Movin’ On Out
By Wyatt Earp | December 19, 2009
Well, it took six months, but the city finally agreed to a new police contract. We had been working without one since July 1st, and this is the longest we’ve been kept waiting in recent memory. The arbitration board decided we were worth the following:
1. No raise the first year. A 3% raise in the second and third years.
2. Our health care coverage will remain intact. (Thank God.)
3. We can be furloughed for 30 days once a year.
4. After 2012, officers with five years on the job may move out of the city.
The last two points are the ones that have everyone talking. The furlough is ridiculous, and naturally it was the major issue that the mayor and commissioner wanted to shove down our throats. The commissioner can now pick officers at random and lay them off for 30 days straight. No pay, no pension contribution. An officer will only receive 7 days notice beforehand, and there are no set rules for the furloughs. You would think the FOP would fight this insanity, but you would be wrong. Our FOP, like most unions, is useless as teat on a nun. The rat bastards – President John McNesby, specifically – not only didn’t fight this, but they also conveniently forgot to put this item on their press release and their website. Nice, huh?
The residency issue is also controversial. Philadelphia issues a residency requirement for every city employee. We all must live inside the city limits, no matter how terrible the crime, corruption, and/or municipal services become. It was the one rule that most employees wanted discarded. No one ever thought they would see the day, however, because if city employees were able to leave this town, the tax base would go with them. And make no mistake; the taxpayers in Philly never get service – I guarantee my neighborhood won’t see a plow today – while the ‘hood gets everything. It’s infuriating. So, when this decision came down, I received a lot of calls and e-mails. They all asked the same thing: “When are you moving out?”
The short answer is “Never.”
Contrary to some of my posts, this city is not yet lost. And contrary to what you may think, I still like living here. I am in a great – newly renovated – house in a terrific, quiet neighborhood. Why in the world would I want to load up the truck and move to Beverly (Hills, that is) just for the sake of moving? Personally, I think that is idiocy.
Besides, moving to the suburbs means higher taxes, higher school tuition, and higher home costs. Randal lives in the suburbs, and he always gets hosed on taxes and fees. Even if I sell the Earp Ranch for fair market value, we would still need to borrow money to afford anything decent in the ‘burbs. No thanks. If my co-workers want to flee, more power to them. I’m staying, and I’m staying for the foreseeable future.
Long story short: The great things in this contract are completely outweighed by the idiotic ones.
Topics: Philly, The Job | 16 Comments »
December 19th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
It could be better, it could be worse.
Be careful out there tonight.
December 19th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
It stinks, but right now if you have a job it is a good day in my book.
Be safe!!
December 19th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Mrs. Crankipants – Shoveled much of the night. Have to be in at 7am tomorrow, and I am giving myself a 4:45am wake-up call, just in case the roads are brutal.
Deanna – I don’t want to sound ungrateful. It’s still a terrific job, but it’s tough when the bosses couldn’t care less about their employees. I assume a lot of companies are like that nowadays.
December 19th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
The Obomination and all his socialist minions spent our money in Copenhagen on their phoney quest for fame, and all I got was this freakin snow storm!
December 19th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
My husband works for a county and we had 2 days furlough unexpectedly within a short time period and we did feel it. I hate to see 30 straight days for anyone. I can only say, I hope things get better.
be safe out there.
December 20th, 2009 at 12:50 am
Can leave after five years service: Philly just signed its death warrant. It’s bad now. In six years it will be ghastly. Good one, guys.
December 20th, 2009 at 3:05 am
3-7-77.
Kind of makes a case for the entire continent east of 95 degrees west.
And in the vernacular of the reservations and the towns close by, What a piss poor excuse for a white man! Understand that this in meant for those of European descent. Thank the almighty that I have that Ojibway blood on the one side.
December 20th, 2009 at 8:45 am
If you don’t mind some friendly advice…. If you don’t have it already, have set aside a months living expenses. (Recommended is 3-6 months for “just in case.) Since this is a definite, start working towards putting it aside.
Mortgage
Electric
Gas
Phone
Cable
Internet
Gasoline
Food
Bathroom Items. (Don’t forget Mrs. Earp)
Diapers
You get the idea. Make sure you have money for all of those things for when your furlough comes up.
Happy Snow!
December 20th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Watuschski – And even that has more substance than Obama.
Clady – If it happens, I hope it’s in the summer. Long summer vacation!
BGK – I never thought I’d see the day. And yes, it was a big mistake by the city. Serves them right.
Kim – Good advice. Thanks much!
December 20th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I find part of your post a bit odd concerning costs between the burbs and urbania.
The situation here is completely oppostie. Property taxes in the city are triple what I pay out in the sticks, and home prices 1/3.
I couldn’t ever afford to buy a home in the town where I grew up and currently work.
Also, and I’m not trying to rub it in, but the last homicide to occur in my town was in 1965. Guy was beaten to death with a horse switch.
Still unsolved BTW, we could use a detective.
December 20th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Kaveman:
Are you sure about that property tax ratio? I’d say taxes are based on a home’s market value and the burbs are not really different from the city.
That excludes NJ btw.
Wyatt:
Sounds like McNesby is getting sme PR advice from Fat Eddie Rendell’s PR people “when in doubt, pay off the Inquirer editors and lie on your press releases”.
December 20th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Furloughed for 30 straight days?! I am sorry ma’am the detective working on your case will be back next month, try back then. But at least you can get unemployment while you are off work.
December 20th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Kaveman – You need a REAL detective. Not me.
AJ – I worked with McNesby when I was just starting out. He was a weasel then, and he’s a weasel now. Never trust anyone who looks like Peter Griffin from Family Guy.
Ingineer66 – My case load would stay in limbo, and if the city thinks I’ll show up to trials for free, they’re out of their Vulcan minds!
December 21st, 2009 at 12:23 am
1. Your healthcare coverage remaining intact?
2. You lucky bastards!
3. Police “unions” (like mine as well): USELESS.
BZ
December 21st, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Now we have to wait until the other shoe drops. If you are young enough in the job (police or fire) the residency thing is an unqualified gigantic win. For me and Wyatt it’s just an option. Wyatt is pretty much tied down. I on the other hand will be taking a good long look at my options. I still have a window of opportunity to make a break for it although I agree with Wyatt- I generally like the city and my neighborhood.
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
BZ – Yeah, ours is possibly the most useless in the country.
Captain – And when you leave, some pot-smoking hippie will probably move in. Thanks for that!