[artichokegrower]

“I want to be clear that we will not scapegoat city employees in the wake of this disaster. What we will do is give them clarity and support that they deserve,”

It's Trump's fault.

[gr8eman]

yes...it will come to pass that it will be blamed on Trump. Bet on it!

[JudgemAll]

The pentagon wastes like $500 million we do not know where, but hey, it is the evil capitalists we have to worry about

[mythenjoseph]

creative explorers...ahhhh ok?

[wbill]

36 mostly young adult creative explorers

Nice euphemism.

[Mr. K]

Like the government employees with the lavish retirement benefits in other places. “Don’t blame us, we worked all our lives for this”
(or at least 20 years. unless they got a SECOND government job for another 20 years and are drawing two lavish pensions- with 120% overtime the last 3 years so as to maximize their pension pay)

AND WHO TRIED TO WARN PEOPLE THESE GOVERNMENT JACKPOTS WERE NOT SUSTAINABLE????

[LydiaLong]

“We must not blame affirmative action inspectors for being too busy with their cell phones to check on fire traps.”

And it’s also Trump’s fault for all the racism.

[The_Republic_Of_Maine]

“I want to be clear that we will not scapegoat city employees in the wake of this disaster. What we will do is give them clarity and support that they deserve,”

What that means is, They, the dead paupers, were expendable serfs.

[McGavin999]

Those salaries and “benefits” are totally out of whack. No wonder California is so troubled

[vette6387]

This is the “norm” in public employment today, unfortunately. Something serious has been wrong probably since the end of WWII! Public employment isn't about filling positions that are necessary for the functioning of our government and the delivery of services only government can “provide.” It is about paying people more than they are worth in exchange for their keeping politicians in their offices. They are “jobs programs” masquerading as necessary government employment.

[luvbach1]

They could say it was an “Act of God” if they believed in God.

[vette6387]

Just so you can see what these worthless turds who run the OFD are being paid,
take a look here:

http://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/search/?a=oakland&q=Fire+Chief&y=2015

Looks as though their Black Chief is lazy, since she’s not booking the OT of her subordinates. I guess she’s to “involved” in “Black Issues” that have nothing to do with her job.

[pabianice]

After an eight year vacuum of stories about the American Homeless, the loathsome Boston Globe couldn’t wait until Trump’s inuguration to suddenly print horrific stories about America’s homelessness crisis. LOL!

[JimRed]

Lavishly paid, as in on the take to ignore violations?

[blueunicorn6]

There was an article a few days back about a retired fireman in LA getting $1,200,000 a year in retirement.

That’s $100,000 a month for retirement.

[45Auto]

Scapegoat? I think the Mayor of Oakland should be a little more concerned about a raft of civil wrongful death lawsuits based on the city’s lack of action regarding major code violations that are surely coming. Dereliction of duty comes to mind.