TMC: Thirty Miles of Corruption

When looking at the City budget, one can see that the primary expense to the taxpayer is public worker salaries.  Again, considering you have public unions deeply involved with the campaign process while negotiation their member’s contracts, who actually comes out to bat for us, the taxpayer? We all need to ask the question: have cities now become government entities that benefit their workers’ quality of life as opposed to the quality of life of their employers (the taxpayers/constituents)?  Does government exist solely for the purpose of benefiting those directly and indirectly employed by it?

BUDGET 101 FOR THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE

Commentor Karen Renfro made the following opinionated insight based upon on her analytical perspective of the relationship between the City of Riverside government and public employees on the Nextdoor website.  Many in the community who are voiceless feel the same way, despite propaganda spewed by the City.

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Back on February 22, 2018, the Budget Engagement Commission members were perplexed by the need for almost 50% of Measure-Z Sales Tax Money going to help a shortfall im pension obligations.

From Measure Z, $13 million was to be transferred to the General Fund: the Chief Financial Officer and City Manager are asking for $5 million of that $13 million to cover anticipated shortfalls due to unfunded unsustainable pension liabilities.

We also refer to an opinion piece in the Daily Bulletin by Sal Rodriquez.  The following are excerpts, you can read the whole article by hitting this hyperlink.  There is simply no question in my mind that local government has been hijacked and those responsible have created a financial abyss for the taxpayers.  It’s a scheme that benefits no one but themselves and with the illusion that it directly benefits their members and taxpayers.  Onward with Sal Rodriquez’s excerpts:

“Public employee unions exist to advocate for their members, often campaigning for policies at odds with the best interests of the general public. The so-called public safety unions are in a unique position.  Representing some of the most esteemed and highest paid of government employees, they have lots of money to dole out and are more than comfortable exaggerating threats to public safety if it helps their cause.”

“Cases in point: ballot initiatives in Hemet, Riverside and San Bernardino tainted by undue influence from public safety unions.”

“In Riverside, the city, which last year was boasting about a $1 million surplus and felt so good it decided to give police officers a $4 million raise the city hadn’t actually budgeted for, has put on the November ballot a one-percent sales tax. Expected to raise about $50 million a year, Measure Z is touted as necessary for the future of Riverside.”

“With a name like “City of Riverside Public Safety and Vital City Services Measure,” it certainly sounds important. Of course, if passed Measure Z revenues can be spent however the council likes and there are no guarantees about how the money will be spent, with one notable exception.  On Tuesday, the City Council approved a contract with the city’s police union which, among other things, will give police officers a bigger raise if voters approve a tax increase. It’s quite the incentive.”

“According to recent filings, the police union has already contributed $12,500 to the Measure Z campaign. Firefighters union president Tim Strack told The Press-Enterprise that he already had $100,000 in commitments for the campaign. Behind any talk of the need for more money for “public safety,” is really just a desire for bigger raises and budgets.”

Even, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D) had something to say about the conflict of public worker unions and doing the work of the people in this in a letter:

“All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations. The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives in Congress. Accordingly, administrative officials and employees alike are governed and guided, and in many instances restricted, by laws which establish policies, procedures, or rules in personnel matters.”

TMC, RATED RIVERSIDE REGIONAL COUNTIES MOST, “SCANDALOUS,” “NEGATIVE,” “WARPED,” “RAUNCHY,” “LOW CLASS,” “VISIONS OF GRANDEUR,” “FULL OF B.S.,” “REPREHENSIBLE,” “IGNORANT,” “MISGUIDED,” “BULLYISH,” “INDECENT,” “REPUGNANT,””IMMORAL,” “FILTHY,” “VILE,” “SICK,” “PERVERTED,” “DEFAMATORY,” “STUPID,” “PATHETIC,” “DESPICABLE,” “DISAPPOINTING,” “BELOW THE BELT,” “A NEW LOW,” “SHOCKING,” “OFFENSIVE,” “OBNOXIOUS,” “INAPPROPRIATE,” “HURTFUL,” “MEAN SPIRITED,” “DISTASTEFUL,” “EMBARRASSING,” HORIFFIC,” “SLANDEROUS” “FIT TO BE VIEWED FROM THE REAR” AND MEZZSPELLED, “MISSPELLED” AND “OPINIONATED” BLOG SITE! YES WE ADMIT WE OUR ALL OF THAT AND MORE, WHICH IN CURRENT TERMS IS KNOWN AS “UNPOLITICALLY CORRECT.” TEMPORARILY BLOCKED BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AT PUBLIC ACCESS SITES WITHIN THE CITY, THEN UNBLOCKED. I GUESS YOU CANNOT DO THAT ACCORDING TO THE ACLU. RATED ONE STAR OUT OF FIVE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY APPROVAL RATINGS.. … AGAIN, THANK YOU COMMUNITY OF RIVERSIDE AND THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE EMPLOYEE’S FOR YOUR SUPPORT! CONTACT US: thirtymilescorruption@hotmail.com