One in the same?
I don't really disagree with Vickie Hirsch-White regarding police pay, but she seems to go out of her way to decry any increased compensation for the mayoral position and, one would assume, the 10 elected commissioners. These are two unrelated arguments, aren't they?
I mean, it seems very plausible one could support an immediate increase in the salary of our law enforcement officials - which pays $32,00-plus - and get behind some sort of raise for the mayor. I mean, as noted here, it seems fairly obvious that the salary for mayor in this community is rather low compared to others in the state (the outlyer being Albany and its ridiculously low $8,600).
I mean, it seems very plausible one could support an immediate increase in the salary of our law enforcement officials - which pays $32,00-plus - and get behind some sort of raise for the mayor. I mean, as noted here, it seems fairly obvious that the salary for mayor in this community is rather low compared to others in the state (the outlyer being Albany and its ridiculously low $8,600).
posted by Jmac at 5:05 PM
15 Comments:
Just browsing the internet. Your blog is very, very interesting. great read.
I agree that the two points should be unrelated. And I find it even more unsettling what Police make - really only as much as $36k a year after a year on the job after the incentives? I mean Police don't sit on their butt most of the day like many in the working world (not just University or Government).
And Freddie - yes, it is a good read that is why he gets so many comments from frequent visitors to his site.
I have to say that the police don't earn nearly enough, and, honestly, neither do the M and/or C. Or the deputies at the jail...
But the climate is just plain wrong for handing out raises, in A-CC, until we get some progress made on poverty.
My local gripe today has to do w/the prices Reddish quoted on the jail they tried to bully the SPLOST panel into including (at a serious risk of our losing the whole kit and kaboodle at the polls). The original bid was 58 million dollars, and only came down after the panel gave the Sheriff two weeks to re-work the proposal and come back w/a revised proposal. He did, having removed everything the Judges had asked for, in terms of video court facilities, and several of the (barely) progressive things that were included in the proposal, like classrooms for GED, seperate quarters/care adequate for the mentally ill they house there in such huge percentages, etc. That's when the price went down a mere 8 million dollars in the second proposal.
I know Mgr. Reddish was looking out for the government, and Mr. Snipes was gung ho and terrified we'd be sued if we didn't include the jail in that splost package too. But that was a lousy proposal, and the Panel did the right thing, defeating it 21-1.
I don't know how ALL the current elected officials feel about that jail, but I do get the sense that they look at our current Sheriff and don't want to give him 50 cents, never mind 70 million, for a jail. I bet a solution will be found for that situation just as soon as we elect a competent Sheriff. Hey, that day is coming, right? He's up for re-election in November, if I've got my math straight. Who's running for that lovely job, I wonder. Rumors, anyone?
aquariusrizing
What is needed in the Sheriff's office is not so much a law enforcement official as someone who is a good manager of budgets and staff. Because we are a unified govt (and unlike in most other counties), in ACC the Sheriff's office isn't really responsible for law enforcement much anyway --they are responsible for the jail, guarding the courthouse, and serving warrants. That's pretty much it.
It should also be noted that the writer of said letter was listed as living in Winterville... which actually has its own Mayor, Council & Police Department and is not part of the Unified Government.
INCREASE their pay hell! These current Corruptioners ought to be paying US!
Chuck, when are you gonna pay us for the bandwidth you take up? Or how about the time you wasted for the folks in Cobbham by sending them off to act in good faith on your lies? Or the waste of money and energy that was your whole givernment bid?
Chuck calling others corrupt? Ha. I have a visual of a loquacious pot, a kettle, and a dark shaded color...
"givernment"
very telling.
Lol I was going to observe that, but I couldn't find a way to work it in.
Anyway it looks like I ruffled little nick-nick's feathers, what a shame.
Regarding the Cobbham people - they will be repaid in due course for the wicked that they do. I just hope I am given some small part in bringing them low.
And then in the early hours of the morning I read Jim's editorial about the 4,100 dollar a year raise the Congress just gave themselves, tucked neatly into some other legislation.
2.5%. Hm. And that's what they're "giving" the disabled, who live on just over 600$ a month, if they're on SSI, 2.5%.
But if you're disabled, and required by Bill's welfare reform to give the AHA the first 30% of your income, pay all the utilities (they've pretty well eliminated any subsidies for those in public housing, but hide that from the residents by not itemizing any "overages", or letting them know anything about their usage until they get their rent bills), these folks are the same Democrats that "reformed welfare" under Clinton.
They are now giving themselves 4,100 dollars a year more, each, while moaning about health care for the disabled being a run away freight train?
I'm pissed at Pelosi, and all her ilk, for talking out of one side of their mouths when they won, and acting in their own interests instead of that of the most vulnerable among us, who have no voice, cuz we can't afford to run for office.
We don't own cars, we can't afford the insurance in our neighborhoods. We don't have x boxes, or fancy shoes, or choices about where to shop. Most months, we have to choose between our medicines or food, rent or electricity, gas or a warm pair of gloves.
I'm disgusted that this supposedly Democratic Congress would slip itself a bonus at this time. They talk about the sacrifices of our troops, I think it's high time some of our elected officials demonstrate some integrity, instead of just flashing around their ability to raise the money to get elected as if it were some sort of public service to us. It's pretty clear they're only thinking of themselves.
I am not shedding any tears for Pelosi's bills for fuel running back and forth across the country. My tears are for those who continue to lack representation in this country, and who are punted around like political footballs whenever it comes time for A, B, or C to get re-elected, and then forgotten until the next time their votes are needed.
oh then, though, watch the Democrats ramp up their "get out the vote" efforts, and talk the talk of the working man, the middle class, and those "least among us". I know who the "least among us" are, and they're living the high life, on what tax dollars the working poor are denied access to when we need them most, before we lose everything we own trying just to stay alive in this land of the free and the brave. Yup.
I remember Hillary and Bill, and all they "did" for us, everyone can go on for pages about Ronny throwing the mentally ill out of institutions before there were any safety nets available, that's what really turned our local jail into a mental institution, and put the bill for their care in our local laps. But let's be really, really clear. Both NAFTA and welfare "reform" were Bill's babies, and nothing, and I do mean nothing, nor any amount of "hurt feelings" on Hillary's part is going to convince this female voter that she is any different from him or Pelosi.
I am still undecided, except I do know that I won't be casting my vote for Herself. I am an American first, and a woman second, not the other way around. It'll take a lot more than a few tears to move me to vote for the very people that force me and millions of other disabled Americans to live without the basics. If we'd had access to those basic needs instead of being forced to use up every resource on emergency care, some of us could have recovered and would be back in the work force, at least part time by now. Many chronic illnesses, like lupus, only become disabling when access to medical care is priced out of our range. My credit report is full of co-pays and deductibles I couldn't pay because Blue Cross and Blue Shield just kept raising my premiums until they knew I couldn't pay them any more. They knew what I made... right down to the last cent, and I'm liable to die before they stop trying to get it from me, even now.
If she can't take the heat, she needs to leave the kitchen. I'll hold the door open for her, and hand her a hanky on her way by.
Bitter, you say? You betcha. And you will be too, when it happens to someone you love, or to you. Or wait, here in Athens, chances are, you do know and love someone in these circumstances.
Almost one in three of us are. Next time you're standing in line at Krogers, do a little shopping cart comparison. You'll figure out which of us is "it" in your line pretty quickly.
Now, go forth and vote accordingly, please.
Nicki, I thought we'd all reached an unspoken understanding about chuckie - ignore him and he might actually go away.
-wmo
Hasn't worked so far. See the thing is, running my mouth is FUN for me. It's not just getting on your nerves that is fun - although I do admit that's a bonus.
Yeah, sorry, wmo. I slipped.
(And while the cheap shot was kinda cute, I'm taking no flack for typos as long as I still have two dislocated fingers on a very slow mend. Everything's gonna look retty bad until that's fixed.)
Actually I think you are going to get your wish for a short time - I'm going to have to refrain from participating on the blog for a bit. Life just won't be the same without ya.
See you in a few months.
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