Supervisors’ Pay Hike

Re “Board OKs Pay Hike, Reverses on Car Allowance,” June 23.

Thank you, Supervisors Susan Lacey and Kathy Long, for at least thinking about the taxpayers of this county and the needs of libraries, homeless shelters, etc. You were absolutely right to vote no for a raise at this time. When Ventura County has a budget shortfall, it is not the time for supervisors, who already are paid handsomely, to vote themselves an increase. You are to be commended for your sensible thinking.

Unfortunately, the other three supervisors--Frank Schillo, Judy Mikels and John Flynn--did not agree with you. They took the approach of “the public be damned” and awarded themselves the raise.

Mikels and Flynn had the audacity to say the raise was inconsequential. Mikels said, “We are not talking a lot of money here.” Flynn said, “At least it is a little bit of an increase. It’s not much.” Those are very revealing statements that indicate a lack of caring for the working class. The $5,531 per year increase they will receive amounts to almost a half a year’s work for people earning minimum wage, and quite a bit more time for people working in the fields. Ask those workers if we are talking about a lot of money.

I hope everybody who would sincerely appreciate a $461 per month raise will consider what these rapacious, self-indulgent elected officials think of us. All three should be ashamed. Be assured that the smoke screen of voting for only one car allowance does not obscure the fact that you chose to fatten your wallet at the expense of the needy in Ventura County.

TOM GIBBONS

Port Hueneme