the city/taxpayers, but for that loser they call a Chief. What a joke - him and Darren - like I said what a joke!!!
CAN ANYONE SAY LAW SUITS?
THREE THAT DARREN AND SCHULTZ HAVE COST THE CITY TOTALING $1,978,000.00
DARREN- $125,000.00 FOR DOING WHAT?
BERRY PAID HIM THAT MUCH FOR HIS ENDORSEMENT.
Berry you need to do the right thing!
CLEAN YOUR OWN HOUSE FIRST!
How can you overhire police officers??? Anyone who has had to wait 2 hours for an officer to respond should be able to appreciate the fact that we need more officers. Now that the field officers have to take their own DWIs instead of calling a DWI unit, you may have to wait even longer for an officer to respond. That being said, I do not believe that Schultz has more than the allotted number of officers. There is no way you can have a bid with only 400 or so officers, but yet claim a workforce of 1100. Am I to believe there are 700 detectives for the department? Im sure the detectives do not feel like there are 700 when they have a large caseload.
Bottom line is Schultz is a dirty liar. He tells people what he thinks they want to hear. The sooner he is gone, the sooner APD can begin healing, and get some moral and integrity back.
How is that Chief Schultz can collect a second retirement after 5 years. Yes folks that's 5 years. WTF!!! That TOOL should be fired.
OK..Every one has heard about the Costales case as reported in the ABQ Journal. But did you hear about the shenanigans and obstruction that was covered in the Memorandum Opinion and Order regarding Chief Shultz behavior during the Discovery Process on the Costales case. His actions were deplorable and criminal in my mind. But he is allowed to continue as Cheif...WHY?????????
If you would like to read about what he did here is the link.
http://tinyurl.com/3xhvggd
You should direct the retirement questions to PERA. The members dont have a clue on how PERA works or care.
Be careful all, I hear the chief has Lieutenant West working on finding the blabbermouths dissing him.
Personally I like how apdonline.com still promotes APD officer's earning $28/hour and that we're the highest paid department in the state. That should come in handy at a future time....
remember you get what you pay for. if the people of albuquerque are not willing to pay fof services then fire us workers and deal with the repercussions. city government only open every other day; no water; or police and fire response; no one to answer 911. see how many tourists will come here -the gross receipt income will be nil. and the city will become a 3rd world hell hole.
Darren has his snitches out there as well.
Talking about snitches: Commander Anaya of foothills.
"As a taxpayer and city worker I am outraged that APD has overspent their budget and now it is costing me and my family money"
As another poster pointed out, APD officers are also tax payers. However, I feel that it is important to point out that while APD may be over budget the entire burden of the city's financial shortfall doesn't, and can't, land entirely on the department. My understanding is that EVERY city department is over budget, which is typical, really. Government entities are famous for over spending this year so they can ask for more next year.
As for APD's budget issues: I truly believe that a huge part of the problem for the department is court. As has been mentioned time and time again police officers are engaged in a constant battle with the court system in New Mexico. The reason that officers are now required to conduct their own DWI investigations from start to finish is an effort to cut court costs. The typical 'easy' DWI will have each officer involved in the arrest appearing court a minimum of 6 times. If the officer works nights that's 6 overtime slips. I get that defense attorney's are supposed to use whatever means possible to get their client out of the charges, but for crying out loud: there HAS TO BE LIMITS set as to how many times a judge will continue a case. Would these limits solve the overtime and budgets issues? Certainly not, but I do believe it would be a step in the right direction. Also, I'm not a cop, but I take exception to the knot head above for suggesting that officers are not appearing for DWI cases because they being bribed. Shame on you for suggesting such a thing.
As for the issue pointed out earlier, there are certainly questions about the number of officers on the department. My question is this: when I hear someone asking 'how many officers does the department have' what I really wonder is 'how many officers does the department have answering calls for service'. In other words how many uniformed officers, in marked units, are out there on the streets day after day, night after night, going call to call? Certainly the department has too many officers hidden away in specialized units, but I think that when most people think of 'cops' they think of the officers on the streets day and night. Don't add traffic, don't add K-9 or SWAT, don't add the DWI officers. Tell me how many officers bid for shifts and days off and are out there everyday. I think if we ever got an honest answer to that question, and then compared that number to the number of officers on the department we would be astonished.
I read the court document where Schultz stated he would rather go to jail than give over those requested documents from his blackberry, cell phone, emails, etc. I say anyone else with a pending lawsuit take note. I would trace out which computer he used and ask for calendar, blackberry and cell phone records (both work and private). Sounds like he has a lot to hide if he stated he would rather go to jail than turn them over.
Hey West I hope you can find me. The city paid out nearly a million dollors this year due to the chief violating free speach of an officer.
Interesting at the end of city council budget hearing when asked what happens if GRT doesn't go up what then Hoffman responded with is: another 5% cut and furloghs to the employees
The way I see it wage cuts then the layoffs, AFSCME members and city council want furloughs; under the collective bargaining agreements Berry has two options raise GRT (out of the question for republicans) or layoff.
the public and private sector will get there wish (my prediction) city employees will lose there jobs. anyone know of the guarantee city employees take a wage cut = no layoffs? I don't think so!
lets tax the employees because, that is what it is; A tax(wage cuts) on Gov employees to fill the city's budget and the city will come back to that well again and again, because its a race to the bottom no private sector jobs no public sector jobs only the rich survive that WAR
Be careful City workers and unions.
Don't threaten the public with no services etc. and gettin all testy.
Other than Police and Fire, every other department can be outsourced to the private sector.
The city can privatize and save money, won't have to worry about health care,and retirement.
So accept the realities ALL of us have to deal with.
Careful what you wish for.
Same goes for APS. Home schooling is on the rise and enrollments in the PRIVATE SECTOR(private schools) are soaring.
If there were a true 'school voucher' program here, APS would be out of business.
This is Paul J. Heh. I have enjoyed reading The EYE over the last few years and for the most part I must say that I agree with the editorials. I do however feel that I must take you to task on the War On The Public. Let me start by saying that I am a A.P.O.A. Member and have been for nearly 23 years. What I write here is my opinion. City employees are not declaring war on the public, instead they feel that they have been deamed the enemy by the present administration. Yes we are in hard financial times , however the city employees nor the hard working people of Albuquerque had no part in creating this mess. The politicans are to blame, it all comes home to roost with them. It is very hard for city employees to swallow a 3% pay cut when many of them are only making $15.00 dollars an hour. And is it truly a 3% pay cut ? I will use the police as an example. Sart with the 3% pay cut, add to that the city expects the police to forget about the raise they were promised in July that was funded and is part of their contract,add to that the city wants employees to pay more into their health care, on top of that the police have lost their longevity pay. In all it amounts to about a 12% pay cut. All city employees are facing similar pay cuts. Now there is talk about city employees not being able to cash out the sick and vacation time they have earned over the years at the time of retirement. If you are going to change the rules , you change them before peolpe get hired, not after they are on the job. When people consider accepting a job, part of that consideration is the whole package offered by the employer. Then a person can make an informed decision if they want to work for that employer or look elsewhere. When promises are made the only thing a person of honor can do is keep that promise. It is exspecially hard for city employees to accept a pay cut when they see the top administration creating high paying jobs for their friends. The city boosts that top administrators will take a 5% pay cut. Not bad when they were hired at 10% TO 15 % HIGHER WAGE THAN THE LAST PERSON THAT HELD THE JOB. THAT IS OF COURSE IF THE JOB WAS JUST NOT CREATED TO TAKE CARE OF A FRIEND. I would love to debate this issue with Mayor Berry in a public forum, so the public could see for themselves what the real truth is and then decide if city employees are greedy. The city employees make this city run and keep it safe, we are not the enemy and we would be willing to help. But city clean your own house first. City employees must learn to speak up and stop being afraid. I have been made a target and I will be again but I refuse to be bullied by anyone. Many city employees say that the media is controlled. This was brought up at the last APOA Meeting. That the APOA cant get their views in the media. All I can say to that and did say is this. No one can tell you what newspaper to buy, TV station to watch, or radio station to listen to. The media depends on you to exist . You your family and friends can decide what to do if anything. City employees have made many cost saving suggestions to the administration such as close unused Police substations and sell the property. Close the Ballon Museum, that no-one uses and open it only at fiesta time or if someone wants to rent it for a special event. Why do the politicians turn a deaf ear ? The politicians talk about the public, here is a flash city employees are part of that public and we vote. Thomas Jefferson said " THE SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE TO GOVERNMENT IS SO VALUABLE ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS, THAT I WISH IT ALWAYS TO BE KEPT ALIVE. IT WILL OFTEN BE EXERCISED WHEN WRONG, BUT BETTER SO THAN NOT TO BE EXERCISED AT ALL ." This has been my opinion. I welcome yours. Put your name on it. Exercise your constitutional rights, or be bullied. REMEMBER THE POWERFUL ONLY RETAIN THEIR POWER AS LONG AS WE THE PEOPLE ALLOW THEM TO RETAIN IT.
Thank You Sgt. Heh. I, for example, am a clerical employee and I make $13.50 per hour. So I can ill afford to take a hit, but I am willing to do my part to help the city, but I wish it was in form of a furlough becuase I will never get that 3% back soon, if ever. So now I hear that some middle managers just got a raise and are now making $60,000 a year? WTF us up with all these city administrative shennanigans? Who is watching the hen house for Chrisssakes....!!! It's time to revolt, louder, stronger than the previous city council meeting!
The real war on the public is Mayor Berry leaving in place, or brining back ,those directors and department heads who got us into this mess over the last few years.
By not removing these people (police chief for one) and bringing back those who helped create this deficit (city treasurer), Berry is showing he is just a political hack or he really doesn't know what he is doing.
Albuquerque needs a complete house cleaning of those people who made this mess. We need new people at the top.
WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE " NO SANCTUARY CITY" THAT RJ BERRY RAN ON?
All those a-holes that are killing people and moving drugs into the US will now be coming to New Mexico.
What's Mary Berry gonna do then?
Sanctuary City?
We're not a sanctuary city like RJ thought.
After he got elected Ray and Darren pulled him aside and told him so.
There; that's that.
You go Paul !!!
P-E-A-C-H-E-S !!!!!!!!!!
How come you don't call me no more????
Juicy Fruit.
Sure like them oranges, cherries, apricots, plums and ........" ches"
Well said Paul. In addition, one should mention all the lawsuits paid out due to the two losers at the top. Berry announced keeping Schultz during the Costales trial and the media barely mentioned anything about the trial. When the whole Unser thing happened it was all over the news and papers, but when the city & Ray Boy lost in court it was barely mentioned. It was not mentioned at all by channel 13. That shouldn't surprise anyone since Darren used to work for them. So, is the media bought and paid for - the answer is YES. Also, from what I've read here Ray gets a second retirement for only 5 years - WTF!!!
I have to agree that I enjoy reading the Eye, however, this current post "War on the Public" is way off base. I have worked in a certain department for about 12 years. Recently I have overheard conversations between managers and department administrators saying things like "we won't hire from within because New Mexicans (locals) are incompetent or lazy". How can we as workers trying to go up the ladder who ARE qualified, hard-working and intelligent protect ourseleves against such discrimination-just because we are from Albuquerque we don't event get a shot at a higher position that we're qualified for? Just because all the administrators in this department are not from New Mexico and don't like New Mexicans? That's blatant discrimination. So, therefore the Union must step in and help us. Maybe ever the EEOC. The managers try at every turn to screw us out of longevity, overtime and other benefits that we have worked hard for. And I'm sure the Mayor supports that, since he wants to get rid of the Unions. SO, EYE in this regard you are WAY OFF BASE. You probably don't want to believe that such practices exist in our fair City, but believe me, as a local, I think this department, if they could, would gladly fire all brown people from New Mexico, and they'd do it with smirks on their faces.
Berry is not his own man like Marty was. he takes advise and orders from Campbell, White & Chief.He kept all of the old hacks that screwed the city. Yes, he doesn't know what he's doing. that's why Campbell has to run the city. Who did we elect?
I guess Campbell.
if the people running the unions are so freaking smart why aren't they successful in the private sector??? Because they can get a real job where you are held accountable!!!
It's the Mayor and his cronies that can't get a job in the real world, why do you think they're politicians...? They're the ones that are not ACCOUNTABLE TO ANYONE OR ANYTHING...they've got it locked up, bet they don't take any salary reduction...bet they're giving themselves raises.....dirty politicians one and all.
if the people running the unions are so freaking smart why aren't they successful in the private sector??? Because they can get a real job where you are held accountable!!!
Right.........
Posting above about unions: It sounds to me like your not all that smart!
Hey Unions!!! If you are so concerned about jobs why don't you suspend union dues for a year instead of giving to the liberal agenda?
If it weren't for Unions we would still be working 60 hours per week and not getting paid for it. The one who states union folks aren't that smart, bet you can't do half of what those folks do. I've been in the private sector and believe me I wish there had been a Union. Maybe your stupid and enjoy working for free, but I sure as hell don't. Oh, I know you say if you work hard you can get there - save it - because only playing the game gets anyone anywhere. As we can see in politics and wall streets honesty wasn't the best policy and that's why we are where we are.
I say GO Unions and get those thugs at the top out. They are the ones making all the money.
APD Unit F211, you were spotted this morning on Juan Tabo leaving Volterra heading north. We note you were wearing civilian clothing and talking on a cell phone this morning around 7:20. No emergency noted,though you were speeding, but had time to stop at traffic lights at Central/Juan Tabo and for a long one at I-40/Juan Tabo. The law says you shouldn't be on a cell phone while driving. But wait, that only applies to civilians.
What gives with the Hater on Gary Barboa? Seems like she or he is on every blog. Whats up with that?
The APOA must sue the city to make sure the city abides by their binding agreement.
If the APOA does not sue the city, this will set a precedent that will harm the APOA for years to come.
Nationwide, police unions are taking the cities to court to enforce binding labor agreements, and they are winning.
If the APOA takes the city to court, this is what will most probably happen. The court will review and make sure the APOA contract is legal and binding. Once this is concluded, the court will instruct the city to redo the budget, paying the APOA their contractual raises. The city will then have to figure out their budget after the APOA gets their raises.
This is what you do when you have a binding contract and one party refuses to uphold their end of the deal. The city agreed to this, so they need to pay up.
If the APOA allows the city to walk away from a legal binding contract, then the city will do it again and again.
If the current APOA attorney isn't willing to take the city to court, to enforce our legal binding contract, then we need to hire someone who will.
Ok EYE, time to change the oil.
NEXT !!
HEY VOLT!
You are a FV(K:NG B:+<H! How's that? Nothing but a sissy crybaby! WHHAAAAAAAAAA! Do you want me to call you a whaaaaaammmmmmbulance?
People like you need to get a life. Only concerned about what someone else is doing. AND I'll bet your big fat mouth is always on YOUR cell phone when you are driving. That, AND you are probably always speeding. YOU really need to STFU. What an embarrassment!!! A place where citizens clog the system with complaints about cops speeding and talking on their cell phones. WTF would you do in a real big city, where they beat your ass? CRY CRY CRY.......... It's your fault that you are not qualified to be an officer. Get over it you little piss boy. If I can't do it......Why can they.....Whaaaaaaa!
You obviously were the hall monitor that was slapped around on a daily basis, and occasionally thrown on the floor, and pissed on.
By the way...You've probably been spotted down on Central picking up transvestites. HAHAHAHA....Good luck getting over your inadequacy issues!
barboa deserves hate because of all that he has done through the years to screw people over, insert himself in other marriages and teach that to lie and steal and take what you want is ok as long as you are making arrests. getting those stats. he has no respect for anyone. not even himself. his lack of ethics, his ability to draw people in to do things they wouldn't normally do and work under peer pressure, like it's high school has taken a toll on many people. both men and women. he could care less if a marriage goes down because of his prodding. he doesn't respect other peoples values. just do what he wants, be like him and you are in. hate what he culitvated in the SE impact team. things will never be the same. never. he is a bad man with good stats. that's what's up. and his buddies jb and rv are his little alter boys.
Hanging out on Central? Why no honey, I go for the boys who wear the city uniform with APD on it. They are both easy and "loose". Afterall according to Gay Times, the biggest gay profession in America is police officer.
Thanks for the comments about Barboa. I too wondered what the deal was.
watch out for barboa, that is the only comment you will ever need.
don't follow him, run from him.
Are you talking about barboa or hindi, they both screw wives, girlfriends, and daughters and brag about it. any stories out there?
APOA and Fire union, take the city to court if they don't pay our raises!
File an injunction just as soon as the council approves the mayor's budget.
The city must abide by their contract to us. We will win this. Don't back down!
Barboa talks with a lisp and looks like a muppet.... He's an ADA candidate!
Yes, GO UNIONS, and BTW, in our city department working off the clock is an everyday, common occurrence. And that is not discouraged or even frowned upon by managers. Managers don't care that the clock says 6pm, they still want clerical staff (NON-EXEMPT in other words)to stay behind, shut off lights,lock doors, etc. that should be getting done by exempt staff. If some people come in a WEE BIT early like say, 8:45 to drink coffe before their 9:00 shift or use the restroom, whatever, they are engaged with their work by management. Breaks are interrupted & sometimes we don't get our breaks. And if you're eating lunch at your desk (which happens), management will approach you with tasks or engage you in discussions that are best left for "on the clock time". SO, WE NEED THE UNIONS TO INTERVENE AND LIKE THE POSTER ABOVE SAYS, THEY WOULD HAVE US WORK A 60 HR. WEEK AND ONLY PAY US FOR 40. All of these actions are in violation of FLSA and city union contracts. Management in this department does not give a rat's ass, they WILL work you off the clock and if, God forbid, you should leave at 6pm on the dot, you are their list, with write ups to follow.
Who ever keeps leaving those nasty comments about Barboa, is obsessed with jealousy. You need to get a life!!!!!!!
Barboa has a mightly hold on someone. I don't even know Barboa but if I were him, I'd hire a body guard.
i assure you, i am not jealous of barboa. he is a troll. a little short troll. he lies and tricks people to come under the bridge. i had a life, a great life, then barboa came into it and it was never the same. barboa changed everything. he ruined everything, of course the other people involved are guilty too, you can't lose your ethics and integrity unless you choose to, however, barboa wouldn't let up and he won and i lost. i am not jealous. i'm sad. fucked over and mad. watchout cuz he lies and so do alot of other people you think wouldn't. a pack of liars. amazing.
please tell me, what is there to be jealous of over barboa, what, what, what? please tell me. cuz he's in homicide? no. i laugh, cuz he gets called out all the time. because he can get stippers and other peoples wives in bed? because he get other people to lie and ruin marriages? no, none of that makes me jealous. makes me sick. so if you can tell me what to be jealous over, i'll gladly ponder.
Please seek counseling instead of complaining about this guy Barboa on this site. It will do you good.
barboa doesn't need a bodygard, his wife will need a therapist when she finds out about him.
i know she knows about the far gone past but does she know about the recent past. counseling is great, barboa should go. telling everyone who reads this about the real barboa is to alert the weak and unknowing about this guy.
he changes lives for the worse (except for strippers and the young waitstaff in certain resturants, they get the best of him, his money!) someone once said once you have a daughter you stop going to places like that, stop treating women like objects, but in this case that is NOT true. he hasn't changed, he's gotten worse!lucky for me, my wife would rather jump off a cliff than have anything to do with him or his alter boys.
Instead of this silly complaining about Barboa. Put your time to good use and follow him around and post the video.
This stuff you put on this blog is just slanderous unless you start posting proof. If you are a cop, then use your smarts and take some pictures.
Save money, get rid of Calloway, TJ Wilhelm, Ray Shultz and move Darren White to Chief. Problem solved.
Just a comment on some of the above statements. I agree the Chief is a lying SOB and can't get a story straight to save his life, whether it be number of officers on the street or total sworn personnel. On the other hand, who will do better for the department? DCOP Beth Paiz? Hahahaha, she couldn't find her hand in a glove. Calloway? Napolianite leadership was out centuries ago. DCOP Allen Banks? He can only turn to the left because the the enormous chip on his shoulder, this would create problems when trying to show his over-sized ego on TV.
I don't agree the rehires are hiding in SRO. That just happens to be the job the were hired for. I believe APS Police should put their own cops in schools and let APD do real police work.
I agree. Either APS should disband their police department and hand over that budget to APD (Therefore APD stays in the schools), or APD should pull out of the schools and let APS police staff them.
The only problem with that is if APS hands their police budget to APD it will be mismanaged by Schultz. Past performance is an indicator of future performance. Schultz past performance shows he cannot manage the police budget (thank you for over hiring by 100 officers and putting the city into a deficit) and he cannot manage the police department (thank you Schultz for violating officer costales civil rights and costing the Albuquerque taxpayer another million).
Why is this guy still chief?
BETH IS GOOD PEOPLE, I PRAY SHE WILL BE NEW CHIEF JULY 1. BERRY KNOWS HE IS A ONE TERM MAYOR AND HE WOULD INCREASE MORAL WITH A NEW CHIEF MY BEST LUCK TO BETH
Ron, are you posting again?
good idea, video barboa. thanks!!!
Hindi is a punk ass b!#$ch! He hid behind his badge all the time. You're not so tough without it. It might have been worth it to go to jail by beating your ass when I shoulda.
No shit. Get it together and video tape him. I agree with you. The guy is scum. He tries to hide behind the "uh, I am a good man cause I took in a kid that is not mine." Give me a break. If you've got it, he will come after it and he does not care about the havoc it brings.
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