Some interesting observations from this morning's event:
- Only after about 10 questions for Nutter and Dubow did one of the assembled reporters bring up the recent criticism that Dubow received from a representative of the municipal worker's unions. When that question was asked, I wrote in my notes, "someone did their homework." The question was an insightful one that asked whether appointing Dubow, in the face of that criticism, sent a signal to the unions about the stance the administration would be taking during negotiations. Nutter, not suprisingly, deflected from that question.
- Nutter probably should have stopped about two questions before he did. Channel 6's Vernon Odom, probably sensing that a story about the "finance director" would be a difficult sell for television news, brought up a point made in the this morning's Daily News:
Nutter does seem to have been editing some of his campaign pledges. In his public-safety plan, he promised to declare a crime emergency in some of the city's worst neighborhoods on his first day in office.
But asked Tuesday night if he still planned to take that action on day one, Nutter declined to commit to the plan.
"I would expect that after having named a police commissioner, the commissioner and the department will come up with a game plan that significantly addresses the crime issue in Philadelphia," Nutter said. "Whether it's the first day, second day or a week later, it will be done in a way that the citizens of Philadelphia understand what the game plan is."
Odom asked Nutter whether he would be declaring a crime emergency "on day one." Nutter replied by saying that he'll be appointing a police commissioner soon and will leave it to that appointment to help him come up with a crime strategy.
Another reporter followed up with a more pointed question, in essence asking whether if Nutter is already backtracking from the "Day One Crime Emergency" pledge, it that means that all of his policy promises are works in progress. Nutter's answer pretty much repeated the quote referenced above.
I'll be curious to see if the story in either Daily News or on television news becomes less about the finance director appointment and more about the crime emergency.
Comments (14)
Dan this going to be something else. I think we better stand back. Vernon getting sassy again.
Posted by Jasper Zeigler Jr | November 8, 2007 12:29 PM
If city unions were smart, they'd see that a 401(k) is better than a pension any day.
The city pension is a poor guarantee. I'd much rather have a 401(k) with matching. I have control of it, I can carry it with me.
Pensions are going away not to "kill unions" but because people move from job to job. Locking people into city employment so they won't lose their pension or decrease it is one way to be sure the surly unprofessionalism you encounter when getting something from city public service employees is the rule.
Plus, co-pays don't break the bank, and are standard in business and industry.
PICA never recommended anything but what is industry-standard in changes to benefits.
You can update benefits plans to save money which helps employees. Having the idea that any change is bad, and that saving money always hurts employees is false. Saving money helps employees make sure that the pension there is fully funded, and that people get the benefits promised.
Cost-controlling is essential, and the unions have to move from the days of the "Honeymooners" to the 21st century.
It really doesn't help when the papers scare people to death because the papers haven't investigated what is standard business practice and why it is good for the city as well as employees.
I have a certain amount in my 401(k), and I know it is there earning interest. I have no such understanding of what I would have had if I only had a pension, nor what it was invested in.
Remember that if the city does an Enron, then the pension goes bye-bye. If the unions fight to keep things the same as they were, then the city may have to go to an extraordinary action to control costs.
This is just plain common sense, and no, I don't work for PICA. PICA has enough people with business degrees and experience to realize that pensions and benefits in Philly are too costly to support with this tax base.
Posted by Anonymous | November 8, 2007 1:39 PM
Understand that if the city unions fight cost cutting, they will do to city employment what the steel unions did to the steel industry -- ship it overseas.
Sure, why not have a call center that directs people in the Caribbean or Mubai instead of expensive, bloated city employees? Think about it.
There are any number of jobs that could be outsourced, and probably should be.
Posted by Anonymous | November 8, 2007 1:46 PM
The city has to consider giving city employees and retirees the option to get procedures done overseas where costs are much cheaper.
There are any number of insurance plans that offer to make the appointment, flight, and hotel for knee replacement, hip replacement, gall bladder removal, etc., for 1/3 of the price here. Why not offer to have a lower copay if the person is willing to travel for their non-emergency procedure?
Let's start thinking together about what can be done to make high quality health care ongoing for city employees and retirees, not just have the same oppositional attitudes.
We can save money and have high quality, high option health care for city employees, even giving them more options than they have now.
Posted by Anonymous | November 8, 2007 1:49 PM
These lazy unions need to get a clue and join the 21st century - and if it takes a long strike to force that to happen, so be it.
These out of touch unions need a long overdue reality check. Taxpayers are fed-up with lazy and surly city employees who aren't productive.
Posted by Anonymous | November 8, 2007 2:13 PM
Fire the Zoning Board and blow up L and I...remember these promises Mike!!!
Posted by A New Philadelphia | November 8, 2007 7:52 PM
Hey. There;s a great thought. Get rid of King David Aupitz and his cronies and appoint new, trusted citizens.
Posted by Anonymous | November 8, 2007 7:54 PM
I have a problem with "standard industry practice." That doesn't mean that it automatically is a good thing. It is now, standard industry practice that CEO's make over 300 times thier average worker too. Thank God that isn't the standard for city government employees.
Posted by Mark Chalupa | November 9, 2007 10:21 AM
Shut up
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