Happy Valentine’s Day! This morning I’m treating myself to one of those 8am meetings Downtown. I can’t resist this meeting. It is a perfect example of the waste of $taff time that is costing us millions a year.
B. Consideration of Request from American Lung Association for a Comprehensive Policy to Protect the Public from Second Hand Smoke.
Yeah, you’re reading it right. This is a redundant redundant request. Again the committee will consider “a comprehensive policy to protect the public from outdoor second hand smoke and reduce tobacco product waste.”
I know, stop it! Or as Elaine would say, “Shut Up!”
The explanation here is that “The Committee agreed to pursue the issue of second hand smoke after receiving input from community groups representing businesses, health care professionals and enforcement.”
The “community groups, representing businesses, health care professionals and enforcement” amounted to less than a dozen people, actually, well, I’m guessing, exactly three people.
The third item on today’s menu was agendized by exactly one person, city Planning Commissioner and all around pain in the ass Jon Luvass. Here’s Luvass’ item, you’re going to love it, you know, they always save the best for last:
C. Resolution to End Corporate Personhood – Discussion regarding a request from Jon Luvaas to have the Council adopt a resolution urging Congress to initiate an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to end corporate
personhood. This item was referred from Council at its meeting of January 17, 2012.
See what you’re missing when you’re not sitting with me in these meetings? Total insanity, that’s right. This whole thing is nuts, and not the kind of nuts that bring $$$$ into Butte County, but the kind of nuts that load it into their 401K and take to to Costa Rica.
I’d call it a Circle Jerk, but they don’t sit around in a circle. These meetings are an absolute waste of time, and of course, wads of your money.
Chico Taxpayers Association 
Seems like some of these salaries are approaching “City of Bell” status. Whats the average working wage in Chico, around $35k i would guess? With so many educated and experienced good people out of work right now, youd think we could replace many of these city folks at about half the wage. Are their jobs really that complicated and difficult? Guess I’m a natural skeptic because I’ve worked a county job and I’ve been in unions before and in both scenarios I was paid to do nothing for a good part of the day. I would suggest that if these jobs really do merit six figures, perhaps they would not mind an occasional tag along, like the police have done. Any concerned citizen should be able to spend time with these “professionals” and see for themselves what they do. Now THAT would be something to write about!
“I would suggest that if these jobs really do merit six figures, perhaps they would not mind an occasional tag along, like the police have done. Any concerned citizen should be able to spend time with these “professionals” and see for themselves what they do. Now THAT would be something to write about!”
I did exactly that this morning – went to a committee meeting, with no less than six city employees, two council members and a guy named Steve from CARD (also a public salary, although a separate entity from the city). All taxpayer supported salaries, some of them approaching obscenity. I would sure love to see more members of the public at these 8am “tag-alongs”. They are open to the public, but of course, they aren’t taped or televised like the council meetings. That’s wrong, and more people need to get their asses Downtown and see what passes for “merit” at the city of Chico. There is stuff said at these meetings that would absolutely outrage people, if only they could hear it.
I’ll answer your question – there’s nothing going on at these meetings that merits six figure salaries. not judging from what I saw this morning.
And yep, I plan to write about it, oh boy do I plan to write about it. Stay tuned.