Strong arm tactics and publicity stunts by local AFSCME not worth media coverage; are the recent protests political?

There is a negotiation today during closed session with a labor negotiator. Yet, AFSCME saw it fit to pack the Board of Supervisor Chambers this morning. Other people there for proclamations and community members had to stand outside. Why the rally later today in front of the courthouse at 5 p.m.?

Compared to most workers and employees in Humboldt County, union employees are not overworked or understaffed. Due to MOUs and the liberal government laws, pensions and benefits and mandatory raises are affecting limited resources.

The problem with Mental Health or Child Welfare Services and the top heavy administration did not develop in the last four years. So why the sudden media interest? Why the protests in Board Chambers, now, with the current Board of Supervisors?

The media and certain community members continue to ignore certain questions. Why? The Tuluwat Examiner goes on and on about Eureka pensions and blames it on David Tyson. In their own comment section, someone asked, what have the new Eureka Council members done? I don't entirely disagree with double dipping but if the Tuluwat wants to raise questions, make it about more than a witchhunt and a continuation of Heraldo talking points.

I don't see Supervisor Mark Lovelace shouting "politics" in this instance. I don't see any of the local media questioning years of top heavy administration and mismanagement. The media needs to provide public information, and not when it's convenient to a particular agenda.

People are struggling. Not all people who work, especially in the private sector, are entitled to a raise. They have to earn it. Line staff salaries are out of touch compared to department heads. Are union dues being used for these union heads to stand around all morning pulling a publicity stunt?

Unionized employees have benefits, pensions, guaranteed jobs. Do you? Next time you get a service cut, put the blame on selfish people who think they do not need to sacrifice, ever, in a struggling economy. They feel they should get paid, no matter what.

Create a job environment where more people can live independently without government assistance and contribute to taxes. Government should be for basic services, only.

Feb 28, 2015 post:

Do we have a free and objective local press?
No accountability for previous officials, should current local officials be blamed for "crisis"?

While it is good that the top heavy local management of DHHS is being questioned, this problem did not develop overnight. So, why the sudden outrage about MAC and DHHS? Why didn't the press look into any one these issues when mental health is a major part of crime, a major issue when people are arrested and families screaming for help. Does the major resignation over at Mental Health have anything to do with Phil Crandall's retirement?

The press is happy to write about lawsuits against the City for damages by families, they were happy to scapegoat law enforcement for deaths like the Cheri Moore case and the lawsuits but they never addressed why an agency that is one of the largest employers in the County has high paid bureaucrats and a fancy administration building on 5th Street while over worked social workers, psychaitrists and county workers try and put a band-aid on a burgeoning problem.

I can sympathize with the DHHS workers speaking out. I have spoken about many of these same issues to the Board of Supervisors in the last few years. It is disappointing to see the anonymous mob lynch mentality of blog commenters attack someone like Mitch Trachtenberg and reveal personal, unsubstantiated information.

This government growth mentality did not start with the current Board of Supervisors. It started with several previous years of Supervisors which included Bonnie Neeley and Mark Lovelace. The current Board inherited the problems. Thanks to the one rule fits all government mentality, change comes slowly.

Phil Crandall is office for years so why the sudden exposure of DHHS and Mental Health now?

The local media did not question Paul Gallegos once during his administration, they did not question Bonnie Neeley, they still fawn all over Mark Lovelace and give him a free pass.

I have questioned people I have supported. I am a blogger. They are journalists, supposedly objective. The local media loves to be wooed by business, County, City for stories handed to them. Where is the investigative reporting on outrageous pensions, top heavy government management, and any challenge of powers to be on both sides of the political spectrum?

Where is the questioning of those who supply the canbabis ad revenue that supports local media? Or any of their other advertisers? The publishers of all local media and general managers of television stations should be held accountable.

The problems in Humboldt today cannot be blamed on one group. Some people on both sides of the political spectrum are guilty of allowing an underground economy of drugs to grow combined with unions and top heavy county government as well as some in the business community that have not created any new jobs in years while they continue to grow wealthy.

All this has contributed to the increase in crime and homelessness and the local left -leaning media needs to put blame where it is; their lack of providing the public complete and objective information.

Now, people want to attack the police and courts for a problem they did not create.

Ryan Burns has done some good articles but not enough. I would like to see more articles like Linda Stansberry's exploitation of women in the weed industry. Kym Kemp is another favorite of mine. She rounds out the stereotypical image of SoHum and puts a human face to and diversity to SoHum.

The public will never get the full story from a media dependent and unwilling to challenge their advertisers.

I disagree often with the Tuluwat Examiner but there have been posts I agree with and they do seem to be reflecting in the comment section and some posts a reality ignored by local mainstream media and raising questions worth asking.

How many posts have you seen on my blog or others that are then pursued by media. Who is watching out for the average person?

Oct 29, 2014

County to pay $700 one time money to employees instead of pay raise; Will Measure Z be used for public safety or for union contracts?

We have a County tax measure Z on this November's ballot for more money.

I heard something to the effect that the County just negotiated with their employees that they would not get a pay raise next year but they get a $700 bonus this year and the day after Christmas as an extra day off instead.

So I called Dan Fulks, the Personnel Director for the County. He clarified that the $700  is one-time money being paid to all members of the bargaining unit instead of ongoing raises. They do not have the money to commit to ongoing raises. This does not apply to extra help. This negotiation expires June 30 of next year.

So the question is do we need Measure Z? Is Sacramento taking away the money the problem or union contracts? People are paying hoping for better response time which means it should go towards extra "boots on the streets" not for raises for employees that have a pretty good job in a County where many people are unemployed or struggling.

When do the unions negotiate a contract where raises go to the employees that are struggling instead of an across the board. Some people can afford to stay at the pay scale they are at present. If you are making $100,000 a year, you can forego a raise or two.