This Week's SEIU 721 LA/OC Cities Media Round-Up
SEIU721REFORMERS
Guys,
This News Roundup is being sent to us courtesy of SEIU 721
Thank you Ian. Keep up the good work!
Rafe
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Hello everyone:
This week, former mayor Richard Riordan filed papers to qualify a ballot measure that would slash the pensions of future and current LA city workers. Stories about this dominated the news cycle for several days and 721’s communications team was aggressive about getting our members’ perspective into the news. Links to the articles and videos are below.
Also, attached is a flyer distributed to 721 members who attended last weekend’s emergency membership meeting. It details the initial aspects of our campaign to stop Riordan’s measure from getting on the ballot. Please forward it widely (both pdf and jpeg versions are attached).
If you find news items relevant to our members, please email them to me: ian.th...@seiu721.org.
In solidarity,
Ian Thompson
LA/OC Cities Communications Specialist, SEIU 721
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FIGHTING TO SAVE OUR PENSIONS
(1) LA Times, 10.15: ‘Riordan moves to qualify pension reform measure for L.A. ballot’
Quotes 721 member and city worker Henry Orona: City employee unions attacked Riordan's proposal, calling it a plan to "destroy public retirement benefits."
“One of the richest men in the city has just declared war on working people,'' said city warehouse worker Henry Orona. "Richard Riordan’s plan to destroy retirement for city employees is bad for this city and makes no financial sense."
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/riordan-files-paperwork-for-pension-reform-measure.html
(2) ABC 7 News, 10.15: ‘Former LA Mayor Richard Riordan proposes new pension reform plan’
Bob Schoonover interviewed for 721: There are 10,000 members of Service Employees International Union Local 721. Bob Schoonover is president of Local 721. He says Riordan's plan isn't very well thought out for the unions or the city.
"He would actually create a financial burden in years to come because nobody would be contributing into the old plan, so the rate that the city would have to pay into the old plan would go up," said Schoonover.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8848705
(3) LA Daily News, 10.15: ‘Ex-Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan's pension-reform plan irks unions’
Quotes Ian Thompson for 721 and Alice Goff for AFSCME. The article also mentions city’s study that found 401ks more expensive and also NY City study, which found the same. It’s a very good, comprehensive article:
Union leaders immediately attacked the proposal. SEIU Local 721 spokesman Ian Thompson argued the proposal would not save any money.
"The plan is wrong-headed and mean-spirited," Thompson said. "There is nothing fair about it. It would destroy retirement security for tens of thousands of middle-class city workers by gambling their futures.
"L.A. is a city of millions of working and poor people. The richest 1 percent shouldn't be the only people able to retire. Hardworking trash collectors, firefighters, office clerks and zookeepers who provide public services every day should have a future too."
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21780399/ex-los-angeles-mayor-richard-riordans-pension-reform
(4) USC Neon Tommy, 10.15: ‘Labor Unions Skeptical Of Riordan Pension Reform Plan’
Quotes Ian Thompson for 721 at length about Riordan’s and the mayor’s plans.
http://www.neontommy.com/news/2012/10/labor-unions-skeptical-of-riordan-pension-reform-plan
(5) LA Times, 10.12: ‘Riordan plans ballot measure on L.A. city pensions’
Quotes Bob Schoonover for 721: Union organizers promised to stand outside supermarkets in coming weeks to try to discourage voters from signing petitions to put Riordan's plan, dubbed the Fair Share Pension Reform Act of 2013, on the ballot.
"The plan is wrong-headed, based on made-up numbers and just plain mean," said Bob Schoonover, president of Service Employees International Union Local 721, which organized an emergency meeting Saturday to discuss the proposal.
"There's nothing fair about it," he said. "Riordan's plan would destroy retirement security for tens of thousands of middle-class L.A. city workers by gambling their futures on risky 401(k)s."
· http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/13/local/la-me-1013-riordan-pensions-20121013
· Earlier version of the article: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/riordan-looks-to-replace-pensions-with-401ks-at-city-hall.html
(6) KFI, 10.15: ‘Riordan Pension Reform’
Quotes Bob Schoonover for 721: Service Employees International Union Local 721 President Bob Schoonover blasted the proposed ballot measure, saying ``risky'' 401(k)s could ruin the retirements of tens of thousands of middle class trash collectors, fire fighters, librarians and other city workers.
``Contrary to what Richard Riordan says, his pension plan wouldn't save L.A. It would wreck it,'' Schoonover said. ``The plan is wrong-headed, lacks factual support and is just plain mean. There's nothing fair about it.''
http://www.kfiam640.com/pages/NEWS.html?article=10495693
(7) USC Annenberg TV News, 10.15: ‘Riordan Proposes New City Pension Plan’
http://www.atvn.org/news/2012/10/former-la-mayor-riordan-proposes-new-employee-pension-system
(8) LA Daily News, 10.14: ‘Doug McIntyre: Ex-Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan rides to the rescue’
http://www.dailynews.com/columnists/ci_21768230/doug-mcintyre-ex-los-angeles-mayor-richard-riordan
(9) CityWatch, 10.15: ‘LA’s Pension War Goes Nuclear’
A right-wing piece by right-wing Jack Humphreville. He has never met a city trash collector (or anyone else with a job) he liked.
http://www.citywatchla.com/lead-stories/3924-las-pension-war-goes-nuclear
(10) LA Weekly, 10.12: “Union Fires Back At Riordan Over Pension Proposal, Calls Plan ‘Mean’”
Quotes Bob Schoonover for 721: The SEIU -- which represents about 10,000 city employees -- is already fighting back.
"Contrary to what Richard Riordan says, his pension plan wouldn't save L.A., it would wreck it," union president Bob Schoonover said in a statement. "The plan is wrong-headed, lacks factual support and just plain mean."
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2012/10/seiu_richard_riordan_pension_plan.php
(11) LA Weekly, 10.12: ‘Richard Riordan Starts Signature-Gathering Campaign to Slash L.A. City Employee Pensions, Warning 100 percent of L.A.'s Cash Will Soon Be Consumed By Pensions, Fire and Police’
Unbelievably, written by the guy who co-wrote Riordan’s yet to be published memoir. It’s a paid advertisement. The above article was the Weekly’s attempt to redress this article. 721 called them out and forced them to interview us on Riordan’s pension attack.
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2012/10/richard_riordan_pension_reform_signature_gathering.php#more
OTHER LOS ANGELES CITY NEWS
(1) LA Times, 10.11: ‘Eric Garcetti edges Wendy Greuel in L.A. mayoral race fundraising’
The Los Angeles councilman has raised $2.87 million for his bid, surpassing the city controller's take by about $72,000.
· http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1011-mayor-money-20121011,0,5445146.story
· Daily News, 10.11: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21742834/councilwoman-jan-perry-raised-1-3-million-toward
· Video of Eric Garcetti breakdancing (for votes): http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2012/10/video_eric_garcetti_shows.php
(2) LA Times, 10.11: ‘L.A. Councilman Bill Rosendahl backs Wendy Greuel for mayor’
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/rosendahl-critic-of-politicians-nationwide-backs-greuel.html
(3) LA Times, 10.10: ‘Los Angeles takes unclaimed money owed to motorists’
The Los Angeles City Council last month seized more than $56,000 set aside for motorists who had successfully challenged their parking tickets, using the small sum to help patch a big budget hole.
In response, Councilman Paul Krekorian gets colleagues to move toward creating a public database showing residents whether they are owed such money.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-city-debts-20121010,0,2458061.story
(4) LA Daily News, 10.10: ‘Opinion: In Los Angeles, it's a City Council of clones’
Comes out against Mike Bonin for City Council: ‘And here's something else to know: If Bonin is elected, he could raise to eight the number of City Council members who ascended to the seat after working on the staffs of another members, usually as chiefs of staff. That's eight out of 15 council members. A potential majority.’
http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_21734485/opinion-los-angeles-its-city-council-clones
(5) LA Observed, 10.10: ‘L.A. figuring out what to do with Ontario Airport’
http://www.laobserved.com/biz/2012/10/la_figuring_out_what.php
(6) LA Times, 10.11: ‘$1-billion Village at USC approved by L.A. council panel’
A billion dollar deal with $20 million in scraps to the South LA community for affordable housing.
“The vote came after the university agreed to pay $20 million in “community benefits” that will be used to maintain affordable housing in the surrounding area, officials said. USC initially earmarked $2 million for housing but agreed to the higher figure in recent weeks after intense negotiations that included the area's council representatives, Jan Perry and Bernard C. Parks, and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/village-at-usc-project-moves-forward.html
SCANDAL IN SAN FERNANDO
LA Weekly, 10.11: ‘San Fernando: America's Sexiest, Most Scandal-Ridden City Government’
According to the Weekly, “San Fernando is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy — the result of mismanagement, lawsuits and the loss of tax revenue as some of its largest retailers leave the city. But when residents line up to sound off at San Fernando's mobbed City Council meetings, all anyone can talk about is adultery.”
http://www.laweekly.com/2012-10-11/news/san-fernando-city-council-scandal/
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Ian Thompson
SEIU 721
Communications Specialist
1545 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Direct: (213) 738-8413
Cell: (213) 446-7946
Facebook.com/seiu721
Twitter.com/seiu721
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FOUNDED AUGUST 31, 2008
SEIU721REFORMERS
This Week's SEIU 721 LA/OC Cities Media Round-Up
Hello everyone:
Former mayor Richard Riordan’s attempt to slash public pensions is still in the news and 721 members are out there defending city workers. We’ve been able to keep getting our members’ perspective in to the news. Articles about pensions, revenue raising measures, city politics and Props 30/32 are below. Please read and forward to other member leaders.
And check out these two new “No on 32” videos featuring 721 President Bob Schoonover and Vice President Linda Dent. Please forward them and post to your Facebook page.
· http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3CJKzwu-Qo&list=UU5I38EtOkh0ziRdjQp5xnkA&index=1&feature=plcp
· http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ2xY-kNLXE&list=UU5I38EtOkh0ziRdjQp5xnkA&index=2&feature=plcp
If you find news items relevant to our members, please email them to me: ian.th...@seiu721.org.
In solidarity,
Ian Thompson
LA/OC Cities Communications Specialist, SEIU 721
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PROTECTING OUR PENSIONS
(1) KPCC, 10.16: ‘Riordan's pension initiative would move future LA city workers to 401(k) plans’
Quotes Bob Schoonover for 721:
Union leaders don’t like either plan, because they say they had no input.
“We’re not supporting any plan that doesn’t use the collective bargaining process," says Bob Schoonover, who leads SEIU Local 721. The union represents at least ten thousand LA city workers. Schoonover has particularly harsh words for Riordan’s plan.
“Former Mayor Riordan is using numbers that don’t make any sense," he says. "This is not going to fix the budget. It’s going to make it worse.”
Schoonover says studies in California and other states have shown it’s expensive to switch public sector workers from a defined benefits plan to a 401k. Riordan counters that 401k plans will save the city money in the long run.
http://www.scpr.org/news/2012/10/16/34654/riordans-pension-initiative-would-move-future-la-c/
(2) LA Weekly, 10.19: ‘Richard Riordan Pension Reform Surprise’
Not a great piece, but quotes Bob Schoonover for 721:
"I don't think it's a very well thought-out plan," disagrees Service Employees International Union Local 721 president Bob Schoonover. "I don't think it's going to accomplish what [Riordan] thinks."
On Monday, an SEIU Local 721 press release declared: "One of the richest men in the city has just declared war on working people."
Schoonover warns that under Riordan's reform, new hires at City Hall would begin paying their investments into a 401(k)-type plan, meaning that a long-existing revenue stream from new employees could no longer be tapped to pay other workers' retirement checks.
http://www.laweekly.com/2012-10-18/news/richard-riordan-pension-ballot-measure-2013/
(3) NBC Blog, 10.17: ‘5 Reasons Why Riordan's LA Pension Measure Can't Win’
Some helpful, valid points but overall not helpful. The gist is that pensions can’t be touched and even if they are, they will be offset by raises. That it gives the sense that pension “reform” is impossible is a good thing.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/blogs/prop-zero/Richard-Riordan-Former-Mayor-Los-Angeles-Pension-Reform-Ballot-Initiative-Compensation-Courts-174062981.html
(4) LA Times Opinion, 10.21: ‘Don't demonize teachers because of pension system's faults’
Steve Lopez’s good article about public school teachers’ pensions. He recognizes the faults of 401k plans:
“Just as I was preparing to defend public school teachers and their retirement benefits, I got a form letter last week from my employer's vice president for human resources.
“Apparently he felt it was important to inform me that I had earned additional shares in the company's stock ownership plan in 2011. Good news? Not really. The value of each share was "$0," and my shares will be "extinguished" upon reorganization and "receive no return."
“This means I'm out there with all the other slugs who work in private enterprise, where pensions have all but disappeared and 401(k)s are a roll of the dice. As a group, we're torn between envy and anger, faced with uncertain financial futures while we pay for the comfy retirements of government retirees.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1021-lopez-publicenemy-20121021,0,7514768.column
(5) LA Times Opinion, 10.22: ‘L.A.'s mayoral race just got more complicated’
Worth reading, but no new analysis here, just some pro-Riordan coverage from anti-worker Jim Newton.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-newton-mayoral-race-20121022,0,4247217.column
(6) LA Times, 10.19: ‘Garcetti opposes 401(k) plans for city employees’
The mayoral candidate says switching to such a system would cost the city money and not produce savings for at least 15 years. His views are more in line with unions than what his rivals have said.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1018-garcetti-pensions-20121019,0,7056024.story
CREATING SUSTAINABLE CITIES
(1) LA Times, 10.19: ‘City official pushes two tax increases for L.A. ballot’
City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana said the tax hikes — one on parking revenue, the other on real estate sales — would generate up to $125 million annually for the city budget, which faces a shortfall of $220 million.
Without additional money, crime will probably go up, Santana said. "It's impossible for us to move forward and continue to protect public safety from serious reductions without this new revenue source," he said. …
Villaraigosa said he is open to both tax proposals, which are scheduled to be reviewed Friday by a committee headed by Council President Herb Wesson. But the mayor also warned that he would embrace them only if the council agrees to make other decisions, such as privatizing the zoo and the Convention Center and proceeding with a delayed package of layoffs.
"Before I support any tax measure, I want to make sure we're making the tough calls," he said. "I've proposed that we're going to have to lay off [employees] and the council deferred it from July till January. We're going to have to move ahead with those layoffs." …
Wesson and two other council members — Eric Garcetti and Paul Krekorian — have requested language for a third possible tax increase that would generate money for park programs by hiking property taxes by $39 per parcel.
All three tax hikes are being weighed for the March election, when voters will be asked to choose a mayor, city attorney and city controller and decide who will fill eight of the council's 15 seats.
· http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-city-taxes-20121019,0,4808183.story
· Earlier, similar article: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/la-budget-official-backs-two-tax-hikes-for-the-march-election.html
(2) LA Daily News, 10.19: ‘L.A. City Council to consider two tax hikes for March ballot’
Article about the three tax measures before Council with considerable discussion of the park parcel tax: The parcel tax proposal, first suggested by the People for Parks organization, would add $39 to annual property tax bills, with all the money going to support parks programs.
There was no report on the full impact of the measure. However a similar proposal made several years ago for a $36 a year parcel tax estimated it would bring in $30 million a year.
Steve Soboroff, a businessman and former Parks Commission president, urged the city to place the measure on the ballot. It would need two-thirds voter support to be approved.
"I am confident there are two-thirds, plus one, residents of this city who will support this," Soboroff said. "Look at what happened with the Endeavour. We had 1.3 million people turn out to witness that and there was not one arrest. People will come together when there is a common goal.
"There has been no great city without a great park system. The park system in L.A. has been a stepchild where you are taking money away to support other programs."
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21810874/l-city-council-consider-two-tax-hikes-march
(3) LA Times, 10.22: ‘Cities low on cash looking to change their fortunes
· Discussion about El Monte, among others: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-election-guadalupe-20121022,0,386428.story
· Cities with tax measures: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-guadalupe-chart-20121022,0,226533.story
CITY OF L.A. POLITICAL NEWS
(1) LA Daily News, 10.18: ‘Los Angeles Councilman Richard Alarcón, wife plead not guilty to voter fraud, perjury – again’
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21803254/los-angeles-councilman-richard-alarcon-wife-plead-not
(2) LA Daily News, 10.22: ‘Richard Alarcón, Raul Bocanegra in rematch for 39th Assembly District’
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_21813585/richard-alarc-243-n-raul-bocanegra-rematch-39th
(3) LA Daily News, 10.19: ‘Former City Controller Laura Chick backs Wendy Greuel for Los Angeles mayor’
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21803531/former-city-controller-laura-chick-backs-wendy-greuel
(4) Politico, 10.22: ‘Villaraigosa's non-answer on 2016’
Will Mayor Villaraigosa run for president in 2016? Don’t think that will happen.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/10/villaraigosas-nonanswer-on-139144.html#.UITqnKlUX5c.twitter
PROPS 30 AND 32
(1) LA Times, 10.18: ‘Skelton: Proposition 32 is an attack on unions’
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/10/skelton-california-unions.html
(2) LA Daily News, 10.22: ‘Rick Orlov's Tipoff: Organized labor's plate is full with Proposition 32’
Some No on 32 news, along with tidbits of local electoral interest.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21823888/rick-orlovs-tipoff-organized-labors-plate-is-full
(3) CaliforniaWatch.org, 10.19 ‘GOP activist leads Ariz. group pouring millions into Calif. ballot fight’
The Arizona group that dumped $11 million into California's ballot measure melee this week is led by a Republican activist who calls labor unions "the parasite that is killing our jobs."
http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/gop-activist-leads-ariz-group-pouring-millions-calif-ballot-fight-18471
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Ian Thompson
SEIU 721
Communications Specialist
1545 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Direct: (213) 738-8413
Cell: (213) 446-7946
Facebook.com/seiu721
Twitter.com/seiu721