http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2010/01/the-almost-44-million-dollar-question-before-csi-continues/ Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:25:57 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2010/01/the-almost-44-million-dollar-question-before-csi-continues/#comment-351776 Rub of the Green Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:12:32 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=11483#comment-351776 For quite awhile the union leaders have been quick to reject any compromise that produced significant and lasting cost savings (in contrast to the negotiated deferral of costs last year). One of their easiest avoidance tactics was to point out that the City's financials were unreliable and constantly changing. I think Mayor Bell has done a masterful thing by putting the union leaders on the committee. Now they are a part of a group that include impartial, non-municipal folks who must finally agree on what they believe is a fair representation of the City's finances. This takes one of their favorite excuses for not coming to the middle away. Once they agree on the numbers, they cannot duck their share of the responsibility for fixing the problem if they wish to remain credible to the citizens. If they loose credibility with the citizens, then the administration and the council will have less reason to be concerned about satisfying the unions. In the worst case scenario, the State comes in to manage the City, and all bets are off and all local control is lost. If that occurs, and the unions were a key reason for it, they hurt themselves even more. For quite awhile the union leaders have been quick to reject any compromise that produced significant and lasting cost savings (in contrast to the negotiated deferral of costs last year). One of their easiest avoidance tactics was to point out that the City’s financials were unreliable and constantly changing. I think Mayor Bell has done a masterful thing by putting the union leaders on the committee. Now they are a part of a group that include impartial, non-municipal folks who must finally agree on what they believe is a fair representation of the City’s finances. This takes one of their favorite excuses for not coming to the middle away. Once they agree on the numbers, they cannot duck their share of the responsibility for fixing the problem if they wish to remain credible to the citizens. If they loose credibility with the citizens, then the administration and the council will have less reason to be concerned about satisfying the unions. In the worst case scenario, the State comes in to manage the City, and all bets are off and all local control is lost. If that occurs, and the unions were a key reason for it, they hurt themselves even more.

]]> http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2010/01/the-almost-44-million-dollar-question-before-csi-continues/#comment-351688 Spaceace Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:31:36 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=11483#comment-351688 I agree with Mike. With the different unions in Toledo unwilling to do anything that benefits the city as a whole, nothing will get done here. I agree with Mike. With the different unions in Toledo unwilling to do anything that benefits the city as a whole, nothing will get done here.

]]> http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/2010/01/the-almost-44-million-dollar-question-before-csi-continues/#comment-351654 Mike Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:15:34 +0000 http://glasscityjungle.com/wordpress/?p=11483#comment-351654 Call me crazy but this group does not seem to be well suited for this effort. While it is well meaning, the members might have been made up of professionals that do not have any personal interest and perhaps more suited to municapality budgets. Having said that, I hope they will be successful in their endeavor. Call me crazy but this group does not seem to be well suited for this effort. While it is well meaning, the members might have been made up of professionals that do not have any personal interest and perhaps more suited to municapality budgets. Having said that, I hope they will be successful in their endeavor.

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