Darts & Letters

Budgets, Like Fishes,
Stink From The Head

Government wants to pay its employees equal to the private sector, but government does not want to emulate the private sector when budget crunches occur. Compare the city of San Diego with American Airlines. To remain economically competitive, AA had to ask its employees for significant wage concessions or it would have to file bankruptcy.

When is the city of San Diego going to emulate the private sector and do likewise, beginning with the mayor, city manager on down? Those big wage increases former City Manager McGrory granted city employees in lieu of making contributions to the retirement plan are now biting us in the arse big-time.

If the contracted wage increase percentages were to be canceled this year and the next, etc., the budget deficit as projected would disappear in a flash. We don’t need taxpayer scare tactics to make it sound that only tax increases will solve this problem. What we do need is leadership from the mayor, the city council, the city manager and the employee unions to take across-the-board wage cuts until such time as income equals outgo.

The old proverb is that a fish stinks from the head. If the mayor wishes to “resolve the city’s budget problems,” let him start here.

Louis F. Cumming
La Jolla

Reader Is Ready
For Rodriguez Class

Angela Kolker
Sioux City, IA

Roses Are Red,
Inzunza Is Blue?

We’ve searched high and low for a clue
It’s so hard to know what to do!
While Old Town’s swell eats
Are the city’s best treats,
This should not make Inzunza blue.

Laura Walcher
San Diego