DISQUS

I really don't like Arnold but darn if he (or his staff) didn't write a great piece in the LA Times today. The situation in Sacraemento is very similar to the one in our city (and probably many others). He talks about fruad and waste in calworks and other welfare programs but the part that really rings home:

"By simply taking another 60 seconds to return pension formulas for new hires to their pre-1999 rates, we would see a savings of nearly $95 billion in reduced pensions by 2040, with more billions to be saved beyond that."

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/...

the net is the police and fire need to come to the table.

by the way, I don't think the $23M is really a "pay cut" for employees. Rather, I think it represents forgoing raises.

we can't reform pensions fast enough...

when you take into account the purchasing of politicians, pressuring to overpay in pensions, and general disregard of our quality of life from carpetbagging police, it's tough to get real excited about jumping to their defense so they can get paid overtime to get dressed. Mix in an economy where everyone in the private sector is getting laid off or taking pay cuts, the police look pretty bad right now demanding a 13% raise for next year's budget when the city is $40 million in the hole.

I love the police. I really do think they have a noble profession and appreciate that they risk their life for me. But all public employee unions have gotten way out of hand and the police save maybe the teachers have taking the lead role.

Is it a coincidence that John lives here?

one who doesn't live in LB probably doesn't care too much whether the roads are paved, the parks are kept, the beaches are clean. Just pointing out that our officers high pension compensation is directly in conflict with our quality of life.

Very professional.

I think the district has a liberal bias. This would include union support.

If they can get the names, a people search would get the addresses.

why can't this publication do some of that research? I appreciate it goes against their political slant but it would be nice gesture toward the tax paying public.

they don't have to name names. simply list the percentage of police employees who live outside the city limit. My bet is it would be a powerful statement to union owned city council.

I would love if our local journalists would get the list and find our the home cities of each of the officers. I'll be shocked if more than 25% live in Long Beach.

If her point was that people are accountable for themselves and when they fail it is almost exclusively entirely their fault, I agree. If her point was that there is something false about the American Dream and the various opportunties we all have, I disagree. Or maybe she is just asking the question. But that wouldn't be very District Weekly of her now would it...

just another example of how little the police care about long beach. they don't live here. they just get paid here. this council better stand up for long beach taxpayers starting with this lawsuit and more importantly this coming budget. the unions need to be taught they can't have ridiculous pensions and wages in exchange for ruining our city.

I'm not sure what point of this story is. There must be a point since TDW is a self proclaimed "point of view" magazine. Hopefully I'm not supposed to feel sorry for this kid. His future(like his present situation) depends on his choices and nothing else. That is why America is the greatest country in the world.

I'll throw you a bone. You know how conservative I am. Well I think the republicans are worse on this because they typically make an issue of morals, etc. They are much more hypocritical.

I think the way back for the repubs is to focus on the big umbrella of liberty. Domestically, you are free to make money, free to keep your money, free to put whatever lights you want in your house, free to be free. Overseas, we spread the word freedom and stop supporting dictatorships. Obviously the devil is in the details but I think those should be the tenants. It's fine to be a social conservative. I am myself in many ways but emphasizing freedom should be our core.

I think politicians get so wrapped up in their jobs and egos that they forget to keep a relationship with their wives. Amazing how many times this happens.

"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is."

it is. I think I read there was a vote by the other board members to remove him but it was a 2-2 vote. Obviously the 2 union owned board members voted to keep him. If I'm wrong, someone can correct me but I'm pretty sure that is what went down.

It's frustrating because even with the union presence relative to other school board's LB has a pretty good one save this clown.

ok, it was funny anyway...

It would be funny if it weren't so infuriating. the teacher's union blesses us again with their infinite wisdom.

belmont shore is not dangerous. it's ridiculous to say that. there are of course crimes just as there are everywhere. but relative to other places, even safe places, belmont shore is safe. I'm tired of people with agendas trying to use the few crimes that happen in the shore to paint a negative picture.

and no, it's not the girl's fault in any way.

My guess is those who live in the shore, naples, etc are going are going to love the sharrows. The people who work downtown and go home via 2nd St. to other cities will hate them. Too bad!

there are 2 groups that don't like delong.

UPE "leadership"- due to home depot. though many residents in UPE supported home depot.

Shore "leadership" - due to bar realted issues; again some residents support delong

the other problem he has is the breakwater. generally everyone in his district wants to reconfigure it except some old people on the peninsula

other than that delong gets pretty high marks from his district; my bet is he gets re-elected pretty easily unless there is a delong clone that supports reconfig of breakwater. that guy would beat him. we'll see.

no

my bad..."point of view" journalism.

While related but admittedly not apples to apples, this is an example of outstanding reporting.

http://www.lbreport.com/news/jun09/bsrabys.htm

But I know, you guys do "opinion journalism".

Worse than the national enquirer.