Bay Area Public Employee Salaries 2010

At Thursday’s Manteca Patriots (Tea Party) there was a fine fellow running for office who pledge that he would only accept a salary  of $42,500 per year.  Because, he put it, you shouldn’t be “getting rich off the taxpayer who’s making less than you.”

Fantastic concept.  I noted at the meeting that “everybody in the city makes more than that, they all make like 100,000/yr.” 

Well this comment drew some reaction.  I don’t know if it’s how I said it or if I was over broad in my generalization but it got some hostile rebuttal (I was interrupted) from someone who thought that was a bunch of crap, basically.  That these city workers were … and I’m not quite sure what his argument was.  But that “they aren’t all making over $100,000 /yr!

Fair enough.

As I tried to explain at the meeting I was speaking in general terms and not every single worker makes that much.  Some make more, some make less.  But that as an average it’s right around (in the neighborhood) of 100K or so. 

Now, here’s the basis for that comment.  First, City Manager Pinkerton said this very thing at a meeting of the “tax committee” I forget the name of it but was the citizen’s group that met to try to explore any new taxes.  (Which were soundly turned down).  He said as a general rule, he counts about $100K per employee.  Including the guys who mow the grass who get like $80K and so on.

In addition, in the “COPS” grant application, Chief Bricker had listed the starting compensation for a brand new policeman as $114,000 per year.   To start.  Councilman Moorhead even asked for clarification.  (“Is that what it really cost to hire one policeman?”) The answer from the chief was yes, that’s what it costs.  About the same with the fire department.  And the pay goes up from there.  $114,000 per year is the absolute minimum.

I also asserted that the gentleman may simply not know how much they make.  And I related how when the Sun Post ran a list of all city worker pay, they got many complaints and downright accusations of “I don’t make that much.”  I asserted “they don’t even know what they make, they argue but the figures in the Sun Post were accurate.”  This was also disputed.

Now, read for yourself.  Here is all 560 city workers’ pay.  Look for yourself.  I’ll wait.

Now, if you notice, the “median” just directly from that list is $77,300 per year.   Now if you want to go further, notice the last 140 workers are part time, one time, special workers who get a few thousand dollars.  Lets just look at full time workers.  Fair?  Maybe, maybe not but lets just say the small payments less than $10,000 don’t count.  Now the median pay is $90,380 per year.

OK, so mea culpa, they aren’t making 100K a year, it’s only $90K.  I’m sorry to have even suggested they are making a good living.  Wait, the argument was if they were making more than the average Californian, $42,500. 

Lastly, remember I said “they don’t even know how much they make?”  Well, look at the San Jose Mercury News page.  Look at the first comment from a government worker there.  Accusing the paper of getting it all wrong, and insisting “I don’t make that much money.”  Which is exactly what I said at the meeting, that the workers themselves don’t even know how much they are getting.

And there’s nothing like that in the private (non government) world, but that’s a subject for another day.

You may use the space below in the comments to apologize for doubting my figures.

Bay Area Public Employee Salaries 2010 - San Jose Mercury News

Forecast of doom?

Here in 16 seconds I list all the bad things that might happen in the next four years.

 

Streaming Archive

Pointed commentary cuts video feed.

Last night’s council meeting.  For some odd reason the police were limiting the number of people in the meeting. 

So I had to ask to bring some business before the council to get in.  Which I did.  Well, apparently my probing questions broke the TV camera! 

It turns out there was some controversy. There was a group of disgruntled citizens there to protest the gunning down of one of their community members. For some reason.

Election Day II

I forgot to mention, I’ve forgiven David Harmer.  The reasons: Every candidate has some goons and/or idiots hanging around him.  I don’t blame Rand Paul for the fight that took place outside where he was debating.  No matter how unfortunate the events were you just can’t blame him!

Also, I don’t think they picked me out.  It’s not like they said “there’s that ‘joe’ – Get him!”   They volunteers were just incompetent morons.

And lastly the Congress of the United States isn’t about my feelings; it’s about electing someone who will make wise decisions and keep us free.

Election Day!

I wasn’t going to come out with any “recommendations” this year.  I didn’t feel like gumming up the political process too much.  But I can’t resist at least saying where I’m leaning on election day:

For Mayor of Manteca, Carlon Perry is the obvious choice.  We are also electing two councilmen:  I’d go with Richard Behling, he seems like a smart guy who understands some deep concepts about the role of government.  And for the other council position – I have no idea, name your poison.

For Governor of California, Meg Whitman and for senator Carly Fiorina.  At least they created at least one job in their lives, which is more than Brown or Boxer have done.

There’s a bunch more candidates.  But no stand outs so you might as well let your parakeet peck at the sample ballot and pick one.  Or – NONE.  Yes, you can pick “none.”  You just don’t vote for those.  It will count as an “undervote” but the rest of the ballot will count.  There’s no requirement to vote for every single office or every single ballot measure if you don’t know which to pick.  Check with election officials if you don’t believe me.

So far as propositions:  Prop 19 is a step in the right direction – just in terms of “harm reduction” regardless if you believe using marijuana is good or bad.  No one will make you “smoke pot” and if there are those that say it helps them, what do I care?  Get the government out of this equation.

I’m still analyzing some of the others.  Here, rather than spoon feed you the proposition numbers and a “yes/no” I’ll just spout a few principles to keep in mind.

There’s a proposition on suspending AB32, the “Global Warming®” law.  That’s a no brainer – of course yes, suspend it.  In this economy?  And the whole fear of global Al Goreism is way overblown.  Way.

Currently, the legislature has to agree on a budget with a 2/3 vote.  We want that.  I don’t care how late the budget is.  If you lower that to simple majority, that will just make it “easier” to spend your money on a budget that’s not so agreeable.  Also, if you cut the legislators’ pay if the budget is late – you’ll get a budget on time even if it’s the worst budget on earth.

Lets see what else there is… this ballot looks like the SAT…..

Candidate Meeting

This is the meeting of the South San Joaquin Republicans candidate night.  Sorry about the shakey video, my inflamed nerves were acting up and the lighting in there is a nightmare, windows all around, everything is backlit.  The sound in there isn't so good either.  But here it is, submitted for your approval.  As bad as it is, there are some amusing parts.  Heck, the rendition of the National Anthem at the end is worth the trip.

Sometimes it's just the little things

They changed the painting I “complained” about.  Here.  Someone must be reading.  To refresh your memory, this is what it looked like when I called it ah… a prison camp:

From Manteca Live!

And here is the new improved version:

As for why it’s adorning the school board men’s room I’m not sure.  But it is right across from the public meeting room so that’s something.

From “Enforcement” law:

Here’s page 7.  Read the second paragraph “Authority to Inspect.”  You thought I was kidding?  (click on image to enlarge)

Enabling law on agenda tonight

There’s an odd item on the “consent” calendar at tonight meeting of the Manteca City Council called Administrative Enforcement Provisions.  (Consent Item 12 CC)

Only the introductory remarks are on the city’s website.  The PDF file doesn’t include the actual language of the new law.  But after obtaining the actual text, a couple things got my attention:

• The law involves “code enforcement” and claims to be needed to protect the “health and safety” of the people of Manteca.
• Section 1.10.040 – Authority to inspect.  Grants just about any city employee the authority to enter upon any property or premises within the city to ascertain whether … this code, … uniform codes, or … state codes are being obeyed.
• In other words, the code enforcer doesn’t even need a reason or any suspicion of any violations.  He can simply demand entry to any home or business in Manteca at any time?
• The code enforcer is permitted to set up scientific equipment and take photographs and to take “samples.”  In other words, he can enter your home, take pictures, and if he sees anything interesting, he can simply take it?
• If you refuse to permit entry, they can attempt to get an “administrative inspection warrant” and then charge you a fee for their trouble.
• The procedure for administrative hearings ends with failing to comply with the administrators decision is a misdemeanor.
• Further, a companion ordinance will establish a $100, $200, and $500 fine for every citation.  In the definitions a citation is a document issued by an enforcement officer … for violating … this code or … state code.  You don’t get a hearing, you don’t get to plead your case to a judge, the “officer” can simply look at you or look at your home, and issue you a fine. 

I don’t usually write things before the meeting but this law is so outlandish, I don’t even know what else to say about it it’s shocking.  Has the constitution been repealed and I wasn’t notified?  I’m still reading.  I urge you to find out about this regulation and tell the council what you think.

Thanksgiving in Manteca

 
Man, Manteca, Calif. Nov 2009.

The trick to “hide the decline.”

I thought this was an interesting development.  Some “hackers” (or more likely some insider) exposed the files and emails from some preeminent scientific institution being funded to “find evidence of Global Warming®.”

I wonder if the whole thing could be the greatest scandal of modern science. 

I note that in a Manteca city council meeting the state forced us to comply with some sort of measures in our “housing element” that would “reduce greenhouse gases.”  Whatever they are.

But you know, the great minds in the State of California often want to be “the first” – to lead the world.  And in the process they tell us what kind of houses we can build and where and what sort of roads to have and were the bus routes should go.  No matter what this does to our economy. 

So while the rest of the world cancels the Copenhagen summit and is glad they didn’t fall for this Global Warming® thing, we in California rushed to saddle ourselves with regulation that will help make us poor poorer and won’t do a thing for “the earth.”  But we’re leading the way!

Climategate: the final nail in the coffin of ‘Anthropogenic Global Warming’? – Telegraph Blogs

Signs

I wonder what this sign means.  Did the Manteca Bulletin say something about downtown businesses not being supportive enough?

And what exactly does it mean to “support” the efforts of the police dept?  I thought the job of the police dept was to protect the businesses, not the other way around.  hmmm

There were a few of these signs on Yosemite Avenue in the windows of more than one establishment.

Ooops: Fixed name of street.

Manteca Bulletin - Free car wash for veterans Wednesday

As far as I’m concerned, Quicki-Kleen can keep their free car wash for veterans. I see no reason to participate in any public relations stunt that brings credit to the people who orchestrated the bullying of a fellow citizen who wanted to open up a competing car wash.

The owner of Quicki-Kleen was listed among those who led the “cause” of blocking a new car wash from opening in the 300 block of Yosemite Ave a few months ago.

What does this have to do with veterans you ask?

Well what veterans fought for was freedom. That means the freedom to do business back at home. Anyone who would try to block a competitor using socialistic arguments and questionable “petitions drives” is nothing more than a freedom hating bully. All the free car washes in the world won’t make up for that.

Manteca Bulletin - Free car wash for veterans Wednesday

Pumpkins

That last thing from the city manager was kinda depressing, so let’s just look at some pictures from last week’s Pumpkin Fair.

 

      

Pointless bickering tests endurance

Amid the heat and mental pressure of a council chamber packed with angry policemen, a woman fainted, briefly causing a break in the pointless, childish, hyperbolic emotional “debate” over pay adjustments for city workers.

I guess technically this was before the pointless debate, as the meeting was still an agenda item at the time, a plan to upgrade the public works garage.  This presentation was so searing-ly boring that it’s a wonder someone doesn’t drop every meeting. 

(The young woman had, it appeared, simply fainted and walked out with assistance.  It was very warm in there, and it was packed with people.)

Below, Manteca citizen does a pretty respectable Norma Rae

Manteca Pumpkin Fair

 

Here’s an early look at the Manteca Pumpkin Fair.  I got there early this year and got lots of free trinkets!  And talked to a few of the political movers and shakers.

The circus in town?

  How did this get here without me noticing?Why no mention in the newspapers?  There’s a special edition of the Bulletin with a map of  the “Pumpkin Festival,” so why no mention of the circus?

Here’s the basic idea.  It look like a pretty fun circus.  At least it’s something “real.”  I know everyone’s probably seen a circus on TV or in the movies, but here’s a chance to see a real live performance.  I have no idea of the quality of the show.  And I probably won’t because as you can see from the sign my camera isn’t welcome.  “No camera?”  What’s the point then?

There seems to be a zebra.

… and a camel getting flowers.

 

But alas, no tiger so I’m told.  They do have an elephant on the way but no pictures of it.

Teacher attacks citizen at board meeting

In this video, Ken Johnson, the head of the teacher’s union is speaking.  I follow (with the camera) Mr. Johnson back to his seat to film the audience and applause.  A woman sitting next to Mr. Johnson yells something at me.  I got the idea she didn’t like the video when she hid her face behind some papers.  Next,  I’m trying to film the events (the union leader) without getting the woman who doesn’t like being filmed in the frame.   Then Mr. Johnson comes over where I’m sitting and goes back to his seat, next the woman comes over from across the room and starts yelling at me some more and smacking me with her papers/book and her hand!

I apologize for my impolite words, I tend to be a little short when someone chases me across the room to hit me with their papers.  Although you’d think by now I’d be used to that.

SSJID make glorious revolution!

 
The text reads: SSJID will give glorious power and the people make great harvest.*

SSJID retail power will help agriculture survive & thrive

*accuracy of translation subject to variations.  Could also mean: We will take the power from the oligarchs!  Not for our glory!  But for YOU!  Only for YOU!

Straight talk from City Manager

The Manteca City Manager has some interesting and straight talking Comments on a blog.  Of course, he's getting the usual flak from the usual suspects but I agree with his economic analysis. (And then some!)