928 Karma?
In Your Face, Ace
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 11,120
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From: New Orleans
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 861
Likes: 1
From: NorCal - Bay Area
...so now that they are caught, the position is no longer attractive and all either resign or will not seek re-election. Talk about a clear picture of a person's lack of virtue or the slightest interest in serving their community. No rebuttal with accomplishments or achievements, just a clean "I didn't do jack while in office".
Wow.
Wow.
Chronic Tool Dropper
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 20,506
Likes: 564
From: Bend, Oregon
Anybody familiar with Cali local government can't claim to be 'surprised' or 'shocked' at this issue. The only thing wrong is that the city of bell is is too small for the stated $numbers. Otherwise this is very much business as usual.
Local city council members here appoint themselves to various commissions and committees, each with a defined compensation. Some are big, some are small, and in an individual case it's not hard to argue that an allowance for meetings and travel for each is inappropriate. But we have very professional part-time politicians in lots of places. We elect them and then allow them to appoint themselves to all the duties for which they receive compensation. Redevelopment districts are a favorite of mine, along with planning commissions, design review, water boards (!!), civil service review boards, public safety, city services, municipal utility districts in many places, the local airport commission here, plus more than a few neighborhood development agencies in various flavors. All of them take time and effort, and there's more to doing those jobs than just going to a few meetings. Remember that the reason that we have elected officials and hired bureaucrats is because we would rather pay them to do the job than do it ourselves.
It's our own individual and collective faults if we don't keep watch on how our money is spent. The few times I've had issues with the local city officials, I've delved in enough to find out that I really don't want to do what they do, put up with the outraged citizenry (that would be me...), or try to keep everyone happy with what is available. Mostly thankless stuff that we too often take for granted.
The subject of the discussion receives a snick less than $100k total city compensation, per the KTLA expose'. Overhead and costs, insurance, Medicare and Social Security contributions chew through about 30% of that right off the top. As a part-timer, he drives his own car on city business for the IRS-allowed mileage amount, which is a lot less than what it really costs to run a car here. He's on call at all times, may run a community office, etc. Any retirment benefits are likely through CalPers, and basd on contributions and years of actual service; it's not a pension, much closer to a managed 401k. The approximately $68k he probably receives in direct compensation is north of the poverty level there in Bell; here it wouldn't even cover the mortgage and fire insurance. He can have that job as far as I'm concerned!
Local city council members here appoint themselves to various commissions and committees, each with a defined compensation. Some are big, some are small, and in an individual case it's not hard to argue that an allowance for meetings and travel for each is inappropriate. But we have very professional part-time politicians in lots of places. We elect them and then allow them to appoint themselves to all the duties for which they receive compensation. Redevelopment districts are a favorite of mine, along with planning commissions, design review, water boards (!!), civil service review boards, public safety, city services, municipal utility districts in many places, the local airport commission here, plus more than a few neighborhood development agencies in various flavors. All of them take time and effort, and there's more to doing those jobs than just going to a few meetings. Remember that the reason that we have elected officials and hired bureaucrats is because we would rather pay them to do the job than do it ourselves.
It's our own individual and collective faults if we don't keep watch on how our money is spent. The few times I've had issues with the local city officials, I've delved in enough to find out that I really don't want to do what they do, put up with the outraged citizenry (that would be me...), or try to keep everyone happy with what is available. Mostly thankless stuff that we too often take for granted.
The subject of the discussion receives a snick less than $100k total city compensation, per the KTLA expose'. Overhead and costs, insurance, Medicare and Social Security contributions chew through about 30% of that right off the top. As a part-timer, he drives his own car on city business for the IRS-allowed mileage amount, which is a lot less than what it really costs to run a car here. He's on call at all times, may run a community office, etc. Any retirment benefits are likely through CalPers, and basd on contributions and years of actual service; it's not a pension, much closer to a managed 401k. The approximately $68k he probably receives in direct compensation is north of the poverty level there in Bell; here it wouldn't even cover the mortgage and fire insurance. He can have that job as far as I'm concerned!
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 4
From: Elmhurst, IL
The median income for a household in the city was $29,946, and the median income for a family was $30,504. The per capita income income of $24,800 in 2008, according to the city’s latest annual report. More than a quarter of its residents live below the poverty line, according to City-Data.com, [24] including 29.7% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.-Wikipedia
Sounds like he was doing better than most in Bell.
Sounds like he was doing better than most in Bell.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,272
Likes: 32
From: Sacramento, Ca.
Why do you think these people campaign so hard & long to get elected? Even in
the non elected positions the system can be gamed. In California there are prison
nurses making $300k/ yr.scheduling lots of routine overtime. Later that translates
to a fat retirement. The system is broken.
the non elected positions the system can be gamed. In California there are prison
nurses making $300k/ yr.scheduling lots of routine overtime. Later that translates
to a fat retirement. The system is broken.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,138
Likes: 74
From: Central Ohio
Anybody familiar with Cali local government can't claim to be 'surprised' or 'shocked' at this issue. The only thing wrong is that the city of bell is is too small for the stated $numbers. Otherwise this is very much business as usual.
Local city council members here appoint themselves to various commissions and committees, each with a defined compensation. Some are big, some are small, and in an individual case it's not hard to argue that an allowance for meetings and travel for each is inappropriate. But we have very professional part-time politicians in lots of places. We elect them and then allow them to appoint themselves to all the duties for which they receive compensation. Redevelopment districts are a favorite of mine, along with planning commissions, design review, water boards (!!), civil service review boards, public safety, city services, municipal utility districts in many places, the local airport commission here, plus more than a few neighborhood development agencies in various flavors. All of them take time and effort, and there's more to doing those jobs than just going to a few meetings. Remember that the reason that we have elected officials and hired bureaucrats is because we would rather pay them to do the job than do it ourselves.
It's our own individual and collective faults if we don't keep watch on how our money is spent. The few times I've had issues with the local city officials, I've delved in enough to find out that I really don't want to do what they do, put up with the outraged citizenry (that would be me...), or try to keep everyone happy with what is available. Mostly thankless stuff that we too often take for granted.
The subject of the discussion receives a snick less than $100k total city compensation, per the KTLA expose'. Overhead and costs, insurance, Medicare and Social Security contributions chew through about 30% of that right off the top. As a part-timer, he drives his own car on city business for the IRS-allowed mileage amount, which is a lot less than what it really costs to run a car here. He's on call at all times, may run a community office, etc. Any retirment benefits are likely through CalPers, and basd on contributions and years of actual service; it's not a pension, much closer to a managed 401k. The approximately $68k he probably receives in direct compensation is north of the poverty level there in Bell; here it wouldn't even cover the mortgage and fire insurance. He can have that job as far as I'm concerned!
Local city council members here appoint themselves to various commissions and committees, each with a defined compensation. Some are big, some are small, and in an individual case it's not hard to argue that an allowance for meetings and travel for each is inappropriate. But we have very professional part-time politicians in lots of places. We elect them and then allow them to appoint themselves to all the duties for which they receive compensation. Redevelopment districts are a favorite of mine, along with planning commissions, design review, water boards (!!), civil service review boards, public safety, city services, municipal utility districts in many places, the local airport commission here, plus more than a few neighborhood development agencies in various flavors. All of them take time and effort, and there's more to doing those jobs than just going to a few meetings. Remember that the reason that we have elected officials and hired bureaucrats is because we would rather pay them to do the job than do it ourselves.
It's our own individual and collective faults if we don't keep watch on how our money is spent. The few times I've had issues with the local city officials, I've delved in enough to find out that I really don't want to do what they do, put up with the outraged citizenry (that would be me...), or try to keep everyone happy with what is available. Mostly thankless stuff that we too often take for granted.
The subject of the discussion receives a snick less than $100k total city compensation, per the KTLA expose'. Overhead and costs, insurance, Medicare and Social Security contributions chew through about 30% of that right off the top. As a part-timer, he drives his own car on city business for the IRS-allowed mileage amount, which is a lot less than what it really costs to run a car here. He's on call at all times, may run a community office, etc. Any retirment benefits are likely through CalPers, and basd on contributions and years of actual service; it's not a pension, much closer to a managed 401k. The approximately $68k he probably receives in direct compensation is north of the poverty level there in Bell; here it wouldn't even cover the mortgage and fire insurance. He can have that job as far as I'm concerned!
Captain Obvious
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 22,846
Likes: 348
From: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
If you've been a part of the 928 community for any amount of time, you know of lart951, aka Luis Artiga.
I tended to get along with Luis over the years, but he never let slip an opportunity to bash the 928 or 928 owners.
He loved getting us 928 guys riled up.
Let this be a lesson in karmic payback.
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/c...members-under/
http://www.cityofbell.org/city_council.php
Schadenfreude? No, just a warning to other 928 haters.
I tended to get along with Luis over the years, but he never let slip an opportunity to bash the 928 or 928 owners.
He loved getting us 928 guys riled up.
Let this be a lesson in karmic payback.
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/c...members-under/
http://www.cityofbell.org/city_council.php
Schadenfreude? No, just a warning to other 928 haters.