County Administrative Officer, known as the ‘CAO,’ in February 2001 received a salary of $147,512. In February 2003, her salary will jump up to $190,500, an increase of $43,308 over a two-year period. Not exactly a reasonable yearly cost-of-living increase. Oh yes, the CAO ALSO will receive an additional BONUS of $7,056!
Over 160 county employees make in excess of $100,000 per year, and they retire at 95 percent of their pay? And our supervisors, they are voting themselves a $30,000 pay increase to $91,000 per year. And the list of excesses goes on and on. It’s really sad and disheartening how power, especially long-time, entrenched power, can corrupt and make perhaps otherwise good people cruel, greedy, insensitive, and uncaring.
What is so tragic about the actions of these administrators is that they show no qualms about financing their obscene raises with the very same money they claim will be taken away from hungry children, the elderly, the poor, and the disabled. I hope by now you get the picture.
Let’s go to the polls on March 7, and vote ‘yes’ on Measure L and eliminate the abusive, unnecessary, illegal utility users tax. Much of the material in this editorial was supplied to me by two very special local heroes in our community.
They are Steve Hartman and Ed Mazenko. These two gentlemen are a credit to us. We are DEEPLY indebted to them for working for us TIRELESSLY for years to try to keep our leaders honest, and keep the electorate informed.
If you wish to view details of the individual increases being paid to the top 35 county positions, log on to www.sccu tilitytax.com. To co nclude, KSCO and KOMY endorse a ‘yes’ vote on measure L, a ‘yes’ vote for Mark Primack for supervisor, and a ‘yes’ vote for Kate Canlis for District Attorney.
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(2005) I am totally bewildered by the loud protests of those who object to the recent photo in the Sentinel of the eight-month-old little girl fatally injured in last week’s tragic Highway 17 accident. I saw love, concern, and compassion in the picture of the fireman carrying the little victim away from the scene of the tragedy. It was poignant, human, and so sad – but offensive and insensitive? – nonsense. It was a picture of life, and life happens. We should feel comfort in knowing that our police, firemen, and medics are there to help when help is needed and time is of the essence. It is wrong to verbally assault the Sentinel or Nick Lovejoy for capturing a prize-winning picture of life. It is déjà vu all over again.
There will always be those in our midst who are selective in their human concern and compassion. Seeing pictures of graves full of hundreds of murdered innocents in Iraq elicits no public emotion from these critters, but a picture of an injured or possibly dead infant being carried to safety by a caring fireman being offensive blows my mind. Seems like misplaced and misguided political correctness is showing its foolish ugly head yet again.
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(November 12, 2005) A number of years ago, when Fort Ord was divided, a 175-acre parcel was put aside for a veterans’ cemetery. That was very appropriate. Thus far, nothing has happened to make that a reality. Despite the fact that there are over 40,000 veterans in this area, our lawmakers – federal and state – are in no hurry. So much for misguided priorities.
Veterans of World War II – my generation, the best and the bravest, often called “The Greatest Generation,” – are now getting the shaft. A state cemetery would be easy to achieve. It’s merely a question of money. Our state leaders say, “Sorry, there are no funds available at this time for a cemetery.” I say, “Bull-pucky!” It’s disgraceful and unforgivable to let down our vets, who put their lives on the line for the rest of us. Many died in combat, and if we had lost in World War II, we’d all be marching lockstep and saying “Heil!” today. “No money” you say? So, give up a part of your very bloated salaries, pensions and perks, plus your own hefty health benefits, all of which the rest of us, and the veterans of World War II, plus the veterans of subsequent wars, continue to provide for your comfort and your enjoyment.
Mr. Maldonado – you promised to faithfully represent our area, so we voted for you, and you have shown no interest whatsoever in this urgent project. So if you expect to remain in office, lean on your buddies in Sacramento and make the cemetery happen now, not later, because time is running out for The Greatest Generation. Many already are in their mid-80s. We’re not talking useless pork. We’re talking payback time. So, get on with it. Do the right thing.
And another thing – it would be nice to know exactly which of our lawmakers are keeping our warships out of the San Francisco Bay area on Veteran’s Day (or any other day). That is a national disgrace. Shame on all of you, and you know who you are.
For all veterans, and for KSCO and KOMY, this is Kay Zwerling.
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(January 21, 2005 ) Listen to this. Isn’t there a disconnect somewhere? UCSC’s new chancellor, Denise Dee Denton, will receive a salary of $275,000 per year plus moving expenses of $68,750. She also managed to have her longtime partner, Professor Gretchen Kalonji, hired at UCSC also for $192,000 per year. This while UC student fees have just been raised by about 29%, and that is a real hardship for many. This also while lower-bracket UC employees receive minimal wages and are having difficulty getting even small raises. UCSC this past year received gifts of around $35 million, probably from alumni, from whom they solicit all the time.
Likewise, one of our own county administrative officers, Susan Mauriello, when I looked several years ago, gave herself $192,000 per year, same as the vice president of the United States, plus a hefty pension for herself and the Board of Supervisors, who at that time were giving themselves close to $100,000 per year for two or three meetings per month. No doubt they give themselves yearly cost of living raises in addition. All this while many of our county needy like stroke victims are told that there are no longer funds in the county coffers to continue to give them free bus or cab transportation for shopping or doctor visits. This pattern of heartless, shameful greed by those on top of the public sector from the federal, state, county and local levels is occurring all over our country. Those on top take the cream for themselves first in the form of high salaries, high pensions, high health insurance premiums which We the People pay for, and at the same time, they all cry poverty and ask for more and more funds to get the job done. It is all so immoral. What is happening to fairmindedness and sensitivity in our society?
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Printed in the Aptos Times, September 1, 2002
(August 3, 2002) In 1771, Samuel Adams wrote in the Boston Gazette, “Power makes men wanton – it intoxicates the mind; and unless those with whom the power is entrusted are carefully watched, such men will not govern the people, according to the known laws of the state.”
It is clear that our county lawmakers are not being carefully watched, for while we have entrusted them with making laws and decisions which should benefit the people first and foremost, they benefit themselves!
The County Administrative Officer, called the CAO, sets yearly salaries for herself, the Board of Supervisors and other county employees. This is like the fox minding the chicken coop.
Soon, this CAO will be giving herself a 30% plus raise to approximately $191,000 per year, while the vice president of the United States receives approximately $170,000 per year. This, plus hefty pension plans, Social Security, bonuses, and other perks. Each supervisor will also receive a 30% plus raise and benefits to approximately $98,000 – all for attending about 35 meetings per year. Assistants do most of the gruntwork for them and bring them up to date on agenda issues. By contrast, San Francisco supervisors receive $36,000 a year, not $98,000.
These
