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[SEIU721REFORMERS]

Hi Rafe,

 I think Ed may mean all undocumented workers.  There are undocumented workers from all over the world.  This means China, Middle east , Europe, etc. , too.  BTW- a number of them were fired and deported from the DWP as they did not have the proper paperwork to be in the USA.  Many were in high level positions.  I do not know their nationality, and it does not matter.  

  I know when things are tough like they will be people look to find blame somewhere.   

  Unfortuantely since the City is in such a mess, maybe it would be good to find another way to aid undocumented workers for a while so we can stay afloat, as if the City falls then so does everyone.  Those from other countries could go home but we are here and have no place to go.  We have had an open hand to all the world but we must take care of ourselves first before helping others.  I see it like we are in an airplane, if we do not place our air mask first then try to help others then we are no help to others.  This is just a thought- not a serious plan of course, but the "City is a House of Cards" it seems.  At the moment, heartfelt prayers may be the best answer.

 

  As far as retirement from the private sector, it depends on where you worked.  My friends in aerospace have very nice retirements, but the new ones just starting out will not have this.  We had a pension with the company matching our funds, social security, profit sharing, very good medical benefits, not good dental though, and our salaries were much higher than the City. 

 

  As far as getting full medical with only 17 years, this is untrue.  You get an allotment based upon your years of service that is applied towards your medical premiums when you retire.  Any balance not covered is on your own to pay.  

 

  Anyway, I liked reading about you and your family!!!  Thank you for your service to our country!

 

You know it is all about the drive,
Melody Reid
Professional Engineer,
Exotic and Sports Car Driver, and 
Published Author of 
"Lit Within: Lessons from the Light"
Available on Amazon.com

***

Melody,

I did indicate that I was in defense of all undocumented workers and not just Hispanic undocumented workers.

And I appologize to all for coming across so defensive about Hispanics that I sometimes borderline paranoia. It's just that there is just such so much stereotyping of Hispanic workers, documented and undocumented.

Immigrants are the main ingredients of our society.

The indigenous people of the United States, God Bless them, victims of the combined genocide of mother nature and man are a very small minority in this country today.

And immigrants have always been pelted by those who have held sway.

It's not different today.

The only difference between those xenophobes and the hard working immigrants is that the xenophobes hold a decent job and les miserables do not.

Rafe 

***

From: ARTHUR LIMON

Rafe

Once again, gracias for the time and effort you put into keeping the public informed on the attacks of civil service employees and their future. 

Ed confuses the issue. Which side of the fence is he on? He sounds like one of the 1%er's. Anyway, if you repeat a lie long enough, soon someone will believe it. Ed needs to examine the truth. The truth within himself. The lie of discrimination and racism. Ignorance and discrimination has no limits. One cannot be illegal. An action is illegal- a person can not be. Repeating the lie is dehumanizing to all Latinos and all undocumented. Dehumanizing people must end now. That's the job of so called leadership. Therefore, I ask, where have all the statesmen gone?

 

As for city leadership. Present and past elected officials must realize the long term effects of this type of pension reform is for BIGGER GOVERNMENT. No accountability. The tax payers will pick up the tab long after this administration is gone. Sound familiar? Pass the buck reformation. Future tax hikes are inevitable and city tax payers can be responsible for present day incompetence. No SSI, insufficient med coverage, medicare, food stamps, food giveaway programs, welfare and homelessness for the the retirees.

 

As long as collective bargaining exists the future of the city and it's residents have a chance of continuing to be economic leaders in this global economy.

 

Continue to voice and address the injustices of our time. tnx. art

***

 

Arthur,

Thank you for your commendation and support of my effort to keep some sort of spontaneous line of communication open for those of us who keep in touch through this email address.

Honestly, there is so much complicated technical adversity thrown out to those of us who are fundamentally prepared just enough tie our shoes, open a bottle of beer and turn the TV on.

I would be totally lost if it weren't for my wife.   Believe me.

I like to think that we are at the bottom of a sink hole that has bottomed out.

I remember Melrose Avenue in the late seventies.  These punk rockers painted their hair all kind of weird colors and the guys with Mohegan hair cuts and tattoo's.  Girls with rings in their noses.  They started renting these dilapidated store fronts in this western end of Melrose Avenue and started these small businesses.   Today these are big time boutiques making bank.

In the mid eighties, I saw young professionals buying inexpensive homes in the depressed neighborhoods of Venice Beach, making lofts and art studio's.  Today they have small cafe's, boutiques and galleries.  Not too far from Marina del Rey.

Today, I see the beautiful mansions (yes, mansions) and beautiful craftsman homes in the city of San Bernardino, which today is experiencing a depressed economy affording an opportunity in the not too far future for some.

My point is that I think that we are in an economic abyss and are like crab attempting to save our own individual skins pulling each other down instead of helping each other get over.

I am optimistic that we will get through this because I intuitively think that the natural economic laws that hold sway in our economy will inevitably resurge.

Rafe

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

That's all folks!

 

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SEIU Local 721 Reformers is an email address attempting to share information with SEIU Local Members, Stewards, Officers, Staff and Officials.
Rafe Garcia, Steward, is the custodian of this email address.
Those of us sharing, exchanging and participating in this forum are attempting to engage the membership to further the concept of a member driven Union.
We, you and all the rest of us have the best interests of the rank and file members, over 70,000 strong.
FOUNDED AUGUST 31, 2008