Attachment of Riordan Proposal and letter from Ed Kaufman with Rafe's rebuttal

[SEIU721REFORMERS]

From Ed Kaufman

This is really a "sticky" subject.  Of course we all are thankful for the generous pension we get and don't want to loose any part of it.  But it is ironic that when you mention the 1% who are "rich" that also applies to city workers who are getting these pensions. No one in private industry gets anything near the return we get after retirement.  In fact a recent study showed that 60% of Americans retire with only $30,000 saved for their retirement.  If I retire right now with 17 years under my belt I will receive almost this amount plus full medical benefits for the rest of my life!

    The other thing to consider is the "health" of the city as a whole.  If our leaders do not stop the cities other cause of "insolvency" (which is illegal immigration) the only target left is our pensions.  Since recent actions by the Mayor (such as library ID's for illegals) show they do not want to control this expense they're only solution is "us."  This is why I have tried to explain to other city employees the importance of laws such as they have passed in Arizona. Removing a population from our state which is highly dependant on government services prevents our elected offcials from targeting our pensions for savings.  It's that simple.

    Bottom line is yes we do get a generous pension but I think it is important to remember that it was originally meant as a "incentive" for seeking government service.  Government wages used to be less than private industry but it is also important to point out that we cover more bases than just doing "our job."  Community service and security lead the list of roles we fill in addition to our main function.  I look upon our pay and generous pensions as a means to compensate for these additional duties.

    My counter to Reardons proposal would be that we are open to negotiations on our pensions only "after" the city shows a serious attempt to control the illegal population  (i.e. - remove the cities restriction on E-Verify which is the most cost effective way to stop it.  This gives us a weapon in our defense as it focuses the argument on the primary issue which is the cities refusal to cut costs (p.s. - the federal government estimates L.A's cost to provide an education and medical care to illegals at approximately 2 billion dollars per year).

    But good luck at getting 721 to cooperate with this.  Right now they are teaching illegal residents enough skills to enter the job market at their Whilshire Boulevard office.

***

Dear Ed,

First of all, I would like to begin, by saying, that I am not the sharpest pencil in the bunch.

My strength is in my ability to communicate.  But that does not mean that the idea or ideas that I am communicating are necessarily correct.

Ed, you do not refer to Hispanics in a way, fashion or form.  However, the preponderance of undocumented workers in the United States are Hispanics and I am being defensive.

And I believe that you are being presumptuous to say that all of the assistance that SEIU 721 is teaching illegal residents enough skills to enter the job market at their Whilshire Boulevard office.

People take Hispanics for granted and in their defense I would just like to give you some insight from just a very personal side.

My grandmother, Mariana Mercado Matta, was born in 1865, a citizen of Spain under the Spanish Flag in Puerto Rico.

Her first born, Tio Benigno Carrion Mercado was born in 1898, the year that the U.S. took Puerto Rico in its best interest so as to protect and defend the Panama Canal, which at the time was equivalent to the landing on the moon.

My Tio Benigno Carrion Mercado went on to fight in Africa during WW II.

My eldest brother, Gregorio Garcia Carrion fought with the 187th Airborne Regiment, "Rakasan's", U.S. Army during the Korean War, made one combat jump and was wounded.

My brother Joseph Garcia Carrion was on board the USS Luce DLG-7 (Destroyer Light Guided Missile) fifty years ago in 1962 in the quarantine of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, "the day the world stood still".

I was in Vietnam from December 1967 to December 1968.   I saw combat during the Tet Offensive of 1968.   I was on active duty during the first Gulf War and the invasion of Iraq.

I was in North Africa on active duty in 2004 participating in the War on Global Terrorism.

I am proud to say that I am a recipient of the Cold War - Vietnam Era - National Defense Medal.

I am proud to say that I am a recipient of the Gulf War - National Defense Medal.

I am proud to say that I am a recipient of the War on Global Terrorism - National Defense Medal.

I have served under seven presidents.

Some may want to think that I am bragging.

Far from it.  Lord knows that I am not a hero.  Just supporting my comrades, doing my job and performing my service.

However, what I am attempting to demonstrate here is the legacy that I and so many Hispanics have contributed to this country.

Have you heard of Galveston, Texas?

Well, who do you think Galves was?

I just went to see the Ben Afleck movie, "ARGO" and the lead protagonist portrayed by Ben Afleck, was a Antonio J. Mendez.   Can you believe that?   Sounds Hispanic to me.

Well, what does all of this Hispanic pride have to do with the price of tea in Chino?

Well, I would just like for all Americans that I love to just get real.

Who is going to pick your tomatoes and iceberg lettuce?

Who is going to wash your car at the local car wash?

Who is going to do those jobs that Americans refuse to perform?

Ed, do me a favor.   Please recognize these tired and poor as undocumented.  Believe me, if this bottom rung of our working class who contribute so much to our economy and tax base were illegal, I assure you that the local Chamber of Commerce would have them chased out of town.

Give them at least that much of respect.

Think about it the next time you go to a restaurant that the dishwasher and busboy in more likelihood is undocumented.

Another reason that I share my personal legacy with you is to remind you that many and I mean many of us Hispanic's did not just come off the boat, swim across the Rio Grande or cross the border.

Many Hispanics have been in the America's for generations and many have an indigenous heritage that is more American that you can ever wish to be.

Mexico stretched from Utah, Oregon, California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas.   All of this land was forcefully taken from Mexico by the United States.  That was in 1848.  Just twenty years before my grandmother was born.   So, relatively speaking, it was really not that long ago.

The oldest city in the United States established by Europeans and exists to this day is Saint Augustine, Florida, by Spaniards.  This was before Plymouth Rock, which was a settlement and is non existent today.

If you want a good insight to the overall economic dimensions, historical and contemporary, that play such a large role in the quagmire that we are in, read, "OPEN VEINS OF LATIN AMERICA" by Eduardo Galeano.

Ed, many American Hispanics are frustrated with uncontrolled immigration.  No question.

I just have too much respect for those poor and hungry families that struggle to live, work and raise their families in this great land of opportunity and abundance of wealth.  Not just the Hispanic undocumented workers but all undocumented workers.

They are not doing anything that you or I would not do in the very same circumstance.  They are only human.

As far as us city folk being 1%'ers?

I don't know Ed?

Look at the health benefits that our elected politicians get and those are the Cadillac health insurance benefits that the Tea Baggers are talkin' about.

My health benefits just got whacked!

Look at the pensions that our elected politicians get.

Look at the pensions that corporate executives get.

Look at the bonuses that corporations give to their management.

Look at the health benefits that corporations give to their management.

Today there are more millionaires and billionaires than ever.

Yet the incomes of the middle class and working class has either declined or stagnated.

So, when you suggest that the City workers entertain concessions - when we hired on ten or twenty or thirty years ago - we had  an agreement.

Now these fat cats are sitting high on the hog, having misspent and now want to exact the cost and penalty out of our hide?

I don't know, Ed?

I don't think that's right.

But, what do I know?

Rafe

********************

That's all folks!

 

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