Don’t know about recently, but found an article that had Tacoma’s unemployment rate in March at 10.3%. It’s probably down to “only” 9% now, hence the raise.
Instead, the City Council added language to his contract that froze his salary “until such time that the National Bureau of Economic Research announces two consecutive quarters of growth.”
The Cambridge, Mass.-based research organization determines, among other things, when economic recessions and recoveries occur. In September, the bureau issued a report indicating two straight quarters of growth.
Why on earth would anyone do something sensible like predicating it on the local economy? That would be too logical for these morons.
... Councilman Ryan Mello, who joined the council this year – after Anderson’s contract had been amended – said the council should have hinged Anderson’s pay raise on local economic factors.
Duh! Gee, ya think??!!
“I wish they would have negotiated something different,” Mello said. “Something real tangible to the City of Tacoma that showed the people here are doing better, not some indicator put together by academics in Washington, D.C.”...
Mello was appointed to an at large position, not elected. From the City website:
In 2008 – 2009 Ryan served as Co-Chair of the City’s Green Ribbon Task Force on Climate Change producing the City’s plan for addressing global climate change.
Ryan currently works as the Pierce County Director for the Cascade Land Conservancy. He and his partner Jerry have two dogs and two cats and live in central Tacoma in walking distance of the 6th Avenue Business District...
Remember, these are lifelong, inveterate libs that make up the majority of the council- and the city.
If you think any of these libtards would make any positive change, the article ends with this:
“Bringing a CEO to market is never a popular decision no matter when you do it,” she [Mayor Strickland] added. “I think that’s a good salary. It really is market-based.”
Even with the raise, Anderson isn’t the highest paid city employee. That distinction goes to Tacoma Public Utilities Director Bill Gaines, whose $136.54 hourly pay rate garnered him $290,262 in 2009, city pay records show. In fact, before his raise, four TPU employees were paid at a higher rate than Anderson.
I'm just real glad that I don't live there any more. But the county ain't much better.