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Firefighters dispute city's argument on layoffs; others fear planned cuts

by Kathleen Haley, published on May 4, 2009 at 8:17 PM

Storyline: City Budget

Community Tags 20092010 city budget budget cuts chris harvey gus vina michael ault politics vincene jones wendy klock-johnson

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The local firefighters’ union is objecting to city management’s comments about Sacramento's budget crunch and possible layoffs for fire department staff.

At the same time, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and Sacramento’s neighborhood services department both expressed concerns Monday about the potential budget cuts being considered by the city.

The proposed 2009/2010 city budget, released Friday, seeks to address a $50 million deficit. The City Council will address the proposed budget at its May 19 meeting.

Among other cuts, the budget proposes to lay off 189 city employees. The budget calls for 387 positions to be slashed. Because 198 of those positions are vacant, the city would need to lay off 189 staffers, according to a city spokeswoman.

Chris Harvey, spokesman for the Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522, said he disagreed with the way the city is framing its argument that firefighters need to give up scheduled pay increases.

The city is arguing that there must be concessions from the union or there will be layoffs.

“That argument is disingenuous,” Harvey said, adding that the city can choose how it spends its general fund monies.

Still, Harvey said that the union’s current negotiations with the city are going well.

Wendy Klock-Johnson, city records manager and acting spokeswoman, responded to Harvey’s criticism. She said Harvey is correct, in the sense that the city does not have a set plan that says it must reduce staff when it is in a difficult financial situation.

The city works very hard to minimize reduction of staff whenever possible, Klock-Johnson said.

Sacramento’s budget document states that the fire department would lose 50 positions and $5 million. Gus Vina, a Sacramento assistant city manager, said last week that if the firefighters’ union gives up scheduled pay increases for firefighters, the city would not need to make the cuts.

Meanwhile, Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, is concerned that the proposed budget cuts could damage the quality of life downtown.

He raised concerns about possible impacts to downtown parks.

“We need to be careful that we’re not reducing to the extent that we lose the ability to maintain the environment down here,” he said.

The budget proposal is also worrisome to the city’s Neighborhood Services Department. Vincene Jones, the department’s director, said every department is going to have to make hard decisions about its budget.

She said she’s afraid that if her department loses one or two people, it will affect the department’s “personal touch” in its work. Jones noted that the department works with many groups outside of city government, including SMUD, Home Depot, PG&E, and Loaves and Fishes. Neighborhood Services also supports every city department, she said.

Jones said she hopes the community will work with the department, understand the city’s tough financial situation and adjust to the “missing pieces.”

Vina said last week that the city wants all of its unions to make concessions. The sole union at this time that has made concessions is the Sacramento Police Officers Association. The union ceded July salary increases for its members so police department positions would not be cut.

At this point, several other unions have not made concessions.

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The Parrhesiac

edited on May 5, 2009 | 8:45 AM

The firefighters can be replaced if they are unwilling to compromise in these economic times.

I have a lot of respect for firefighters, but they are a bunch of whiners when it comes to pay.

They work much less than the average person for much more money. They also get fed very well, at the taxpayers expense...they have incredible retirement packages...and many make over 100K per year with overtime.

Unions are bankrupting our country.

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Knowurfacts

June 4, 2009 | 10:50 PM

Oh really...I had no idea. Could you please state where you get your data from. As the wife of a Sac city firefighter I haven't seen these 100K paychecks. And as for working less than the average American, how often do you work a 72 hour work week? Oh and I'm sure you will retort that they get to sleep for most of those hours. Well guess what, most of their calls are medical and many times my husband will come off a 48 hour shift with almost no sleep. Oh, and taxpayers feed the firefighters huh? Last time I checked, they all pay into a food fund for all of their meals. And who says the firefighters aren't willing to compromise. Many of our friends are voting to reduce salaries as much as possible to prevent layoffs of their friends and loved ones. Unfortunately, many jobs may be cut despite the fact that most firefighters are working hard to keep their coworkers employed. Maybe you should have your facts straight before you shoot off your mouth.

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Jeff McCrory

May 5, 2009 | 1:24 AM

JG et al,

check out this bloggingheads:

http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/19358?in=40:04&out=46:51

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Oracle

May 5, 2009 | 10:42 AM

The cops sucked it up and took a hit, it's time the firefighters did the same. I'm tired of their whining and their union supporting more taxes (so they can get higher wages!). I'm a softie when it comes to fire and police, but they have to take some hits too.

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Martin

May 6, 2009 | 3:57 PM

ya all are funny. IF you think the City of Sacramento is the victime here, your priorities are way messed up. The citizens are and always have been the priority. It is the duty of any City in America to provide a safe enviornment for their population to grow and thrive. Yes hard times are here, however, is keeping the park grass mowed 2 times a week more of a priority to you than if your dad is having a heart attck and dieing in the home? How about your teenage daughter who is having her 2nd child and the mom or dad (if they are even there) wait untill the last min to call 911 to deliver the kid or for a ride to the hospital in an ambulance instead of driving there hrs. earlier like most people do. What about your cat in the tree, your dog in in the storm drain, your car that is t-boned in the intersection on your way home from work and your hurt and need medical attention? How about your grandmother who is so short of breath due to an illness or condition and is turning blue, sweating all over, and cant get out of bed. Who in the world takes care of all these problems and more for us????? The Fire Department. When we call 911, we have come to the point that we can not fix our problem anymore. We have admitted to ourselves that at this given moment, I or we do not have the knowledge skills or abilities to handle what ever situation is going on. So we pick up the phone and call 911. We are calling the one stop shop for a plumber, gas man, sandwich maker, ear to complain to about you neighboor, bandaid giver, CPR giver, flooding stopper, oygen giver, pick my husband up and put him back in bed, unlock you 8 month old child out of the car with a 102 F temp outside, take you to the hospital because you need to escape a domestic violence situation, take you to the hospital because you drank to much, are choking on your vomit and your friends are to drunk to help you, did a little to many drugs and overdosed and your best buddy is to high to help you, came home and found a family member who has tried or did commit suicide, and on and on and on!! Notice I never talked about your home burning and who will put the fire out. Or, you barly make it out to of the house thats on fire with your own life to relize your wife, husband, grandmother, childern, or friends are still inside. It still concers me that the people of this City still think that Firefighter only sit around in chairs, eat lots of food, play around and wait for a fire....actually beliving in thier minds that fighting fire is the only thing the Fire Department does. Its just silly. Yes Fire makes good wages and benifits. Would'ent you try to secure your familys well being if you could died on your job trying to do any of the aboved mentions things. Comments from people compalining about wages and benifits point to more jelously and bitterness. Remember people...What do you do? Who do you serve? Are you obligated by law and oath to always act? After your hard day at work, making your salery, collecting your benifits (if any), eating dinner, watching TV, talking to family or friends going to sleep, the fire department members are on duty 24/7 to answer the 911 call, what ever it may be. 911 never closes. It never locks its doors. It does not turn the lights off. Its always open for business, day and night. People are forgetting the fact that the men and women of the fire department are going through the same hard times as everyone else. They dont have any special ecomomic protection... Come on, if you really care and want to write a decent comment, do your reserch first. Dont depend on the Bee, or the news to give you true facts.

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Martin

May 6, 2009 | 3:58 PM

Dont assume they wont mislead you and give half truths that are only based on the word of mouth you proably heard and are commenting on. Oracles comment about the cops "sucking it up" is a joke...If she only new what the cops did get in negotiations with the city for forgoing the 5% COLA. More time off, benifit changes, COLA incress in 2 years, etc... Oh and the whiners comment from John....Look in the mirror sir....But I am darn sure that when you call 911 at 230am because you stomack hurts or you sick and cant get out of bed, or your in a car wreck, or your cat is the tree, or you house has caught fire that the Fire Department will still be there to help you in any and everyway possible, cruddy comment/views or not.....Lets face it....unless you have used the fire department, or have friends or family that are in the them...you will never understand thier wage and benifits. The Blunt fact is...This person can go to work and not ever come home the next day. What separates this from somone who is mowed down buy a DUI driver and killed is this.....Firefighters all understand this risk...and keep going to work...they understand that they have choosen to serve at any cost. They are ready to act and give everything to help somone they have never met before. They are paid to take risks that you, who may sit in a cubical, would never think twice of doing. Direct you comments to the City Hall Dwellers who have waisted out tax money and mismanaged city funds. This is still going on yet they want Firefighters and police to fix it......Well mabe the City Hall should think about calling 911. Giving back COLAS for fire and police will not solve the citys problems. They need to find revenue in other places or manage the citys resorces/services better. DIssing the firefighters and thinking they are responsible for the money problems is crazy. Lets face it, You are going to belive what you belive, but crunching on somones livelyhood will bring nothing but battles. IF you are truly that arrogant to do so....well I cant belive you read this entire comment and the jokes on you!

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Geoff Samek

May 7, 2009 | 6:39 AM

Martin, are you a firefighter yourself? Your passion and knowledge of the subject is a great reason to write an article for this site on the subject.

We at The Sacramento Press offer free copy editing and many other resources to our Community Contributors to assist them in writing. In your comment is a very compelling story, and by taking the time to write it up you may enlighten a greater portion of the community.

For more information about the service we offer to our writers for free contact journalism@sacramentopress.com.

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