Established
in 1937
|
Letters to the Editor
(Editor’s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter-writers.)
* * *
Typed, double-spaced letters written solely to this newspaper and/or Website are considered for publication. Hand-written letters that are double-spaced and legible also can be considered.
Cards of thanks are not accepted as letters.
* * *Union contract agreement belies
cost-control efforts
From JoCo Commissioner
Jim Raffenburg
Grants PassThe tentative agreement between Josephine County and AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) is the result of a 2-1 vote by the Josephine County Board of Commissioners.
This agreement was reached with AFSCME over my strong objections. Foremost was my objection that by agreeing with the terms of this contact, the county has effectively retreated from any serious attempt to control costs.
By agreeing to these terms, the county is now in a no-win position. It must either offer parity for remaining county employees or create an unequal “caste” system of benefits.
The county cannot afford universal parity with this contract, and county employees will not tolerate a caste system. By Tuesday, Jan. 17, requests were already coming in from other employees asking when they would “get theirs.”
I was notified that OPEU (Oregon Public Employees Union) has also tentatively settled its negotiations with the county and its membership unanimously ratified a similar agreement subject to the AFSCME terms.
Josephine County is in a financial crisis. The supposed “firm position” of the commissioners on Jan. 6, where we said, “this far and no farther,” would have allowed the county to prevail and see the strike through to a successful, financially sound conclusion. The only thing lacking was the resolve of one more commissioner.
If the above were not enough, these contracts with AFSCME and OPEU also contain a hidden time-bomb called the “me too” clause. It gives union employees a vested interest in the lawsuit of the nonunion/management employees still pending against the county.
Should the county lose even part of this lawsuit, all our union employees would be contractually entitled to even better benefits than they had under their previous contract, including a retroactive restoration of the deferred compensation 6 percent county match, higher paid leave sell-back levels, and the notorious nine weeks of paid leave after only one year of employment.
There is certainly no doubt that these contracts are good for our union employees. But I fear the end result will not be good for taxpayers.
This coming November, due in large part to this contract, the people of Josephine County will be asked to increase their property taxes, because there are both new, real dollar costs and because this contract effectively renders defunct the September 2005 benefit changes and their projected dollar savings.
My opposition to this contract has nothing to do with my views as to whether any employee is “worth it or not.” My opposition is based on my conviction that costs must be brought under control. The implications of these contracts mean that nothing has really change --: county spending continues unchecked.
I have promised to not ask taxpayers for any more money until I could look you in the eye and say that the county has done everything possible to control costs.
In light of the coming loss of O&C money, I had hoped to be able to say that in fact the county had done everything possible to cut costs, but I cannot.
Even though county services will be affected by the loss of this O&C money, I cannot in good conscience ask the people of Josephine County for more money because I do not believe the county has earned the right to ask for it.
Those requests will be coming this November, of that I am sure. Consider those requests carefully before you vote. In addition I can no longer support any new or increased fees, for the same reasons.
Every penny government spends comes from some type of tax or fee. Government will never learn to live within the means of the people who pay taxes until forced to do so by voters.
In closing, there is one simple fact that is becoming very apparent. Government (taxpayers) can no longer afford to continue to pay high wages and provide extremely generous benefits to public employees. Taxpayers nationwide understand this because they are being squeezed to a point not seen since the founding of this Republic.
It is time for the average person to stand up and say, “Enough.” I say, “Enough.”
Good neighbor boosts optimism for positive
From Lyn Berry
Hopeful Rancho
Cave JunctionMany of us have experienced vandalism to our mail boxes. It increased recently to the point that I couldn’t bear to buy and install yet another mail box after only a few weeks.
I just left the post standing by itself at the end of the driveway. Imagine my amazement when I returned home to find a new mailbox installed. I questioned everyone I could think of, not knowing who installed it.
Finally, the mystery was solved. A good neighbor had seen the empty post, and went the “extra mile” to not only provide a mailbox, but to put it up.
It is encouraging that there are some people who are treating others as they would like to be treated and doing such a nice thing in the world where there is so much senseless destruction and negative action.
He’s concerned about Alito effect on democracy
From Tim Norman
Cave JunctionOne thing that has happened to this country since the fall of the Twin Towers: We have become divided as a nation.
There are those who support George W. Bush (in my opinion, those who aren’t paying attention), and those who oppose him with every fiber of their being. Some may say that this is by design.
People have said all along that the only way to overthrow this country is to divide us and collapse it from within. It looks like that is exactly what is developing. We, as a people, need to set aside our differences and stop this “train,” or else we could be referring to democracy only in past tense.
Democracy is held up by a system of checks and balances. No branch can set policy without the approval of the other branches. Our forefathers knew what they were doing. This is how we never fell into being a dictatorship.
This very ideal is being threatened as we speak. In about a week the Senate will consider Bush’s nomination for Supreme Court justice in Sam Alito. By putting Alito in the position, he would have successfully eliminated the last check: the last obstacle standing between him and the full-blown power of the United States.
Those who truly stand for democracy and freedom of our people should investigate it for themselves. I understand that many don’t have the time or the resources (I mean, how else would anybody support what GWB is trying to do). But ignorance, in this case especially, would not only mean the end of our democratic process for now but for decades. It’s called precedence, and once set, it is very hard to overturn.
Alito stands for spying on our citizens, jailing people without charging them or giving them access to obtain counsel, and he clearly supports torture. Don’t just take my word for it. Look it up for yourself.
Those who truly stand for democracy could join me in writing our Sen. Gordon Smith and demand that he oppose this nomination and support the filibuster denouncing this person. Yes, I am an activist, and there are those who oppose my point of view. But isn’t it nice to be able to oppose my point of view in an open forum?
Plenty of folks helped burned-out family
From Donna at Puff-N-Stuff
Cave JunctionI am grateful to God for sparing the lives of my son and his family from a mobile home fire on Dec. 6 in Cave Junction.
And I appreciate all the good people of Cave Junction, Grants Pass and Medford for all the donations and support.
Illinois Valley Fire District provided a great Christmas for those three little girls. I also appreciate I.V. Bikers, and Fred and Sarah Ball at Bi-Rite Auto Parts.
Plus, we had a lot of help from “Jackie.”
Many people have done much for this family, and we are grateful.
Subscribe
to the Illinois Valley News
Click Here
© Copyright 2005-2006 Illinois Valley News, All rights reserved.
