Re “Not Everyone at City Hall Is Broke. Fire Dept. Says Thanks a Million and a Half”
I see the article in question about the salaries and staffing of our city's Fire/Paramedic employees as being a public service. Now the timing of the publication – just before an election – could be criticized. But when is it ever a good time to question the pay of city employees?
Our Mayor, Andy Weissman, compared today's Fire Dept. staffing levels to that of 1970. Why did he choose a pre-Prop. 13-era year? Was 1970 the only year that he could use to prove a point? I wonder.
The article never said that there was a need to cut or add personnel. It only provided the public with the most current information available. No names were divulged, just positions and pay received.
Dollars and Sense
The article didn't claim to expose wasteful spending. It only implied the question: Does it still make sense (dollars and cents) for the city to be paying employees time-and-a-half wages for regular-time situations? Even the mayor tentatively agreed that with new city pension reforms now in place, it might be time to take a new look at staffing schedules.
Blushing Green
Maybe the City of Culver City should blush. Maybe not. But if this informational article leads to savings during a re-evaluation of personnel scheduling model at the Fire Dept, then the editor of this publication has done his job as an investigative reporter.
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
