Sacrifice is for suckers -- not unionized government employees.

[TeeDub]

Albany Police Officers Union President Chris Mesley says that, regardless of the faltering economy, a no-raise new contract is unacceptable.

And to hell with the public.

"I'm not running a popularity contest here," Mesley said. "If I'm the bad guy to the average citizen . . . and their taxes have go up to cover my raise, I'm very sorry about that, but I have to look out for myself and my membership."

Mesley added: "As the president of the local, I will not accept 'zeroes.' If that means . . . ticking off some taxpayers, then so be it."


http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/what_union_bosses_think_Em4qoD4qx9ei7QLeYk8v6I#ixzz0fnwi02Ks

[Breadburner]

The stupidity in this country that is coming from people that are suppose to serve the people is mind-boggling.......

[rwarn17588]

It's no worse than the Tulsa FOP forever yanging about public safety, then voting for layoffs that actually affect its ability to promote that public safety.

It's no worse than our two Tulsa cops on this forum who are always yanging about their being conservative, but forgetting their ideals when the mayor tries to do honest-to-God conservative things such as balance a budget, cutting spending and making smaller government.

[Breadburner]

It's no worse than the Tulsa FOP forever yanging about public safety, then voting for layoffs that actually affect its ability to promote that public safety.

It's no worse than our two Tulsa cops on this forum who are always yanging about their being conservative, but forgetting their ideals when the mayor tries to do honest-to-God conservative things such as balance a budget, cutting spending and making smaller government.

I don't recall anyone saying the contrary....

[shadows]

Just think how lucky the Tulsan citizens are to live in a state where the Right to Work was passed and is enforced where the city is now controlled by the unions.  Course they have found a cash cow that gives stimulus money now instead of milk.

Then by placing the tariffs on pipe imported from China used in drilling operations, with the near quarter of a trillion dollar balance of payments last year, all the citizens may be lining up for stimulus money soon.   

[TeeDub]

124 fewer officers and still no crime wave.   

[patric]

124 fewer officers and still no crime wave.   

If anything, a slight decrease.
Same thing with turning off expressway lights.
This "cutting excesses" stuff just might catch on.

[waterboy]

You might want to hold off your excitement till warmer weather arrives.

[patric]

You might want to hold off your excitement till warmer weather arrives.

Warmer weather always brings about more activity, including criminal.
Has been that way regardless of how many or few police we have.
The FOP would be foolish to point to warmer-weather crime spikes and claim it's due to layoffs, but then they know there are also lots of foolish people that might believe that.

[waterboy]

Warmer weather always brings about more activity, including criminal.
Has been that way regardless of how many or few police we have.
The FOP would be foolish to point to warmer-weather crime spikes and claim it's due to layoffs, but then they know there are also lots of foolish people that might believe that.

It is also foolish to believe that one of the worst winters in decades has not slowed down petty crime. You think stealing cars in 8 inches of snow is easy?

Honestly, you think crime will remain unaffected by a decrease in patrolmen? If so, how low should we go?

[Conan71]

All I know is the cold weather has kept me indoors drinking Marshall's so I have not been out wilding.  There I did it, I managed to incorporate the hallowed beer into this discussion.

[patric]

It is also foolish to believe that one of the worst winters in decades has not slowed down petty crime. You think stealing cars in 8 inches of snow is easy?

Honestly, you think crime will remain unaffected by a decrease in patrolmen? If so, how low should we go?

Conversely, would you think that adding 100 or 200 police to the force would do the trick in solving Tulsa's crime?
If not, how many police would it take to satisfy everyone?

[Conan71]

Conversely, would you think that adding 100 or 200 police to the force would do the trick in solving Tulsa's crime?
If not, how many police would it take to satisfy everyone?

I thought of you when I was listening to the news this morning on the way to work.  A TPD officer got dragged by a drunk when she reached in the car to try and take the keys last night.  When are they going to learn?  That guy is probably lucky they didn't bust a cap in his donkey.

[patric]

A TPD officer got dragged by a drunk when she reached in the car to try and take the keys last night.  When are they going to learn?  That guy is probably lucky they didn't bust a cap in his donkey.

She was holding onto the wheel and allowing herself to be "dragged" until her ride-along just reached up and pulled her free, so she wasnt able to get a legal shot off.  She probably wont be taking any ride-alongs again.
The drunk cop recently busted for waving a gun in a bar lost his previous job with Sand Springs after killing a shoplifter this way, so I dont think many good cops approve of this controversial technique.

[waterboy]

Conversely, would you think that adding 100 or 200 police to the force would do the trick in solving Tulsa's crime?
If not, how many police would it take to satisfy everyone?

No, but unlike you, I didn't imply as much. Your animosity towards TPD is well noted.

There simply is no correlation between current low levels of crime and the amount of patrolmen on the street. There is a correlation with severe winter weather and hot summer weather. If you had any hard info showing that reducing the number patrolmen had no effect on crime you would have presented it. I just called you on it.