Picture a corn field with a farmer shucking corn by hand. His focus is on shucking the corn and he does it very well. However, this farmer can only do so much in a day and thus is provided an opportunity to assemble farm equipment which will shuck more corn than present resources allow. However, to do so will mean that he will stop shucking the corn in the interim and consequently lose some portion of the crop to crows and rodents who will eat the corn if the farmer is not present.
Fortunately, our farmer has the money to pay a qualified retired farmer to assemble the farm equipment while he continues to shuc. He will soon have extra help in the field and thus be more productive. Sounds like a good plan. Our farmer is out in the field being vigilant of his farming duties, which includes warding off crows and rodents while the farm equipment is being assembled.
However, what would you say if the farmer was too proud and refused to allow a qualified retired farmer to help him assemble the farm equipment? Instead, he continues to farm the field himself into the evening hours, becoming tired and overworked. He may make a mistake while falling further behind. Hence, the farmer is never able to take advantage of augmenting his farming with the equipment and thus loses a large portion of the crops to crows and rodents.
Sounds silly to me. Why not accept qualified assistance so the farmer can do a better job in the field and remain vigilant in farming duties?
Well, this is currently the situation for our San Jose Police Department (SJPD). We have more qualified candidates who would like to join SJPD than open positions. The next step is to require a background check. Typically background checks are done by current SJPD, which means that 17 police officers are pulled from patrol. These police officers cannot be in two places at once and therefore this results in less police on patrol.
This topic among others was discussed at Public Safety committee two weeks ago. Police Chief Chris Moore would like to hire a private company to do the background checks rather than pulling police officers from patrolling the neighborhoods. The private company does this for other cities and they employ retired police officers to do much of the work and some of them are actually retired SJPD. However, the Police Officers Association objects to this and would rather pull police from patrol to do the background checks. I am told that on-duty police officers would do a better job since they have higher standards than retired police officers. However, the absence of 17 police officers from patrol creates a heavier burden on the remaining officers on patrol and less police presence on the streets.
I admire our San Jose police officers that work hard and return home safely after each shift. However, I also believe that law enforcement officials in other jurisdictions are good people as well. Retired law enforcement from the Sheriff’s office, Fremont and Mountain View, for example, are qualified to do background checks on prospective candidates for SJPD.
The idea of using retired police officers to do backgrounds triggers the process of union negotiations called meet and confer. I do not like the secrecy of meet and confer and would rather have negotiations public. In my view, the utilization of retirees should be something the city and police union could easily agree upon. I would prefer that this issue be discussed in public, rather than behind closed doors, to avoid hurt feelings and focus on more important matters.
I understand the need for union negotiations for wages and benefits. However, it does not look good when unions contest small items like assistance from retired officers or waste time and money defending people who should be terminated.
For example, the firefighters union filed a grievance for the right to have pornography in each fire station. In addition the firefighters union argued that termination of a fireman was too excessive when the civil service commission recommended he be terminated for sexual harassment of two female co-workers that included unsolicited massages, kisses, birthday spankings, and other inappropriate touching and banter. This is sad.
Making a mountain over a molehill creates negative PR for the union and in my view should be dropped since it hurts their credibility on negotiations that pertain to wages and benefits.
Pierluigi Oliverio is a San Jose councilmember for District 6.
Get used to it PLO…. When you and the mayor continue to walk away from negotiations and push the nuclear button then it seems all bets are off. You guys cant have it both ways. I know you guys are really upset, stomping your feet like children, because you lost your RDA play money. But please grow up. Privatizing recruiting is a bad idea, hey here’s an idea why dont we privatize the hiring of a new police chief? Maybe we can put it on a ballot to have an elected chief? I think that would be in the best interest of the public. That way they can decide who they want to run their police dept. Oh I forgot you guys always want it both ways. Then you would lose control of the puppet strings that Fig-one and her clan control. No PLO it just doesnt always get to go YOUR way. You need to come back to reality. They reality is that the public safety that you and Reed have kicked in the crotch along with ALL city workers have had enough. You will be taken to task on every item here on out. Get used to it and I suspect they will ask for attorney fees after they win each fight. You are a very corrupt arrogant bunch. BTW your hatred for our firefighters shows time and time again…. Im sure if your home ever catches fire or you have a medical emergency (god forbid) they will be there lights and siren (with 4 bloated pension sucking firefighters) racing to help you or to save your property. Thats what they do….Look in the mirror what do you see PLO?
Great Idea. Other cities all over the Bay Area do these background checks with private companies. Why shouldn’t we? Get those 17 cops out on the streets where they can do some good. Besides, sitting behind a desk all day isn’t good for you health. By the way, if I have a medical emergency, I’m sure 3 people can handle it like they do in San Francisco or Fremont. I don’t need 4.
You say that when you on floor looking at ceiling.. Please tell them that you only want 3 people trying to save your life not four… Stupid comment…
Other cities do just fine with 3. It’s unconscionable to say you need to do it with 33 percent more people. I mean you cannot be serious. By the way do you know of anyone who has scammed the system by claiming a phony disability retirement? I mean just one. Do the right thing and just name one person. Or do you want everyone to believe you’ve never seen even one person scam the system.
Even though I am replying to your comment, I am doing it for the people reading this who might think you actually know what you are talking about, which you do not. I AM a front line San Jose firefighter paramedic. I have been a paramedic for over 10 years, and I have worked in multiple EMS systems, in addition to Santa Clara county’s. I can tell you that as a paramedic it is a HUGE difference having the 4th person. I wont say “extra” person, because they are not extra. The fire departments that have 3 man engine companies are a man short, and that is by NFPA standards, not my personal opinion. When someone is in need of lifesaving emergency medical intervention, I as a paramedic can do more interventions, faster, and with greater quality by having a full crew. It is literally the difference between life and death for more people than you could possibly realize. I think that the admin here should ban you, prescient. You are consistently posting idiotic opinions and exhorting people to give you evidence of phony disabilities. Anyone who shared confidential medical information would be in violation of federal law, and you are clearly in no position to determine anything medically related.
If the “background checks” are purely background checks then you might have a case. If the “background checks” are really an extension of the interview process, then I’m inclined to side with the police union.
I didn’t read the last 3 paragraphs carefully the first time. In particular, the second to the last paragraph is a cheap shot, and has nothing to do with the issue at hand. BTW, your assertion is hard to believe. Can you offer some documentation? If the firefighters union is that out of touch, then I’d like to know that for a fact so that something can be done about it.
As I posted earlier, if the background checks are considered an extension of the interview process, then it’s reasonable to insist that this work be performed the folks that these recruits will have to work with.
One the leaders of San jose has just spoken, and he just put his foot in his mouth again.
You just don’t get it, do you. Out of touch as usual.
The officers at SJPD don’t care about what you or your supports think. We will fight you at everything from now until the day your gone.
How’s the measure B court case going?
There’s a bunch of signs out there that need to be cleaned up, can you get some volunteers and get it cleaned up.
“The officers at SJPD don’t care about what you or your supporters think”. Retire at 50 with medical for life and making more and more each year? How could you do this to this city. Ah yes you don’t even live here so why would you care about San Jose. Did you know that the board at San Jose Water are trying to do the same thing? Just for going to 48 meetings over a 4 year span they want to get medical insurance for them and theirs for life. What a crime. Does anyone support this initiative of theirs?
Hey, the village idiot is back.
You know how I did it to the city, I signed a contract that’s binding over 17 years ago, and I expect everything that’s coming to me, every penny! My retirement of 90%, my life time medical and my 3% cola. I’ve paid into it, and have paid my dues on the streets.
And who do you think you are telling me how I can do this to the city of San Jose.
I pay my taxes just like everybody else, the nerve.
You can put up or shut up. Were hiring, and as far as I know you can still get 90% retirement for putting your life on the line or you can go home and wet the bed like usual.
I live in Willow Glen, and have pride in community, unfortunately we have very weak leadership in this district.
You forgot to say that you’re going to retire at 50 on a fake disability pension with lifetime medical care. Just go away. This city is trying to move on with it’s life. By the way, if you’re pro labor, I’m sure you’ll fight against prop 32.
Hey prescient, just curious…how do you feel about Pete Constant then? The man who retired on full disability, then got another job with the city earning him a another retirement fund in addition to his pension from the SJPD, where he spent a measly ten years?
prescient you have no credibility here. Please leave you are embarrassing yourself!Your comments show your ignorance and lack of information or expertise. You seem to be a hybrid of Trieu Pham, Joe Rios and PLO…Beat it now
WOW!, you got the player so, so wrong. San Jose Water Company is an investor-owned utility company, and has not discussed this. However, the Santa Clara Valley Water District board has discussed this.
Pier,
You have poisoned the ability to try and work out a reasonable solution. The officers of the police department have given back and given back and yet we are slammed at every chance by most of the city council and this mayor. There is no being reasonable or fair negotiations with this council or mayor and you are disingenuous to suggest as much. All you have to do is look at the mass exodus of officers to other departments for better working conditions. Also, if this city council and mayor had not eliminated 20 light duty positions for disabled officers, they could be filling these spots to do backgrounds, instead you are going to pay twice as much to an outside private company. Amazing….
Disabled? “Oouch I have a hang nail”. Please. It’s all a scam.
Prescient , Do you ever get tired of listening to yourself ? Your attempts at humor just come across as idiotic. You talk a big game , but what have you don for this city? Why dont you take a public safety test?? lets see how you come out or if you even pass the initial tests. Lets see if you have the Huevos to deal with violent criminals , Child abusers , domestic violence , or notifying people that their loved ones are deceased. I seriously doubt you would ever consider taking a “lowly” public safety position , but by that same token , seriously doubt you could ever do this thankless job.People who do these jobs do so for themselves , their families, and their loved ones. sounds like it might be out of your reach. stick to hiding in bed while others do what you cant
I think he’s really someone from the 18th floor who likes to try to stir the pot. You can tell by all the idiotic statements. He does it on purpose. Just ignore…maybe IT will go away.
DISJ….I wouldn’t waste my breath with this guy. His comments are only meant to be inflammatory and what he puts out as facts are often way off base.
You know nothing about farming, so that is one goofy story. Much like the writer. You and Reed have already dismantled the police department. It will take decades to replace all the police who have left. And another lie if you say there are enough candidates that want to join. The best and brightest are going to go to any other city that pays more, has better benefits and has a better pension plan. This is every city in CA. Officers are leaving at one a day. How will you replace them? Even the 20-30 that you get for the first academy in 4 years will leave to another city once they are trained. You forgot to mention that it takes 18 months to train the new ones. So you train new ones and they leave and train more and they leave… It will cost taxpayers way more to constantly train new officers. You cannot read this story in the Mercury paper but you can get it from the Mercury on line; http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_21400206/san-jose-police-department-losing-some-its-best We have no officers on the street with more then 25 years, they left. All the brightest like in this article are leaving too.
And there you go spouting off using the Union word. DId you know the union is all officers… They want the people that they depend on to back them up or keep them safe to be hand picked. WHat you want is to lower the standards to have anyone driving the police car. Well you already not going to get best, and having a police department that is mostly comprised of experience with 5 years will cost you in another area. Police with 5 years on get into more altercations thus more lawsuits and payouts by the city.
You so lost when what to do its incredible. But hopefully the citizens are now seeing that you and Reed screwed up what was the safest city in America. Now its not safe even for the police to patrol. Ask them,,, nope you cannot do that they do not trust you, or like you. No integrity means they have no respect for you. When government is not trusted by the police that protect are norms, we have a problem. And the problem is you.
Pierre , i think you missed your nistche . you should write childrens stories .
(1) The reason the POA wont agree to using Retired Officers is because it takes jobs away from current employees. Of Course , in your Anti-Union View this all makes sense.
(2) How can you say you understand the need ” to negotiate wages and Benefits” when you helped push Measure B ( an Illegal Ballot measure , that aims to change pensions) . Wrong again the lawsuit by the Firefighters union was NOT about Porn , and or Harassment , it was about forcing the City to adhere to its own Policies. Which is why the Union prevailed.
(3)Really negative PR????? You mean like the way you and the Mayor have turned residents against its own Public Safety?? you truely are a piece of work. all the Pr Lies will come out in the lawsuits over measure V,W,B. lets see if you will be honest with the total cost to Residents when the city loses all ofthese lawsuits
(4) Dont get it twisted , The candidates in the Hiring process are among the least qualified! Any qualified candidates (along with our own Public safety) have already gone to or are in process with Agencies that offer better pay,better Benes , Better pension.
Unfortunately, the SJPD has little alternative but to fight the continuing attacks on working conditions and degradation of hiring standards. Outsourcing is a slippery slope of cost savings versus product quality. It would seem City leaders expect cut rate workers and the reality is that public safety is not cheap. You either pay for professional service or get long term, expensive lawsuits along with a black eye in minds of your constituants. Consider the water treatment plant and graffiti abatement as recent lessons- although those gaffes are just beginning to come to light!
Historically, SJPD has provided excellent service at a low cost to the City. Staffing has been low, and is now lower than ever. We hear of “anomalies” when the fact is that the glaring anomoly is laying off police officers while attacking pensions with half-truths. Those are the actual first-time-ever events that San Jose has seen.
Despite being vilified by their employer, chastised in the Murky News and hampered by activists and lame Department heads, San Jose Police Officers continue to arrest a stunning number of robbers, rapists, gangsters and killers. Check the stats, you won’t read them in a paper known for stealing distribution racks.
Regarding hiring standards, I’m sure the initial contracts will be given to responsible security firms that maintain standards- but a few years in the City will want to save money and hiring stands will wane. Kudos to the Police Association (not union) for attempting to maintain high standards in the face of Constant (pun intended) attacks by San Jose’s elected.
Wow! If this not state your hatred of public safety, nothing will! Good luck SJ citizens.
Really, I had to read your blog again because I was in shock what an idiot sits on the city council. Then it hit me why our city is the second coming of Oakland, because you the Mayor and 4 others could not care less about us.
I am guessing homicides 50 this year. Forget about all other crimes because they will not be investigated.
I suggest you post a city counter for officers leaving and those on disability. Hopefully, we don’t have one for killed in duty.
Pickles,
Several of the 17 that are performing background checks are full time recruiters for the understaffed police department and several of the 17 are on mandatory modified duty and can not be returned to patrol. Those are the facts, so stop saying that 17 can return to patrol, it is not true.
And even if they were returned, what would it mean…
police staffing math: two sides of the week, three shifts per day…17 divided by 2 = 8.5…8.5 divided by 3 = 2.8 per shift per day for the entire city. 10 city council districts divided by 2.8 per shift = not enough cops to do——…pull your head out of the sand or wherever it is and get real.
So you propose to use retirees to do the job…so you can then call them double-dippers and attack them for getting a pension and a paycheck. Sorry, no thanks.
The city wants to pay an outside firm to do investigatory background work for police recruits. To put a monetary incentive to complete backgrounding work by non-sworn employees is scary.
Not every crime SJPD investigates is stealing lawn signs, there are real live criminal street gangs who would love to infiltrate the ranks. You voted for the cuts, live with it. I guess it was the natural order, or whatever that gibberish you blather on about that killed that elderly woman in your council district. Or maybe it was your inept ability to do anything other than follow Herrera and Reed off the public safety cliff…
Pierluigi,
You need to read “You can Negotiate Anything”, by Herb Cohen.
One of the things you should realize is that if you have to do business with someone again, you can’t take a scorched earth approach. You have to negotiate “win-win” deals, so that each side feels good about the outcome.
When I was a teenager, I started watching the way my dad, a real farmer, did business. He was good at bargaining, but he always seemed to leave something on the table. I asked him about it, and he said that “they have to make a living too”. He had long-term relationships with many suppliers and buyers. Sometimes they did him favors, and sometimes he did them favors. It was win-win.
Don’t think because you’re in a position to drive a hard bargain, that you will always be in that position. Also, you can expect people that feel they’ve been wronged to get even in ways you might not anticipate too.
Until we get elected officials in San Jose who understand how important public safety workers are and treat them with the respect they deserve we will all continue to suffer with increased crime, less services, and decreased property values. Disgusting!
Pier, Just because a few rich, white people clap for you does not mean that you are in touch with the real world. There is more to life then coffee. Ask all the victims in the low-income neighborhoods if you Measure B worked. YOU chased away all the officers that actually cared about the people they were serving.
Nice Job. When do you term out? Not soon enough.
ET may or may not be a bear, but he’s smoking something. We protest his race-baiting in his phrase, “…a few rich, white people…”
No fool like a racist fool.
See rich white people hate it when others are saying they out of touch and they not racist. You see the truth is Pier and all the willow glen folks really do not care that gang kids are killing each other. As long as they get their coffee at Peets they OK. The low-income neighborhoods love the SJPD police way more then the rich whites… Low income neighborhoods would never cut the police. And since the white people are the ones that vote, that why they like Pier and Measure B. Those same people who voted for Pier do not care. Sure they will throw a token dollar or sandwich. But they do not drive into these neighborhoods like the police do on a daily bases…
ET wow you hit the nail on the head. This rings so true! The poor and many undocumented immigrants on the east side are more respectful and appreciative of the police than the self serving “rich white willow glen” types… The only reason many of these types are whining and crying is because a lot have lost their *sses in the tech industry and stock markets and they have not been the victims of violent crimes. No sorry folk in WG your house getting 459’d is not a violent crime unless you are home and are confronted by the burglar. This happens DAILY on the east side… ANYONE that wants to dispute this should step up to the plate right now or shut up! Drive by shootings that dont make the news. Gang fights that dont make the news. Carjackings that dont make the news. The list goes on and on and on… The rich self entitled white folks in WG think they are very special. God forbid if there is a BS problem in their hood they drop a dime to PLO or the police captain and you bet your *ss that a beat unit will be forced to follow up on that recycle complaint or transient hanging out near their neighborhood. Oh yes they are certainly out of touch and are the first ones to complain about cops salaries. Just wait the above listed crimes are coming to WG and Almaden Valley… I cant wait to hear all the whining and pissing they will do to their hero PLO. The man who shucks corn!
The PLO types and there are many because they voted for him have no clue. If they have a burglary they call the insurance company, add a few more items that were not stolen and bingo new stuff. In the low income neighborhood when there is a burglary, the stuff is gone until there enough cash to buy a new one from walmart.
Now PLO is pushing to have reserves work the street. These dedicated people come in and help out usually once a month. But PLO wants them to do the same job for free. Wow he sure is nice. Lets put the HP worker who is dedicated and volunteering his time in a patrol car by himself. And if he is injured like Pete Constant. Hey thats on him and the city will not have to pay a dime in disability… Good old Pier wants everything for free.
You mean the reserves that they have dissed????? Good luck with that, Pier.
I understand where you are coming from, but there is no need to make this about race. Its more of a socioeconomic thing and all you are doing is alienating people from the other points you make that are correct.
You and your fellow council members have acted unethically and without good faith in negotiating with me, or collectively, the POA. All negotiations have ceased. You should have taken a lesson from the San Francisco POA in its recent successful venture on a co-sponsered ballot measure for pension reform. I have lost all faith in your political leadership. Furthermore, I am currently in the application process with two other nearby jurisdictions, which have political leaders that also support pension reform, but are fair and levelheaded; I should be resigning shortly. You went about this mess the entirely the wrong way.
It must be amusing to all the SJPD Cops that after being lied to by Pier, Liccardo, Reed, Constant and Figone, that now a couple council members want to sit down and discuss the violent crime, lack of officers etc….
Why could these same council people not sit down with the police/fire before? Seems to be a one way street.
ET Smokey
not a one way street, it’s a dead end. Chuck + 5 could give a rats behind about SJPD and public safety period, much less other city unions. I hope all their toilets over flow when the sewer plant crashes!
I originally posted this in reply to Councilman Liccardo’s op/ed piece in the Mercury ‘News’. I think the comments are just as applicable here as they were there.
Mr. Liccardo, the sick leave buyout which you malign is the only thing keeping officers from using their sick leave in order to get any kind of time off of work with their families. The PD is so short staffed and opportunities to take vacation time so dear, that even the buyout may not help in either the near or long term. Want to see another precipitous drop in available patrol officers? Take away the sick leave buyout.
As for civilianizing the background/hiring positions, well, that comes down to trust. When you convert those to civilian positions – even if staffed by retired officers – it becomes a slippery slope to making those positions staffed by pretty much any kind of civilian – someone not protected by a bargaining unit and therefore vulnerable to the vagaries of politics and who can be manipulated into lowering the hiring standards which have made the SJPD officers among of the most competent, capable, highly sought-after professionals in the nation.
We have watched as you and your peers have lied about the pension deficit, lied about Measures V, W, and B, lied about all the other reasons this city is hemorrhaging money, and continued on the path of profligate spending that has brought this city to the place it now is. Why should we trust you when it comes to the hiring of those who would be our peers. We’ve watched as you and your peers have presided over the precipitous decline of this city and of SJPD and have absolutely no faith in you, nor in most of your peers, and it is our very real concern that, if hiring decisions are placed in the hands of people like you, this police department will be come less than the shadow of its former self that it now is and will, instead, become the New Orleans PD of the Katrina era.
I would like to think Pierluigi is a genious, however, that would make me an idiot.
Personal feelings aside, I hope Chief Moore doesn’t succomb to the pressure of privitizing the backgrounders. Chief Moore, like the smart man he is, knows that having the most talented backgrounders ensures that the people who are allowed into the ranks are truly who he wants. The time and money the department pays on the front end reduces the time and money the city pays on the back end fighting lawsuits that result from hiring the wrong people.
Some SJPD officers moonlight as backgrounders for other agencies. Most of those interviews are done over the phone and are required to be completed within an allocated amount of time.
Pinching the penny when it comes to hiring police officers is like buying your pregnant wife a car with 200k miles and hoping it’ll last her five years. It’s a gamble that no well informed person will do.
Allowing the wrong people into the SJPD will result in corruption, police brutality, and lawsuits that the city will have to payout.
There’s a reason why the city of San Jose pays out less money in lawsuits than any other agency it’s size or smaller. Put those facts out Pierluigi.
Don’t lower the standards.
P.S. Can someone give Pier some transitional phrase suggestions. He howevered the hell out of that one.
I am assuming that when Mr. Oliverio obtained his teaching credentials it wasn’t so he could teach English or writing skills. Even so, I have to admire the fact that a very thin string of truth is woven in amongst all this sea of half truths, innuendos and misdirection.
The farming analogy doesn’t work as a stand alone or as an analogy, so it’s like comparing apples to sandpaper.
The thin strand of truth in the complaints about the police department and its bargaining unit is that there were officers assigned to background checks. This would be one string in an entire tapestry. As has been pointed out, there is a built in cost savings to this (limited duty personnel can be assigned), and inherent savings when you maintain the institutional knowledge when this is done in house and the people investigating have a vested interest in the outcome. Their jobs depend on it (they can’t scrimp on the process because they have direct reportable oversight) and their lives eventually depend on it ( I don’t think this needs explanation).
The throwaway paragraph regarding firefighters again has a small thread of truth, but, again, you have lost site of the big picture. You complained about this during your stump speeches for Measures V&W and showed your complete lack of understanding of the issue then as much as now. So, let me try an analogy: When a person is brought to court on an allegation of any sort, there is a prosecuting side and a defense side. While we may think all defense lawyers should be eliminated, that is not justice. Unions have a responsibility to defend their workers (thats what dues are for in part). Acts of sexual harassment cannot be tolerated in any situation. Since you’ve been complaining about this incident for years, just what have you been doing to correct it? How have you stepped up to prevent this from happening again? Besides complaining, what action have you taken?
You were elected to solve problems. You asked for this job, a job that requires you play the cards you’re dealt and a job that requires you understand the entire issue and work cooperatively with others. When you blame other people for the rules of the game or the cards you are dealt, you never get to that playing nicely with others portion that actually allows work to get done. That is a fundamental difference between being an independent sales person and working within a structured system; cooperative and collaborative work.
Instead of starting from the viewpoint of “you should be doing…” start from the viewpoint of “..we’re in this together and none of us like where we are right now so how can we fix things”. You have three choices: (1) accept the rules of the game, accept that it takes a process to make change, roll up your sleeves and do the long term work instead of throwing out one-liners; (2) leave office; (3) keep on complaining about the game you paid to get into, keep doing what you’ve been doing and keep getting the same results.
You asked to be dealt into this game. It’s not solitaire, it’s more like bridge. Quit complaining about your partner’s hand and accept the fact you have a partner (many, in fact) and that we all want to make this city thrive in a sustainable manner. We can’t do that when you start the bidding with “I hate you, I hate my cards, I hate this game”. Suck it up … or we’re all shucked.
Randi, what it the point to this? It’s quite rambling. Be more clear.
Pierluigi, (as you have corrected me in the past)
Your allegory is disrespectful. It’s completely inappropriate to dilute your topics of discussion down to references to mundane things like farming or excerpts from your interactions with centenarians. I humbly suggest you try just being direct and approach the topic like you’re addressing adults. The amount of rhetoric you’ve soaked this article in is disgusting. Selecting Police Recruits and farming corn have nothing in common. There are more similarities between yourself and Bernie Madoff than there will ever be to the aforementioned topic.
I challenge you to open up your home to be rented out, then commission a third party with whom you have no authority or form of disciplinary recourse to fill the vacancies. Let us know how that goes if you take the challenge.
As someone who has been through background investigations conducted by third parties and by sworn personnel, I can say there are stark differences. I would never recommended that any Agency employ a third party to conduct its backgrounds. This process needs to be kept in house as, yes, s randall, it is a continuation of the interview process.
Seventeen patrol positions would not be such a big issue had the city not embarked on its current race to the bottom. Had someone upstairs dipped into the emergency funding or put the lights out at a local branch or two, we could feasibly still have more than half of the 60 or so officers we laid off. Now we’re scrambling to put fingers in the holes on the proverbial canoe floor while self righteous politicians liken corn farming to personnel selection.
Pierluigi,
Your column is understandably insulting to public safety. You refer to their service to our community as “corn” that needs to be shucked! Are you really so far removed from the suffering of our citizens, and our City employees that you can detach and look at them as inanimate objects that need technological improvement?
If so, please get some help.
Pier you have struck new lows! You disgust me with your lies! You really need to grow up!!! The firefighters union DID NOT file a grievance to have porn in the fire stations, nor were we defending the actions of the individual accused of harassment… Are you kidding me!!! Our grievances were for the city not following it’s own policies and the disciplinary process.
Your actions and comments you have made on this website have made it so clear that you do not like San Jose Firefighters. Regardless of your disdain for us, you are an elected politician, who needs to make mature decisions. Decisions that will protect the citizens of this city. So far you have done the complete opposite! You may think you are hurting us, but ultimately you have put the citizens of this city at risk, with your poor decisions. Grow up Pier!!!!
Our current and past union presidents have been open to and have even requested that negotiations be public. When the mayor was interviewed on the news, regarding this topic recently, he publicly stated he was AGAINST making negotiations public. The mayor is still lying about and defending his $650 million number! STOP THE LIES Pier!!!!!
Voters of San Jose please WAKE UP! Do your homework. You have been lied to again and again by the mayor and numerous council members. Not just about issues regarding the fire department and PD, but the ballpark, RDA and how your tax dollars are being spent.
Pier…you know where you can stuff that corn cob.
> You,Sir, are a liar. In the worst sense of the word. The argument was the freedom to have personal property, properly secured, at work.
Ummmmm. Maybe I can help bridge the communication gap.
Could the term “personal property” possibly include “pornography”?
Sounds like there really wasn’t any disagreement, was there.
Of Course! How stupid…ALL firefighters LOVE their Pornography! Thats what it was about! How could we have been so blind!
Pierluigi,
Here is a more accurate analogy:
Farmer Jones has owned his family farm for years growing corn. Farmer Jones, through good times and bad, has treated his employees with basic respect and dignity and in turn they are extremely loyal to him and have worked for him for many years. If differences have occurred, they have been able to work out collaborative and cooperative solutions. Now one day, Farmer Jones decides he is getting old and wants to sell the farm. Farmer Jones sells the farm to Farmer Luigi, who it turns out knows nothing about either farming or corn, because the only thing he has grown was virtual corn on Farmville while he was on Facebook. Farmer Luigi, however, considers himself an expert on all matters corn. With Farmer Luigi at the helm, he attacks his farm workers as being a pariah and cancer, while publicly stating in the local Farmer’s Almanac how much he loves and respects them. One year, when the crop is bad because of drought, he blames his employees for no rain. It makes no difference that for many years these same employees made this a very profitable farm. The long time and loyal employees start looking to surrounding farms for work. They are offered better wages and more importantly, employers that seem to value them as an asset to the farm and not a curse. Pretty soon, but not soon enough, Farmer Luigi sees that he has lost at least 30% of his workers and he does not have enough workers to pick his corn. Instead of using basic common sense and a sense of humanity to keep the remaining employees, he threatens them that they better do what he says lest he cuts their future pay. Farmer Luigi can’t see that he is cutting off his nose to spite his face. Farmer Luigi doesn’t realize that redoubling his efforts to treat his employees like manure in an effort to retain them really doesn’t make much business sense. Farmer Luigi has a false sense of pride because he knows things better than anyone else. Farmer Luigi and some of his surrounding farmers are the very definition of hubris. Soon, Farmer Luigi’s corn crop lays waste in the field. His farm is worth half as much as it once was when the loyal employees kept the farm going through good times and bad. Customers and employees alike go to the surrounding corn farms because they realize Luigi Farms is not the best place to buy corn. Farmer Luigi then decides to switch his crop to medicinal marijuana, but alas that is another story entirely….
Excellent analogy.
Observation,
I would love to hear about the “medicinal marijuana” crop. That would make for a good story. I would also like to see how much money the city has obtained from these dispensaries. Maybe Pier can let us know what account they are putting this money into. And finally, I would love for the Feds to seize that money since its contraband, just like narcotics officers do to any other drug dealer.
Pier. Put out how much money the SJPD takes from drug dealers (rightfully so) each any every year. How much money could that be annually?…at least a million. I wonder where all that money goes?…general fund.
The city must have had a “vested” interest in dismantling the narcotics unit. After all, drug dealers stick together.
Hey, Pier! You guys told the voting population that these “taxes” on dispensaries would get us out of our financial woes. So are we rich yet?
According to the City budget director, MJ taxes bring in $3 million per year. That is the same amount that Reed expects the A’s to bring in, after we spend $300 million to build the stadium and infrastructure…
This is good…. really good… Thanks! Farmer Luigi sounds like he’s doing something illegal, and might be sued.
PLO,
Against my better judgement, I read your post!
My conclusion is that you have reached a point where your BS, exceeds your IQ.
Quetzalquatal is the God of Corn. You may have pissed him off.
He knows that every farmer, employs illegal aliens!
My advise is , take some of that corn and place it at the Plastic Snake Alter that your City
Council / Redevelopment Agcency placed in the center of our Village.
You can find all of the corn you need, at Safe way produce dept., where there was a stabbing resulting in death. They dropped the cost of corn to practically nothing, along with the tomatos.
All hand picked by a gental Mexican hand!
PLO, You know zip about farmers, or CORN.
Stick with what you know best, SIGNS!
The Village Black Smith
Ther are very few vetting processes in the world like the background investigation of police officer job applicants/candidates. THERE IS NO SJ CITY EMPLOYEE JOB CLASSIFICATION *N-O-N-E* that has anything close to the background that police candidates go through.
This isn’t a quick credit history check and phone call to a few of the “good time buddy” references the applicant listed on the JOB APP. This process opens the applicants ENTIRE LIFE up to scrutiny. By examining a person’s entire life certain patterns emerge that are generally reliable predictors of future behavior. “Red Flags” at any step of the investigation are enough to trash the app. “When there is doubt there is no doubt” is the rule!
The persons doing that background have to be willing to say the person they are recommending are people that they themselves would trust with their own life! EVNE after all that there are persons for one reason or another slip through the cracks and get hired only to make some mistake of the heart or even intentionally act in a way that brings disgrace to the profession.
That mind set doesn’t work with “retirees.” A retireee doing a background has no stake in the outcome once a person is recommended to be hired and is working the street. Neither does a private contractor who may be paid on commission or with premiums based on how many backgrounds they complete by certain deadline and how many they can recommend to be hired.
Yes we know all about Private Investigations Companies that many agencies use to do their employment background investigations. It is a lucrative business and I am sure that they recommend man outstanding individuals who become exemplary police professionals at their departments. But I would bet that the Backgrounders at SJPD do a better job at hiring candidates who would fitin and succeed in the department.
This “cost cutting” measure might work in the private sector or in the vast majority of public sector job classifications but it doens’t work for a police department.
“For example, the firefighters union filed a grievance for the right to have pornography in each fire station”. -PierLuigi
You,Sir, are a liar. In the worst sense of the word. The argument was the freedom to have personal property, properly secured, at work. THE SAME STANDARD TAT CITY HALL ENJOYS. It is along the same lies as “$650 million”.
“In addition the firefighters union argued that termination of a fireman was too excessive when the civil service commission recommended he be terminated for sexual harassment of two female co-workers that included unsolicited massages, kisses, birthday spankings, and other inappropriate touching and banter”.-Pierluigi
You, Sir, are beyond despicable. YOUR OWN HUMAN RESOURCES AND OFFICE OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS FAILED TO PROPERLY DISCIPLINE THIS INDIVIDUAL. Which is why he was reinstated, with back pay, after being defended by an attorney. The lies you people tell are incredible. Employees understand the truth, and feel the impacts of these half-truths and lies. You demoralize and cripple their abilities to do their jobs with your silly comparisons to farmers and corn, and ridicule them for working hard to get good, trustworthy people into the ranks of Police and Fire. Unlike your position, which has been demonstrated by your article, which is full of lies, deceit, and an intentional breakdown of the morale and professionalism of the last defense of the public from harm. So tell me Mr. Councilmember, who comes to YOUR house when you call 911?
I guess when you call 911, I hope they will take a coffee break. BUT our officers are more professional than you and will risk their lives to protect you
BOHICA,
The grievances and backlash against the porn issue was that the Fire Union did not want to follow the City policy but instead relie on a 1980’s court case. All the City wanted was to have the City policy verbatim placed in the Fire dept policy manual. The union fought that point beleving they were above other City employees. Also the person referenced in the sexual harassment issue was defended by the union and thankfully has remained terminated. As for open negotiations, in the last arbitration the issue to open those negotiations was placed on the table, the City agreed to open the negotiations, the Union said no. There are policies for negotiations in the MOU, what the union wants is direct dealing with the City Council and not to have to deal with employee relations which is what the MOU states. Those isssues are all history, both sides need to stop the rhetoric and deal with the facts to fix the problems facing the City.
Perspective,
Your “perspective” is all wrong! I dont know where you are getting your info from, but it is completely false! The union fights the city when they are not following our MOA and or city policy, which occurs on a regular basis and also occured in the above cases you mentioned. There is a zero tolerance policy within the fire department when it comes to pornography or anything that may be deemed offensive to someone else. As far as the alleged harassment case goes, that person is back at work. The city once again did not follow the disciplinary process and their own city policies. He hired an attorney and a JUDGE ruled in his favor. Lastly, I heard, with my own two ears and watched with my own two eyes, the Mayor state on CBS and NBC news that he was AGAINST opening negotiations to the public. The Fire department Union Presidents, past and present have been open to public negotiations. We have nothing to hide. Get your facts straight please!!!!
Victor,
I’ll stand by the facts as stated, they are corect. Blind trust in either the Union Presidents or the Mayor is wrong. Your union has been outside the box for many years and that is part of the problem. It would be nice if they only fought the City on the MOA but that is not the case. This is not an endorsement of the mayor either, he should be questioned and scrutinized but to keep calling him a liar is not accurate. I would suggest you ask your union president to see all the coorespondence regarding the pronography issue, including letters from their attorneys, you may be suprised to see what they said. As for the indiviual you reference getting a job back, I believe it is a different person and a different harassment case, not a Fire Inspector. Lastly for open negotiations, if the union is for opening the meetings with the office of employee relations to the public, I believe the City would be good with that since your MOU requires the negotiation be with the office of employye relations, not the city council. If you want to directly deal with the City Council in open session, I do not think that would be productive or legal. Again, look at the 2007 arbitration, the City was for opening it to the public, the union was not. That is a fact. As I said, blind trust to either side is not good and I hope level heads will previal to find solutions that are workable, fair and good for our City.
Perspective, uh actually…. The Union has never advocated Porn in the fire house. Not once, the case you are referring to was about process. The city completely messed up the investigation and the implementation of the progressive disciplinary process thereby resulting in a lawsuit against the city by an individual firefighter who was awarded a few hundred thousand dollars.
As a result of the PROCESS not being followed according to law the union had no choice but to file for arbitration to protect the rights of the firefighters that the city was trampling on. Those are actually the facts….
As far as a harassment case, there is no such individual who has been terminated successfully in the past 10 years due to the city once again trampling on the rights of individuals. You gotta ask yourself, since the union seems to ALWAYS win in court… is it because they are right or is it because maybe there is something to the fact that the city doesn’t always do the right thing ?? Or maybe they just have bad investigators and crappy lawyers and there must always be a crooked labor friendly judge sitting on the bench…. I know, a lot to take it..
Lastly, stand by your facts all you want but fact is you’re wrong. The union has always said they are willing to negotiate in public ( It’s the ONE thing the union agrees with PLO ) It has always been the city and specifically Alex Gurza that does not want this to occur…. My thought, if that were to happen then the public would actually see that the Union is reasonable and is ALWAYS willing to actually negotiate even when the city draws a hard line and says “take it or leave I guess we’ll see you in arbitration”.
Those are actually the facts…. trust me.
Ernest,
Trust is always earned and with your skewed viewpoints you seem to walk a thin line between facts and reality. So please excuse me if I don’t trust you. Regarding the porn issue, I would again state as I did to Victor, ask to see all the union correspondence regarding that issue, including attorney letters. That was all separate from any investigation as the City was trying to update the Fire Department policy which was outdated and did not comply with the City policy. The union fought the inclusion of the City policy.
You can refer to process all you want; the facts are there was pornography in the Stations. Hopefully that is a thing of the past and will not happen again. Also there is still an individual who was terminated for harassment that is still gone. As for always winning, I don’t believe that is true, you may want to check with an ex vice president.
Lastly, as for making negotiations public, it is a fact the union blocked the last arbitration from being heard in public, not the City. I would ask you to prove that to be wrong. As I stated, blind trust to either labor or management is not a good thing.
Perspective,
My skewed viewpoints are a result of dealing with the city and their lack of integrity. I don’t mind that you don’t trust me, I’m used to it. As a matter of fact that is how the city treats us at every interaction so I’ve built up a tolerance… Hmmm, you are starting to feel like a city insider… OER maybe, better yet… PLO ?? Is that you…
The union fought the inclusion of city policy because it was more vague than the language that was already in place, not to mention that the language they wanted violated certain freedom of speech rights…. And like it or not, the judge agreed so there must have been some merit to the case. The union prevailed because they were right not because they advocated Porn in the firehouse, that is a silly assertion at best… This was about process and the rights of people, not porn so step down from your soap box and remember that the SJFD is a professional organization and the actions of a few do not reflect the sum of the whole.
By the way, I like how you skirted the whole issue of the city being sued and LOSING a few hundred thousand dollars of tax payer money over the ‘Porn in the firehouse’ issue…. Facts are, the city messed up and tried to assert power that they didn’t have… and the tax payers paid, again. We do agree on one thing, hopefully that is an issue in the past and that it won’t happen again. Hard to leave it in the past though when PLO keeps brining it up simply to take cheap shots at the Fire Department as a whole, exactly how it that helpful anyway??
Yes, you are right…. The ex vice president of the union lost his appeal. Yup, accused and professionally attacked and investigated by the city manager herself ( a first in the history of this city ) and then terminated. Yup, you got me… We lost one.
Lastly, You are wrong. I don’t have to prove it because I simply don’t care whether you believe me or not. ( Why don’t you prove it… ?? ) Fact, the union agreed to go with public negotiations as long as all negotiations were public so the firefighters were not singled out. Fact, the city said “oh no we couldn’t possibly do that… ” So guess what, no public negotiations because the city doesn’t want to air it’s dirty laundry and back door deals with Reed’s buddies to the world. End of story and truth be told.
As you stated, blind trust to labor or management is not a good thing…. But you should at least be honorable in your attempt to negotiate in good faith. This Mayor and his Fab 5 and it’s lead negotiators have lost that PERSPECTIVE.
Have a nice day…..
You seem to be proud of not being trusted, I find that a little sad. The City policy is still in the civil service rules is legal and did strengthen the Fire Department policy, and no judge ruled on that point as you infer. As for the lawsuit and the $200k, it had nothing to do with the Policy, it had to do that pornography was found in the workplace and that action alone lead to the settlement. The settlement was for the individual that found the porn, not those who brought to the firehouse. I find it interesting you do not care about facts relating to open negotiations. The fact that there are strings attached to your offer is why things don’t get done and probably one of the problems in negotiations would be my guess. Unfortunately, the City website does not still have the entire transcripts posted from the 2007 arbitration, but the fact is the union did not agree to open the process then (maybe that strings thing must have been there). Maybe the City can repost the transcripts. That was time for the union to step up and have public negotiations and they chose not to. There have been other losses for the union in arbitrations over the years; it is probably close to a 50 / 50 split. But keep your blind trust and believe it was only one; it won’t help you with that trust thing.
Thank you for proving my point…. It’s city administrators like you that continue to hinder the ongoing process of negotiations because you like to muddy the waters with useless hyperbole which has nothing to do with nothing.
I agree, you are sad. Sad that you think you know the facts when in fact you are clueless and incorrect. The $$ that the taxpayers had to pay in the lawsuit was due to the elementary level investigation performed by OER. These of course are the same people involved in negotiations….. I’ll let you connect the dots.
The open negotiations was not about strings, it was about fairness…. Why should the firefighters be the one and only group to do open negotiations ?? It was a simple follow up request to agree to, yet the city clearly didn’t want to agree. I wonder why? You call it strings (typical thinking for your type of personality) I call it negotiations… Get it ? You ask for something and we ask for something and then WE agree… Not exactly how the city negotiates, they tell us what they want and that’s it… No negotiations and no middle ground. Their way or the highway…. and that my friend is why the city and the other 10 bargaining groups can never agree on anything.
So, enjoy the day. You are clearly living in your own world and I’m sure its sunny where you are. Because it’s raining here and a storm is coming… Public Safety workers are leaving in droves because of people like you and your limited ability to see both sides of the equation or even do the simple math of the problem in front of you. Like I said before, I don’t trust you or your PERSPECTIVE because it’s skewed and totally wrong and it’s responsible for the mess we are in…. ( I know, you’ll deny that and skew the facts ) and if you think that I’m the only one lacking trust simply walk outside of your cubicle at city hall and ask any City worker who they trust more….?? Cops and Firefighters or the Mayor and his Fab 5 and those that perform their bidding in OER/City Managers office… ( I already know the answer so that was of course just rhetorical… Just wanted to be clear so that you didn’t think there was any strings attached to the obvious answer )
Ouch, that must sting a bit…. The truth can be painful sometimes
Hey Pierre, why is the rose garden getting new sidewalks around the perimeter of the park? What was wrong with old sidewalks? I run by there all the time, there was no tree damage or any cracks that were danger to pedestrians. The sidewalks were in good condition.
How much did these new sidewalks cost?
Is this a token of your appreciation for all the money you got for your campaign.
The money could have been spent on something better, like feeding the elderly or the homeless.
More wasteful spending.
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_21435613/san-jose-three-alarm-fire-st-patricks-cathedral-firefighter-injured
God bless my firefighter brother Frank Ryan, my heart is with you. Words cannot describe how painful this is for Franks family, and the whole San Jose Fire family, and I ask that any posts even remotely disrespectful to Frank be removed from this page and the offender banned.
First and foremost, I wish a speedy recovery for Frank Ryan and my prayers go out to his family.
If this incident isn’t a prime example of why the assault on public safety is misdirected I don’t know what is. This man nearly lost his life, meanwhile we have politicians, journalists and ignorant citizens who will continue to attack his benefits and compensation. How backwards must one be to villainize the same people who will risk their lives to save others, especially those who don’t appreciate them?
My thoughts and prayers are with Frank, his family, and friends.
Pastor Sonny Lara of Firehouse and Star of David Ministries, and Kathleen Flynn, would like to invite you to a prayer vigil for Fire Fighter Frank Ryan. We will be meeting in the back of Regional Medical Center of San Jose at 225 North Jackson Ave., by the fire trucks, at 4:00pm, Sunday, Sept. 2nd. Please join us and please pass this on. Thank you!
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_21435613/san-jose-three-alarm-fire-st-patricks-cathedral-firefighter-injured
Thanks Kathleen!
SJFF,
The prayer vigil is not only for Frank Ryan, it is for all you wonderful Firefighters! We want to show you that the public DOES appreciate your service to us, and that we do love, and support you for putting your lives on the line for us everyday.
Please stay safe out there, and THANK YOU for your service to our community. God bless!
Pierluigi,
Why is it only Ask Kalra has the decency to wish the injured fire fighter a speedy get well on his public Facebook site, yet neither you, Liccardo, Herrera, or Constant can even give him a mention?
This is so awesome! Check it out!!! Woo Hoo!
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_21465579/san-jose-stricken-firefighter-awakens-talks-family-and
It’s worth noting that it isn’t just police officers who are leaving San Jose in droves. Dispatchers and call takers are also leaving which means that it is going to get harder and harder to handle the increasing call volume that is the inevitable result of double-digit across-the-board increases in crime. Yes, hiring is going on, but I have to wonder to what degree new hires look at San Jose as a stopover between their old job and a new career with a responsible respectful employer.
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/video/7693961-san-jose-911-dispatchers-burned-out-leaving-in-droves/
Of course, Chuck Reed’s attitude, distilled down, is this: “Yes, people took pay cuts but if they hadn’t, we would’ve laid people off. We still don’t have enough employees, but at least we’re paying less for the ones we do have, and now, we get to experience the same kind of employee turnover that the private sector enjoys – or worse.” Basically, it’s the same attitude he has for cops, firefighters and other employees. Apparently, all he cares about is getting employees for peanuts. On the plus side, those who are leaving are finding better pay elsewhere, so, apparently, there’s still a free market for public safety jobs of all kinds.