Setting Priorities for Negotiations

Police officers have a difficult job in today’s society. Not only do they have to fight with unruly drunks, narcotic addicts and street criminals, to name a few, but they also have to fight with their city administrators and city councils.

Why does this have to happen? Why can’t city managers and city council members settle contract disputes in a timely manner?

Why doesn’t the City of Santa Ana make an honest effort to obtain a contract with their police officers? It is now going on four months since their last contract ended on June 30. Historically, the Santa Ana City Council comes to an agreement with the Police Assn. at a later date each time around.

The last negotiation meeting was Aug. 21, and apparently no further meetings are scheduled.

Santa Ana is a city of No. 1s compared to all of Orange County. It has the No. 1 paid city manager. It has the No. 1 paid fire department. It is also No. 1 in crime. It’s too bad the Police Department isn’t at or near the top in salaries as compared to other county agencies.

Even through the current negotiations, or lack of, the Santa Ana police officers are still out there giving their very best to do the best job possible under the circumstances for the residents of Santa Ana.

I hope the city manager and City Council of Santa Ana care enough to come to an agreement with the police officers of the city. But then, I still believe in Santa Claus.

MICHAEL STEWART

Santa Ana