May 18th, 2009
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Visitor on this Site This Week.
(Nearly 3000 hits last week. Thank you, enjoy your visit and come back to see more.)
You are:
1. Welcome
Last week we welcomed Flip-Flop to its new location. We should have included the new car wash on SR. 44 and the Taco Bell. If nothing else, they should be commended for finally opening in the face of all the delays visited upon them by the City’s anti growth, can not cut down trees, and other policies designed to harass new business enterprises. Anyway, welcome and you get medals for persisting. Wal-Mart, Lowes, and Ruby Tuesday just gave up.
2. Chief Chef Award
Danny Veltri, Chief Chef at Flip-Flops, won the Hells Kitchen TV Contest. Congratulations!!!
3. Food Lion Remodeled
There is a new Food Lion on A-!-A. They remodeled the old one and there is now a second upscale super market on the Beach.
“Best Blogs of the Week”
(Edited for grammar and punctuation)
A POTPOURRI OF CITIZEN COMMENTS IS
AGAIN PROVIDED THIS WEEK IN ORDER
FOR YOU TO GET IN TUNE WITH THE
MOOD OF OUR READERS
5/17/2009, 12:39 pm
NSBKingfisher
This is another option than the proposed company to do the project off of our coast. LINK
The main difference with this is that it can bring in very much needed tourism for more than just surfing. Scuba Diving, fishing, and erosion control would be superior as a whole. It creates the same breakwater effects of natural reefs in placed such as the keys. I'm not sure the costs associated with it in comparison to the other, but they both have good results. Anyways, I just thought people deserved another option.
To Dark Shadow.
The citizens committee recommendation for the city riverfront rights of way have not yet been approved by the city commission. Nor is the committee comprised with members from both sides of the issue. One Black man (Mr. Rouse) from the mainland who fishes and the others all rich property owners on the beachside who don't like "those people" fishing in their neighborhood. The meeting was controlled by the city commissioner who lives on the river by Beachway and he spoke with all the committee members (except Mr. Rouse) before he appointed them to his committee. Committee members agreed that no fishing after 2pm and no fishing on Sundays would keep the Hispanics from Pierson coming to the north beach to fish.
Airport Noise! [From E-mail]
Billy Gambrell <bgam56@ucnsb.net>
Hi, In regard to your posted article about the Airport- I disagree with you that it is just a handful of people complaining about the noise. The noise started when they opened a flight school for aviation students from the middle east that are not even United States citizens. I do not think that no: 1. Our country should be training foreigners how to fly plane or use weapons. There is no guarantee that one day they might be flying against us in a war etc. 2. What gives a non U.S. citizen the right to buzz around my house and my neighbors making relentless noise and ruining property values and the way of life here in NSB? 3. Before these flight schools moved into many of the local airports around Fl. the airports had a reasonable noise level that residents could live with. etc,ect. I agree that a noise study is a waste of money but it is the only way the City can help the residents in this fight and the Mayor agrees with the citizens. This needs to be kept a quiet community and that is something that money cannot buy- a peaceful, quiet way of life for every resident here. If these flight schools want to operate and make noise, like I told them. Move to Miami where there is lots of money and noise and join the rat race.I have taken a petition around my neighborhood and 99% of the people signed it-so its not just a handful of people that do not want this but the majority of residents. However, I agree with you city employees are making way too much money. By the way Mahammed Atta went to a flight school in Venice,Fl - whether you believe in the 9-11 official government story or not. Best regards, Bill Gambrell
[From E-mail]
Please start letting people know about the proposed Hampton (yes, I said Hampton - the one on all of the interstate exchanges) Inn, which is being shoved down our throats by David Swentor of Premier Development, Mayor Sally Mackay, and certain members of the CRA (oh, you have no idea what the CRA is ---- you better take the time to find out -- as they are not elected officials and control millions of dollars).
The three story concrete building will reach from Flagler to Florida Avenue (who cares about the residents - no one will even let them see the presentation) and really Dumpsters can be made to look very pretty. Wouldn't you rather look out your front door and see huge service trucks and dumpsters - then the beautiful canopied treed park which is now on Florida Avenue. Well, that is what Mayor Mackay and certain members of the CRA think. And who cares what this huge - out of character interstate hotel brings in as far as additional traffic. Hey, if you have to already wait anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes to get across the bridge or turn off of Peninsula - What's an additional 30 minutes, waiting for cars to turn into the hotel in the middle of the 200 block of Flagler. Oh, but wait, Mayor Mackay said last night (actually the second time she has said it in a public meeting) ,- when those tourists check into the hotel "we" are going to mandate that they turn over their keys and walk or ride bicycles. Boy, that should really entice people to come. And by the way, can we legally do that?
So, residents and visitors you better pay attention and write to your CRA members and Commissioners - don't really know if it is worth your time to write to the Mayor -- but you need to let them know - we do not want this monster on our small Flagler Avenue, when it would be better suited for the causeway (which is where they wanted to go a year ago --- what made them so enticed to come to Flagler?) or even 3rd Avenue. You better start asking these people with the power, why they are willing destroy a neighborhood, a lot with 100 year old oaks and put even more traffic onto Flagler. One Flagler Avenue business owner made the comment "I had a customer who had no place to stay after my business closed. This hotel would be a great asset". That person owned a bar. Yep, we surely need a Hampton Inn so more drunks will have a place to stay -- since they had made no plans prior to entering the bar.
NOTES
1. What Mom, No Editorial in the News Journal about the Fishing Restrictions! Nothing on the Angler’s Club!?
Nothing on The Number of Employees Making More Than $45,000 a Year. Not One Editorial That We Recall On Any Of These Political Issues.
We do not believe that there is “nothing” to write about these omissions, just note them. It screams that they are not doing their job to go after politicians on the local scene that will not be open and transparent for the people who pay taxes and buy their newspaper.
Well maybe the editorial board also supports leases of public property to clubs that discriminate. And not a word either about the police force. How about the failure of openness. Could they say something about the apparent violations of the Sunshine law? The Mayor and the other Commissioners would not say who dreamed up the 10% pay increase and golden parachute for the City Clerk. The issue is not only his contract. It is the failure of openness. It is also the failure of the institutions that have traditionally served to watch government, the newspapers, to keep the politicians honest.
2. Vallejo, California, 18% Reduction on Personnel Cost for Police
“…..Over $6 million in General Fund savings will be achieved by salary reductions exceeding 18% between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2010. Additional long term savings will be achieved through caps on medical benefits for current employees and retirees and reductions in sick leave and annual leave benefits for new employees. The agreement, also, eliminates minimum staffing provisions of the agreement, providing the city with the flexibility to modify staffing and service levels as needed over the term of the agreement. The supplemental agreement extends the labor agreement with VPOA through June 30, 2012.”
This was the negotiated reduction with the police department Teamster’s Union after the Bankruptcy filing. In New Smyrna Beach we gave the Police Department a 2% pay increase after the $88,000 a year Union Rep argued it was needed. What is the plan for this year? Sell them the farm? More pay raises?
DEAR KHALID
As we have stated in the past, we realize that the City Manager is limited in the resources available to him for pursuing cost reduction projects, so we have decided to help him out and provide draft letters for his review. As we have said this will free him up for important things, like dealing with all the serious problems of the police and fire department pensions.
TO: Robert Rodi , Utilities Commission
From: Khalid Resheidat
Hey Bob do you think if I traded you a $67,000 greens keeper and a $50,000 parks coordinator for a $78,000 secretary and a $50,000 meter reader supervisor we could take the heat off?
Kahlid
The Garbage Burning Generating Plant the Utilities Commission Is Pushing For Venetian Bay As An Economic and Social disaster.
From: Richard Barnett, Florida Rural Cities and Counties.
As I promised #528 on 5-11-09 “ Bury it, don’t Burn it”. I stated then that I have NO objection to a MSW fueled Power Plant “As long as it was done by Professionals” especially since Volusia County does have problems with its landfill. Now if I may. I honestly believe that the City of New Smyrna Beach needs its Own Electrical Power supply. Any installation should supply all the power (Key word “ALL”) that is required for the City and its service area.
Now you do have to understand what is proposed by Horizon/Rodi and to help you do that go to the link for the UC meeting on Jan-26-09 and start on PG #9. --- LINK. If a Company has been requested by the Director of a Cities Utility to make a presentation as important as this one you would think they would be much better prepared and more professional. Horizon was working with Progress Energy to develop business in the State of Florida and had not yet even registered with the State when Rodi requested they make this presentation. (read more)
The Utilities Commission over $45,000 employees
THE UTILITIES COMMISSION HAS TWO AND A HALF TIMES THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES THAN THE STATE OF FLORIDA EARNING MORE THAN $45,000 + PENSION +BENEFITS (PROBABLY MORE THAN 35% OF SALARY)
50.02 % (93 plus out of 185 employees) OF THE UTILITIES COMMISSION PERSONNEL MAKE MORE THAN $45,000; ONLY 21% OF STATE EMPLOYEES MAKE $45,000
The Utilities Commission had 113 employees in 2001 and has 185 today. Too many employees. One of the reasons your rate are so high, do you think? information.
FLASH:
UNIONS RETAIN CONTROL OVER PROCESS OF PAY, PENSION, AND BENEFITS
THEY WIN, YOU LOSE
The Unions are in backdoor negotiations to keep their fat contracts with the cities. What the unions are fighting is consolidation into one county run fire department. The reason the unions are fighting consolidation is simple. The unions would prefer to negotiate with eight or nine separate city governments. Negotiating only with the County, the one-on-one evens the playing field for the taxpayer. There is no weak link to exploit. The best deal the union gets from any City is what they then demand from all of the cities. The result of this system is we are paying a firefighter with high school education and one year of vocational school more than a college educated professional.
Even worse for the taxpayer is the lack of transparency in which this hoax was negotiated. The Shadow over the last two months tried to bring it into the open and both the County and the Cities worked on it under the rug with flash lights. They did not have the minutes of the meeting and the County said it was only the fire chiefs who were informally meeting. You were left out. The County shucks it looks like 60 or 70 employees, the Cities only hire back half, and the Cities are paid money which then is used to fund the bloated pay, pensions and benefits of current employees. Thank your local politicians when you go to the bank to pay your taxes. You care. They do not.
TOUGH LOVE. A LIST OF NSB PERSONNEL WHO COULD OR SHOULD BE CUT. IT WILL BALANCE THE BUDGET. NO TAX INCREASE
We have a budget crisis and the alternatives are grim: raise taxes or cut personnel and frivolous spending. They have refused so far to cut personnel where the greatest savings can be mad. None of the cuts below will in any way reduce public safety no matter what the IAFF screams. At the golf course they actually added an employee or two. Well in the third year of a business turn down with almost no applications being filed for new construction, with money being paid out to their friends in an undiminished flow, and with property values still declining we have decided to make up a list that should concentrate the Commissioners’ limited intellect on the task at hand: cutting back on expensive personnel who are unneeded, have nothing to do, or whose duties can be deferred. Prancing Randy has gone so far as saying the worst vote he took last year was not raising taxes. The object is to cut government. What an idea. So here we go.
1. The Chief at the fire department; 12 Lieutenants at the fire department;
2. Three commanders at the police Department; the PAL officer (Let the school Board pay his salary);
3. The entire 23 person staff at the golf course; turn it over to a golf management company. Look at Cypress Head in Port Orange;
4. The parks Coordinator; to boot he was a political appointment;
5. The City Clerk;
6. The City Marina director: sell the place and put it on the tax roll;
7. The City Engineer: tell Khalid to do the job, he used to be the engineer; and
8. A couple of the so-called planners at the CRA;
9. And you are invited to add to the list.
There is a serious question as to whether there is a need for several of the high paid personnel at City Hall. Remember that the Assistant City Manager, John Hagood, also served at one time as Personnel Director and City Clerk all under his one job description.
Hey, that is about one fifth of the current City employment roll. Many with high pay, pensions and benefits not enjoyed for the most part by almost any of the taxpayers footing the bill. Except for some of the employees at the golf course, almost all of those named make over $45,000 a year and then we add the 70% pension and package to those who work for the fire department, the 60% package for those at the police department, and the 45% package for all other employees. Throw in the free cars, coffee and soft drinks at the police department and you are talking about real money.
About one hundred years ago Gilbert & Sullivan wrote an operetta with a pitter-patter song that went “I have a little list, I am sure they would not be missed”. Yes, the Shadow has a little list we are sure they would not be missed. Certainly it is harsh, but if your employer were facing bankruptcy he would reduce expenses and lay you off before he put a gun to your neighbor’s head and demanded money to pay you. That is what the increase taxes are, a gun to the head of the taxpayers because the Commission has refused to cut expenses or jobs in the face of increasing short falls of property taxes.
Dyer straits: Orlando Mayor Announces Lay Offs:
100+ Emergency Workers - Police and Fire Department
ORLANDO SENTINEL ARTICLES ON ORLANDO CUTS
12:01 PM EDT, May 13, 2009 and read second article on the local page on May, 16, 2009
Some think he means it. Some think it is a ploy to make the Unions request reopening the contracts. Some think that it will force pay, pensions and benefits down. Everybody except the Unions agree that the current system of pay, pension, and benefits is indefensible. Everybody except the unions agree that public safety will not be affected by only 100 personnel cuts. LINK
EVAC IS A LOT CHEAPER
Over the last several weeks the fire department apologists have been putting statements on the blog trying to influence readers into believing that EVAC is costly and that the fire department can do it cheaper. The following blog is typical.
4/30/2009 (from blog)
"Since Litt didn't I did. In 2005 NSBFD had 4015 FD responses. In 2007 NSBFD had 4607 responses. Hmmm, something’s not quite right there. Data shows an increase in FD responses. Let’s look at the county. In 2003 the county responded to 14,348 calls in 2008 the county responded 18016. Hmmm, another net increase. Interesting! ”
The 2007 numbers shown in the LINK under “Rescue Calls” for NSB is 2,893. It was 2,633 in 2005 when the population was 10% lower. Total calls are what the writer included in the Blog and we believe that includes trips to Publix and Dairy Queen. Maybe it also includes taking the engines out to the new Car Wash on SR 44. We know it includes a large number of calls that just follow the ambulance even when they know before hand that it is medical call where they are not needed or a fender bender.
More fun can be had by comparing the so-called estimate of structural damage where NSB is half of the County’s claimed structural damage. What caught our eye was the County listed damages to structures in 2007 as $5 million and the City claimed $2.8 million. Funny when you note that the County had 1700 percent (1700 %) more fire calls than NSB. “Something’s not quite right there.” We have not been able to obtain the 2008 numbers of the County Fire Department Survey.
Last, on a recent Thursday afternoon (April 30th ), there was an NSB City fire truck following an EVAC vehicle south on Saxon Drive. It was about 300 yards behind the ambulance and had all its lights flashing. Was that a necessary med/evac call? We saw the same fire engine following an EVAC vehicle on A-1-A a few weeks earlier. Bet it did not get to the scene before the EVAC ambulance either unless it could fly over the EVAC ambulance. Hey, does the blogger want to discuss going to a test of the fire alarm system in a condominium after you are told it is a test? They do that too. And they count all the calls. And they claim they always get to the destination first “all the time”. We do not know the details of the call on that Thursday afternoon, but are almost willing to bet that the fire department truck at about 3:30 PM was just a “show the flag” call. It did not get to the scene first. Ask the Chief! C’mon Khalid, ask him.
