Elected Charter Commission Meeting

On July 6, I attended the meeting of the elected charter commission in Tujunga.

I was disappointed, to say the least. Instead of a community forum where the people could let the commission know what we feel is wrong with civil service and what should be in a statement of rights as far as we, the taxpayers, are concerned, we had to wade through a voluminous report gathered by a committee staff with a budget of nearly $500,000 for six months work.

In formulating the report on civil service, I noticed the consistent input of union representatives such as Julie Butcher, advocate from Service Employees International Union Local 347.

I ask the question: Where are the advocates for the taxpayers, we poor slobs who must pay the politically powerful city employees the “prevailing wage” written into the charter?

The prevailing wage as spelled out in the existing charter is “one that is at least equal to wages paid in private employment for the same quality of service rendered to the extent that such prevailing wage or salary can be ascertained.”

My question: Does the prevailing wage include parking, retirement, the use of city vehicles, in some cases, to take home, and protection from firing?

I wonder how many of the 45,248 employees who contribute their money to political action groups actually live in this city where employee unions are so strong that they control who is elected.

What we need are regular public forums where the needs of the taxpayer can be heard.

JOHN BUNTE

Sunland