All the downsizing talk got me thinking. Why not cut the lifetime benefits instead?

[sharky]

They were talking the other week about how if Lackawanna cut two legislature positions it would save something like 70,000 a year but that they still would be paying millions in pension and other lifetime benefits

why the hell is a part time town councilman position paying lifetime benefits to people after they're off the council? they should get some kind of limited salary for the job while they're doing it and nothing else

[WNYresident]

Because they were able to vote that in for themselves. Just like other levels of governments vote their own raises...

[therising]

They were talking the other week about how if Lackawanna cut two legislature positions it would save something like 70,000 a year but that they still would be paying millions in pension and other lifetime benefits

why the hell is a part time town councilman position paying lifetime benefits to people after they're off the council? they should get some kind of limited salary for the job while they're doing it and nothing else

Of course you are correct. But, Gaughan is milking the anti-government mentality in WNY for all its worth, pretending that eliminating two council people actually makes a substantial difference.

And, the voters have proven themselves to be remarkably dumb so far.

[Enough]

Of course you are correct. But, Gaughan is milking the anti-government mentality in WNY for all its worth, pretending that eliminating two council people actually makes a substantial difference.

And, the voters have proven themselves to be remarkably dumb so far.

The voters aren't proving to be dumb. They're just sick of it and making a statement.

Politicians should take notice (I hope) that they aren't as beloved as they think they are. Some people really do hate them! Have you read the blog on WGRZ's website from the Lenihan has By-Pass story?

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=70597&catid=13

It sounds like some people really wish he would die! :p

[steven]

Of course you are correct. But, Gaughan is milking the anti-government mentality in WNY for all its worth, pretending that eliminating two council people actually makes a substantial difference.


The Journey of a thousands miles starts with one single step.

[therising]

The voters aren't proving to be dumb. They're just sick of it and making a statement.

Statements are nice and all, but I guess I'm more about outcomes.

The outcome of downsizing to Boards of three, is that they're giving even more power to people whom they supposedly don't trust.

Sorry, but I disagree and still maintain that they're dumb. And, anyone who actually thinks out this process, and still decides that "making a statement" is more important than he negative result it produces is dumb, as well.

[steven]

what would you have them do? Maintain status quo and bitch?

[dtwarren]

what would you have them do? Maintain status quo and bitch?

There are more substantive ways to address the issue. For example through a very similar process they can petition to have a referendum on consolidating or annexing two or more bordering municipalities in which you eliminate one or more legislative bodies as well as other departments which would lead to more substantive savings than the elimination of just two positions.

[therising]

There are more substantive ways to address the issue. For example through a very similar process they can petition to have a referendum on consolidating or annexing two or more bordering municipalities in which you eliminate one or more legislative bodies as well as other departments which would lead to more substantive savings than the elimination of just two positions.

What he said.

But, in the meantime, we'll just give the politicians (whom we don't trust to begin with) even more power.

Heck, at least we're "making a statement," and not maintaining the status quo, right?

[zanna vaida]

Playing politics? What side do you take? :cool:

[sharky]

The Journey of a thousands miles starts with one single step.

let's hope this journey actually goes somewhere then

[zanna vaida]

Where are you going? to communism? :cool:

[steven]

There are more substantive ways to address the issue. For example through a very similar process they can petition to have a referendum on consolidating or annexing two or more bordering municipalities in which you eliminate one or more legislative bodies as well as other departments which would lead to more substantive savings than the elimination of just two positions.

What he said.


"They" seem to be going this route because it works. The people are with them or at least the voting people.

Are the "theys" that are complaining about it doing the petitions you speak of to consolidate or annex boardering municipalities? or are those "theys" just bitching?

[dtwarren]

The jury is out on the "it works", although they had success in getting the measure approved.

It does not matter that people did not pursue a better alternative then their action because doing nothing is better than doing something that does not substantively furthers the journey to the goal.

[dtwarren]

However, we got off topic from the OP. The terms and conditions of employment cannot be changed by citizen initiative (particularly the extremely limited version that we have in this State). Such changes can only be changed through the CBAs and/or amendments to the Civil Service Law.

[tiredofbs]

"They" seem to be going this route because it works. The people are with them or at least the voting people.


It hasn't been in effect long enough to know if "it works".

[steven]

doing nothing is better than doing something that does not substantively furthers the journey to the goal.

doing nothing means u have no goal, so I have to disagree

[therising]

doing nothing means u have no goal, so I have to disagree

Doing nothing means you have no goal? :confused:

If you're playing baseball, do you swing at every pitch?

[Dougles]

Doing nothing means you have no goal? :confused:

If you're playing baseball, do you swing at every pitch?

No i think he was using more the analogy of "you can't swing the bat if you never get up to the plate."

[steven]

No i think he was using more the analogy of "you can't swing the bat if you never get up to the plate."

Thank you kind sir :)