Leonard: Between Amanda Fritz claiming ...she was one of the “leaders of the opposition against the Tram” and Dan Saltzman willing to cut off pension payments

JK: And which of those leaders wants to be a leader in cuttin off Pearl District tax freeloaders that pay only $200/year in property tax in their brand new million dollar historic remodels?

How about a leader to figure out some way to make those beniefiting from their taxes staying in their urban renewal district, coughing up a little more money to help pay their own basic services.

We are losing over $50 million property tax through urban renewal alone. See www.saveportland.com for details.

Thanks JK

I was once a big fan of Mr. Leonard. He seemed to be the only commissioner that seemed willing to challenge Vera's way of doing business. His action on murals and his "discovery" of the water bureau's expensive, but unused, investments are two things that immediately come to mind. But, really, do these thing really affect Portlanders' day-to-day lives?

Now I'm disappointed to slowly learn that Mr. Leonard's MO is typical of seemingly "can do" politicos. Rather than shooting the elephants in the room, he squashes the ants and shouts from the mountains about his extermination skills.

His intransigence on reforming the police and fire funds that eat up 25% of my property tax bill is a clear demonstration that he has no concern for helping out rank-and-file taxpayers. His Sgt. Schultz defense ("I know nothing and nobody told me!") on the aerial tram is most unseemly and patently disingenuous. According to the O, Mr. Leonard took the lead in digging thru the North Macadam development agreement and sitting down with the other honchos to ensure that unions got their piece of the action in the form of prevailing wage agreements.

Twilight Zone is right. I mean in the Twilight Zone: - Water computers never work - Policemen can retire indefinitely on pretty near full pay and open up restaurants and host TV shows - We build luxury boxes for minor league teams no one watches - Instead of doing things about issues we call each other names - We pay for gondolas for doctors to ride instead of driving Lexus' - Of course, we never vote on money issues since it is always too soon - Schools are bottom priority

Forgot, also in the Twilight Zone (or is that Enron) we hire staff that lie to the bosses.

"Wait 'til you have Amanda and Ginny to deal with!"

Maybe, Jack. But if what is going on over at your Blog re: Amanda is any insight into the campagin she will run, Portland firefighters and police officers better start saving their empty pop bottles for their retirements...they are going to need them.

ACTUALLY Kari....the bottle and can deposit would be 30 cents right now....but whose counting?

I'm not sure why anyone is surprised about Randy "the ant exterminator" Leonard. He's spent his "career" as a union hack in liberal politics, ignorng any liberal cause that might in any way adversely affect his union brothers. He's been teflon up until now, but slowly the chickens are coming home to roost. His blatant "pro-union at any cost" mis-management of the 911 energency services bureau will surface by summer, and his VERY involved leading role in the tram fiasco will become apparent before then. The tram was a big deal to Randy SOLELY because it provided a huge number of overly generous union jobs. He could give a ratz azz about OHSU....nor about the ever rising tide of property tax exemptions his use of "urban renewal for the good of the union man" has created.

The tide will turn. It always catches up with the Randy Leonards of the world. Patience.

I have fought for progressive causes all my life, starting with my first arrest on the day that Nixon bombed Cambodia. I am however getting very uncomfortable with certain public employee unions who continue to demand luxurious benefits, disabilty plans and retirement packages notwithstanding the harsh market forces that have stripped these benefits from virtually every private sector job. Change is in the wind, and politicians who attempt to protect the unions against modern times are not doing their constituents or the union employees any favors. Better to change now moderately than to wait for the "big bang".

A little back up for the claim that Dan Saltzman would take the pensions from 93-year-old firefighters' widows? Hadn't heard that one. . . .

You may be forgiven for not recognizing raillery when exposed to it, Ms. Carlin-Ames.

Skip, Skip, Skip. I work at the 911 center. Sorry you were "passed over" but you and I both know why.

Your rant here is so you. Your so cute.

Get a clue and get over it.

Jack- Thanks for the advice but I will continue to do what I believe is right and fair and let what happens as a result of that take its own course.

And while Dan Saltzman and I certainly have our disagreements, to write here that he is "bought and paid for" is unfair and irresponsible.

If someone wrote on your site the things you wrote in just this last comment, you would ban them permanently...and rightfully so.

Hmmmmm Ms Dispatch Bitch...your name not mine. I have NO idea what you are talking about....I've never had a city job of any kind, nor have I ever set foot in your digs near 95th and Powell. My information on Randy's efforts in turning the hen house (911 operations) over to the foxes (union employees) comes from a rather solid source down the hall from Randy's office in city hall. The ever increasing absenteeism, reduced disciplinary actions allowed by management, resulting increased OT costs, and plunging morale will have a consequence to the taxpayers AND commissioner Randy. But for now....let the union brothers and sisters rejoice. The foxes will kill the chickens and then they will send in the hounds to clean up the mess.

Randy's idea of "right and fair" translates to: "Anyone who's a public employee deserves an exorbitant benefit and retirement package."

It's obvious that mindset is bankrupting the city and the state. It's even more obvious he doesn't care.

Randy's idea of "right and fair" translates to: "Anyone who's a public employee deserves an exorbitant benefit and retirement package."

It's obvious that mindset is bankrupting the city and the state. It's even more obvious he doesn't care.

Seems to me that 100 years ago one issue which fueled the Progressive Movement was the disparity in private sector incomes between the very rich and the ordinary working stiff.

Seems to me that there are those not concerned that business executives (whose jobs are not physically demanding ) sometimes get paid extravagantly but ARE concerned when public employees with physically demanding jobs get a decent retirement system. I don't know the details of what needs to be done to fix the Portland system. I do know that the people who complain how overpaid and underworked public safety employees are usually are not people who show concern for the common good.

If the people who complain about public safety employee retirement are also concerned about highly paid corporate executives, they should say so. I am glad the SEC is finally beginning to address that issue:

SEC to boost executive pay disclosure The Associated Press Published: Wednesday, January 18, 2006

WASHINGTON - Regulators moved Tuesday to require companies to provide far more detail about executives' pay and perks in an effort to bring more openness to an area that has provoked investor anger.

The five-member Securities and Exchange Commission voted unanimously to propose the biggest changes in rules governing disclosure of executives' compensation since 1992. The proposal could be adopted by the SEC sometime after a 60-day public comment period, possibly in time for the spring annual-meeting season next year.

advertisement Publicly traded companies for the first time would be required to furnish tables in annual filings showing the total yearly compensation for their chairmen, chief financial officers and the next three highest-paid executives. The true costs to the bottom line of the executives' pay packages, including stock options, would have to be spelled out.

Also under the SEC proposal:

• The level at which an executive's total perks must be detailed would be reduced from $50,000 to $10,000.

• New disclosure tables for executives' retirement benefits and the compensation of company directors would be required.

• Companies would be required to explain the objectives behind executives' compensation. Annual filings would have to include sections in plain English on executive pay.

"I do know that the people who complain how overpaid and underworked public safety employees are usually are not people who show concern for the common good."

Oh please. First off, no one is forced to own stock in a public company. Therefore, executive pay is a moot point. On the other hand, I -am- forced to pay taxes. As a taxpayer, I have the right to be critical of how my taxes are spent.

The majority of private employees are compensated by the job they do and how well they do it. Most unionized, public employees are paid based on tenure. Plus, they have the luxury of receiving Cost of Living Increases -- something unheard of in the private sector.

When you add in super-generous pension packages, superlative health insurance and vacation/holiday plans, many public employees end up better compensated than private sector employees.

I'm all for compensating safety personnel well, they risk their lives to protect us. But, top-notch benefit and pay packages for meter maids and "Business waste reduction planners" is insulting.

Try again with that "public good" song-and-dance; it doesn't pass muster.

The Fire and Police Disability and Retirement Fund is a huge issue with major impacts on our city budget. The funding problem has been recognized for at least a decade, and it's good that it's finally being addressed. I agree with many things Commissioner Leonard has said on the Fund issue, with the most notable exception being his assertion I'd fund our public safety workers' retirements through pop can collections. I walked the picket line for 56 days during the OHSU nurses strike - a struggle that organized labor helped us win - and I will never forget it. I don't see anything in the proposals to indicate Dan Saltzman wants to cut off payments to widows, either. So yes, it's time for citizens to evaluate who and what they support, but hardly the Twilight Zone.

Try to get beyond preconceptions concerned with Randy's vested interest in the Fund, and listen to what he is saying on which fixes would work, and which not. Are you aware that the Police and Fire unions agree with several of the recommendations being proposed, and have additional suggestions for reform? What is sorely needed in Portland is for all citizens to work together to reach solutions, including union members, neighbors, business interests, expert advisors, and City Councilors. And less questioning of each person's motives for participating.

Amanda- My poorly worded response to Jack about pop cans was actually not directed at you but, rather, your opponent.

I greatly appreciate your thoughtful comment.

Randy writes, in response to Amanda's post>>>I greatly appreciate your thoughtful comment.<<<

From one of Amanda's many supporters, I say, Thank you, Commissioner Leonard. Can we now, please, leave behind the over-heated rhetoric and get to a real conversation/debate on how we, Portland people who care about our city -- can make some sorely needed changes?

There are people of good will, and good judgement, who are just waiting for an opportunity to help solve these problems. But they won't show if the mud's flying...

I gotta say, what you seem to be responding to in that response of Amanda's was what I can only describe as "intrinsically Amanda". It is an example of why so many of us, who may not agree with her on every line item -- believe in her candidacy.

It’s funny to me to read some folks on this site who talk, loosely, about how she’s a “politician” and therefor can be suspected of all sorts of things they don’t have the time to, er, actually check out.... Hee hee. What’s so funny about this charge is that until quite recently she was being downgraded by the media and strategists precisely because she is NOT a politician.

One of those, can’t win for losing, situations...

As long as the debate continues on the FPD&R may I please pose this question... and hopefully get an answer from Randy or someone??

According to OMF, safety officers who go out on disability continue to accrue sick pay. They are also not required to use up accrued sick pay before going out on disability. I don't know of any private sector disability benefit that does not require sick pay to be used first, followed by disability. As it is, retiring safety officers that have been out on lengthy disabilities still collect all their accumulated sick time upon retirement. This is all according to a presentation from an OMF manager to the Small Business Advisory Council.

I have read nothing about a change to this policy being considered in the overall FPD&R reform. How come??

Thanks,

Dave Lister

Dave- The workers comp system is exactly the same as the FPD&R system...both as it applies to the public and private sector.