Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Nearly half of Costa Mesa city employees get layoff notices (One commits suicide)
.latimes.com ^ | 3172011 | Joseph Serna and Mike Anton

Posted on 03/17/2011 6:25:41 PM PDT by dragnet2

Officials aim to contract work out to curb future pension obligations and eventually close a budget gap. A union leader says the city didn't try to negotiate other options. Workers are shell-shocked, and one dies in an apparent suicide.

Costa Mesa has sent layoff notices to nearly half of its employees in a dramatic austerity program being closely watched by other cities struggling with ballooning pension obligations.

The move was sharply criticized by union leaders, and it stunned city employees, one of whom apparently committed suicide by jumping off Costa Mesa City Hall hours after layoff notices went out Thursday.

The six-month termination notices affect 213 of the city's 472 full-time employees and cut across departments: firefighters, maintenance workers, jail staff, even dogcatchers.

Costa Mesa is among hundreds of local governments around the country facing massive future shortfalls in what they owe retirees. This year's tab — $15 million out of the city's $93-million budget — is estimated to grow to more than $25 million within five years.

"Clearly they are trying a new model," said Stuart Drown, executive director of the Little Hoover Commission, a bipartisan state public policy oversight agency. "A city that lays off half its staff — by any standard that's got to be considered a big move."

Costa Mesa "appears to have gone with the nuclear option," said Joe Nation, a professor of public policy at Stanford University

Faced with an unprecedented pension and retiree healthcare crisis, "cities are being forced to look at things that would've been unthinkable before," he said.

Controversy over public employee pensions and benefits has roiled state and local governments in recent months

Conservatives have attacked longstanding and seemingly unassailable perks won by public employee unions, and unions have struck back, unleashing bitter battles in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and elsewhere

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: corruption; government
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-66 next last
To: dragnet2

He knew picketig wouldn’t support his family.


21 posted on 03/17/2011 6:41:35 PM PDT by devistate one four (USC 10.311 Militia Kimber CDP II .45 OORAH! TET68)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2

Well I hope you grubby, dirty, greedy, filthy taxpayers are happy!

/sarc


22 posted on 03/17/2011 6:42:37 PM PDT by Tzimisce (Never forget that the American Revolution began when the British tried to disarm the colonists.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2

” one dies in an apparent suicide. “

One way to put the pension plan in solvancy!!!


23 posted on 03/17/2011 6:43:40 PM PDT by dalereed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2
I've worked for two companies that later went under. In both cases everyone knew the company was in trouble and that chances of them surviving without major changes including layoffs were slim to nonexistent. In both cases I left for greener pastures.

The government employees, especially the younger ones like this poor man who aren't close to retirement, should be smart enough to see the huge flashing red warning lights and get out if they can.

Ultimately his death was his decision alone. But lots of groups can share the guilt for establishing a system guaranteed to fail.

24 posted on 03/17/2011 6:44:58 PM PDT by Pan_Yan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2

25 posted on 03/17/2011 6:45:04 PM PDT by I see my hands (You can know the young posters by the desperate optimism in their posts.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2

Part of Barry’s “new norm”. The commies are running the planet now. We’re going to have to live by their rules. Kiss freedom and liberty goodbye. Our asses are belong to the commies now.


26 posted on 03/17/2011 6:46:02 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (If you thought the lame duck Congress was fun, you're gonna love a lame duck Kenyan president.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mylife
Jeez the guy could have collected unemployment until he was 32. Almost as long as had had worked there.

Then people could hate him for being unemployed instead of hating him for being a government employee.

27 posted on 03/17/2011 6:46:02 PM PDT by Route797
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2

Hopefully all the laid off people in Kalifornia won’t show up in Texas.

There are too many of the jackwagons here now.


28 posted on 03/17/2011 6:46:29 PM PDT by davetex (All my weapons got melted by a meteor!! No Sh*t)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mylife

“Jeez the guy could have collected unemployment until he was 32.”

Since he was a city employee they don’t pay into unemployment so he doesn’t qualify!


29 posted on 03/17/2011 6:46:33 PM PDT by dalereed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: truthkeeper
Two points.

1) It depends on the cost of living, and the amount of unemployment benefits.

2) Many people went into government work on the basis of the implied guarantee of employment for life; some because they are sick of layoffs, some because they might not get employed in the private sector so very readily.

If the suicide jumper were one of the latter group, he might have looked at his long-term job prospects and potential for bankruptcy or worse, and decided suicide was his best option.

Note, by the way, that this is taking place -- horror of horrors -- under a Democrat governor and legislature.

They can't hang this around Reagan's, Bush's, Ah-nold's, or Sarah Palin's neck.

Prayers up for the next-of-kin...

30 posted on 03/17/2011 6:47:26 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: utford

I’m from the government and I’m here to heeeeeeeeelp.
Sadly, he had an existence not a life.
In this economy bad things may happen to you. It’s happened to me and I don’t think about jumping. Or for equally cowardly reasons taking it out on someone else.
Times are hard. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
So you are fired. It’s not worth your life because someone doesn’t want to pay you. It happens all the time in the business world.
In the GOV world you are fixed for life. Right?
They lied to me! True, but don’t jump.
Unless you have insurance.


31 posted on 03/17/2011 6:48:50 PM PDT by glyptol
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: davetex
Hopefully all the laid off people in Kalifornia won’t show up in Texas.

We told all the illegals the approaching radiation plume will cause them to grow horns and their babies will have two heads...Get ready for your new arrivals muchacho.

32 posted on 03/17/2011 6:49:46 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: dalereed

I had no idea.


33 posted on 03/17/2011 6:50:16 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions: $1.00 ~ Halfbaked: 50c)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: stevio
A lot of us have received layoff notices lately.

Bingo. Many of us didn't get advance notice of being laid off either. Entire offices are being "laid off."

As a matter of fact, the last four businesses I worked for have all shuttered their doors and closed. These are businesses that operated for decades. Democrats and republicans alike continue to play politics with amnesty, while American jobs are fast disappearing.

Clinton pushes for jobs and reform in Tunisia

34 posted on 03/17/2011 6:51:09 PM PDT by MamaDearest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2

When my former ex company was exporting IT jobs to India (which they may still be doing), they did the layoffs in the US the US way. You’re here and the next minute you’re gone, kick in the butt, twenty some years on the job, Affirmative Action black one year on the job fires you, and you’re walked to the door by a security monkey. In the EU, because India is cheaper than EU as well, the company was forced by the local laws to give the IT guys 3 month notices. Who’s more civilized?


35 posted on 03/17/2011 6:53:54 PM PDT by Revolting cat!
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2
Photobucket On the other hand, I'd just as soon keep workin', keep a little change in my pocket.
36 posted on 03/17/2011 6:54:40 PM PDT by Crawdad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: al baby
Workers are shell-shocked, and one dies in an apparent suicide.

Welcome to the private sector!

37 posted on 03/17/2011 6:54:40 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2
This is a 'nuclear option' and somewhat extreme, though probably necessary "pour encourager les autres". It should make the union thugs think twice about resisting pension reform.
38 posted on 03/17/2011 6:59:29 PM PDT by expatpat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dragnet2
Jerry Brown's fault!

He's cutting state funding to cities and counties.

39 posted on 03/17/2011 6:59:40 PM PDT by roadcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blood of Tyrants

This is Orange County and it’s a GOP controlled area. Both Right and Left areas are having this problem.


40 posted on 03/17/2011 7:00:26 PM PDT by MSF BU (YR'S Please Support our troops: JOIN THEM!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-66 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson