In a recent Press Democrat editorial piece former Press Democrat editorial editor Pete Golis wrote an oped piece titled “Will county candidates confront the real issues?” Mr. Golis invited the different Supervisorial candidates to share their ideas about the future of Sonoma County...below is part of the heart and soul of our campaign.
In response to last Sunday’s column by Pete Golis titled, “Will county candidates confront the real issues?” Yes! For almost a year we have been advocating a reallocation of our resources toward the greatest needs in Sonoma County. We look forward to the Press Democrat covering the detailed positions of all the Fifth District candidates for Supervisor. The following is the heart and soul of our campaign.
A long difficult recession lies ahead with declining revenues and increasing expenditures. Our local governments have taken a windfall of increased property and sales taxes and given it to themselves with increased salaries and benefits with little increase in programs and services, nor additional funds expended on roads and infrastructure. For each of the last four years Sonoma County has reduced our essential services over each of the previous years.
A recent Sonoma County Housing report notes that since 2000 the median household income in the County has declined by 2%, while the County Strategic Plan notes that salaries and benefits for County staff have increased by 65%. Recent data received from County Administration shows that of the 4000 full time workers at the County, the top 1000 salary plus benefit average, is $165,378 per year! It doesn’t get any more real than that does it? This trend continues.
At the County we need to avoid the problems administrators of the City of Santa Rosa have recently created. In March the City entered into a contract giving workers a 13% raise over the next three years. If one were to add “step raises”, increased retirement set aside and increased health care costs…there are many workers who will receive over 20% more in salaries and benefits during this period. Two weeks later City administrators expressed concern at declining revenue and said there may be massive lay-offs and furloughs without “revenue adjustments”.
Our current Board of Supervisors are in the midst of very difficult negotiations trying to reform unfunded promises made by previous Boards. They are also dealing with large unexpected increases in retirement set asides and health care costs. The County is negotiating in good faith one year contracts with labor because we don’t know what the future portends. Promised benefits that County workers have depended upon and planned their retirement around for years may change; the alternative is layoffs and an eventual collapse of the whole system. I do not envy them their task.
There are deep fiscal problems ahead and we must try to avoid the bankruptcy fate of Vallejo. Unfunded obligations made by government can be thrown out by a bankruptcy judge; and in order to avoid a societal meltdown don’t think the Federal Government wouldn’t pass emergency laws to allow government to renegotiate unfunded pension and benefit promises just like United Airlines and General Motors have done. We all need to work together using our heads and our hearts to solve problems; divided we fail.
I have met and spoken with many County workers as well as the Deputy Sheriffs Association, Service Employee International Union (SEIU), and the North Bay Labor Council. All have asked what should we do to remedy the Counties budget problems. I have said to all, we are in a recession and in order to avoid the layoff of hundreds of County workers and further cuts in essential services we need a temporary freeze on salaries and benefits. We cannot expect the County to solve all of our problems; we need to enlist the support and involvement of everyone in our community to be part of the solution…we need to leverage our tax dollars to greatest effect by restoring cuts to our struggling non-profit and volunteer organizations.
More resource needs to be applied to prevention not reaction; more gains from contributors, less the liability of our failures. We have criminalized poverty, and ignorance and mental illness. With 5% of the World’s population we now have 25% of the global prison population in the United States. In a recent interview retiring Supervisor Mike Reilly noted that in the last few years our criminal justice costs have gone from 40% of the general fund to 60%. We cannot arrest ourselves out of our problems. It is not right to burden law enforcement with the care of our mentally ill…we must restore cuts to Human Services and Mental Health programs.
The measure of all our challenges with respect to the environment, the economy and government services is sustainability. We are in the midst of the largest transference of wealth from younger generations to older generations in the history of the world. We have to have courage and vision to face these issues together and solve them. “Together Toward A Sustainable Future” is our slogan. Join us!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Position to the Stop the 101 Casino Coalition
The following statement regarding my opposition to the 101 Casino is on the website:
http://www.stopthecasino101.com/id122.html This is where other candidates are allowed to present a position (none from the 5th thus far in this forum).
At a recent Democratic Club debate a couple of my fellow candidates expressed opposition to the Rohnert Park casino and stated they were going to “negotiate the best deal” they could get from Station Casinos in order to offset the social and economic cost to our community in Sonoma County. How does one “negotiate the best deal” walking into a room having already accepted the inevitability of this casino? I stated that I am a community activist and as the next Fifth District Supervisor I would fight the casino and I even encouraged those opposed to think of clever ways to defeat the casino with “civil disobedience”
(http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080401/NEWS/478055661/1305/ELECTION&template=kart) . I have also signed a pledge that I will not knowingly accept any contributions nor hosted fundraisers from supporters of the casino.
The labor unions understandably support the casino; they feel it would support union members with good paying jobs building and operating the casino. I stood in front of the North Bay Labor Council and when asked how I felt about the casinos I said, “…I am opposed to the Casino!” I do not think the unions nor some local political leaders in search of jobs and dollars, realize the social, environmental and economic costs to our community with this project. There are consequences with the aquifer, wastewater, gridlock, public safety, and further erosion of the social fabric in our community. Large amounts of money will be taken out of the County, disproportionately from poor families, minorities and the elderly -- looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that would free them from their economic suffering.
We need economic justice for Native Americans, but this is not the vehicle to choose. Additional harm on the backs of other’s sufferings, along with unacceptable burdens thrust upon our communities. Our cities and County are looking for money anywhere they can find it regardless of the eventual problems that will occur. Making deals with casinos is a Faustian bargain that will not be a panacea for our budget problems but will open a Pandora ’s Box of unexpected travail. There are other solutions to our lack of funding if we have the courage and vision to utilize them.
Since 2000 the median household income in Sonoma County has declined by 2% while salaries and benefits for County staff has increased by 64%. Of the 4000 County workers the top 1000 average compensation is over $160,000 per year. For four years now the County has cut programs and services from that of the previous year. In front of most of the Unions representing Sheriff’s deputies, SEIU Service Employees Int’l Union, and North Bay Labor Council I have been asked what can we do to stop the demise of our Human Services, Mental Health programs and lack of funds for roads and infrastructure.
I have said in a conciliatory tone that we are in a recession with declining income and increasing costs. Their ranks are being thinned through attrition of retirement without rehiring. In order to avoid additional layoffs of less senior workers and corresponding cuts in programs and services; we need a temporary freeze on salaries and benefits. Also the community cannot rely upon our County workers to solve all our problems; we all have to step up to the plate ourselves and work toward a better future for everyone…we need to leverage our resources better by restoring funding cuts to our non-profits and volunteer organizations. Also we need to focus more on prevention; less on reaction…try to get more the gain from contributors, less the liability of our failures.
The unions were gracious host to me and they understand that I want to represent them along with the interests of everyone in Sonoma County. We need courage and vision with difficult times ahead. We need leaders who are up front and honest. Why do we elect our political leaders if not to solve problems?
Thank you to Stop the Casino 101 Coalition for giving all of the Supervisorial Candidates an opportunity to provide their detailed and well thought out positions on the Rohnert Park casino. Please go to our website (www.TomLynch4Supervisor.com) to learn more about our ideas of working “Together Toward A Sustainable Future”. Join US!!!
tlynch@tomlynch4supervisor.com
707-827-3415
http://www.stopthecasino101.com/id122.html This is where other candidates are allowed to present a position (none from the 5th thus far in this forum).
At a recent Democratic Club debate a couple of my fellow candidates expressed opposition to the Rohnert Park casino and stated they were going to “negotiate the best deal” they could get from Station Casinos in order to offset the social and economic cost to our community in Sonoma County. How does one “negotiate the best deal” walking into a room having already accepted the inevitability of this casino? I stated that I am a community activist and as the next Fifth District Supervisor I would fight the casino and I even encouraged those opposed to think of clever ways to defeat the casino with “civil disobedience”
(http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080401/NEWS/478055661/1305/ELECTION&template=kart) . I have also signed a pledge that I will not knowingly accept any contributions nor hosted fundraisers from supporters of the casino.
The labor unions understandably support the casino; they feel it would support union members with good paying jobs building and operating the casino. I stood in front of the North Bay Labor Council and when asked how I felt about the casinos I said, “…I am opposed to the Casino!” I do not think the unions nor some local political leaders in search of jobs and dollars, realize the social, environmental and economic costs to our community with this project. There are consequences with the aquifer, wastewater, gridlock, public safety, and further erosion of the social fabric in our community. Large amounts of money will be taken out of the County, disproportionately from poor families, minorities and the elderly -- looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that would free them from their economic suffering.
We need economic justice for Native Americans, but this is not the vehicle to choose. Additional harm on the backs of other’s sufferings, along with unacceptable burdens thrust upon our communities. Our cities and County are looking for money anywhere they can find it regardless of the eventual problems that will occur. Making deals with casinos is a Faustian bargain that will not be a panacea for our budget problems but will open a Pandora ’s Box of unexpected travail. There are other solutions to our lack of funding if we have the courage and vision to utilize them.
Since 2000 the median household income in Sonoma County has declined by 2% while salaries and benefits for County staff has increased by 64%. Of the 4000 County workers the top 1000 average compensation is over $160,000 per year. For four years now the County has cut programs and services from that of the previous year. In front of most of the Unions representing Sheriff’s deputies, SEIU Service Employees Int’l Union, and North Bay Labor Council I have been asked what can we do to stop the demise of our Human Services, Mental Health programs and lack of funds for roads and infrastructure.
I have said in a conciliatory tone that we are in a recession with declining income and increasing costs. Their ranks are being thinned through attrition of retirement without rehiring. In order to avoid additional layoffs of less senior workers and corresponding cuts in programs and services; we need a temporary freeze on salaries and benefits. Also the community cannot rely upon our County workers to solve all our problems; we all have to step up to the plate ourselves and work toward a better future for everyone…we need to leverage our resources better by restoring funding cuts to our non-profits and volunteer organizations. Also we need to focus more on prevention; less on reaction…try to get more the gain from contributors, less the liability of our failures.
The unions were gracious host to me and they understand that I want to represent them along with the interests of everyone in Sonoma County. We need courage and vision with difficult times ahead. We need leaders who are up front and honest. Why do we elect our political leaders if not to solve problems?
Thank you to Stop the Casino 101 Coalition for giving all of the Supervisorial Candidates an opportunity to provide their detailed and well thought out positions on the Rohnert Park casino. Please go to our website (www.TomLynch4Supervisor.com) to learn more about our ideas of working “Together Toward A Sustainable Future”. Join US!!!
tlynch@tomlynch4supervisor.com
707-827-3415
Monday, April 7, 2008
Tom "Manure Man" Lynch for Supervisor
The Registrar of Voters allowed us to use my nickname on the June ballot. In January of 1986, in protest of Santa Rosa’s illegal discharges of wastewater in the Russian River, I drove a tractor and a broadcast manure spreader through downtown Santa Rosa and covered four city blocks with cow manure. Since then I have been honored with the nickname “Manure Man”. The Registrar staff laughed and said this is going to be an interesting election.
Our campaign flyer says, "We must freeze County salaries and benefits and restore funds to our nonprofit and volunteer organizations. To avoid the loss of hundreds of County jobs from Human Services, Public Safety, and Mental Health along with more cuts in essential services, we must reallocate our resources to serve the greatest needs in Sonoma County." This is the heart and soul of our campaign.
We continue …Since 2000 the “median household income” in Sonoma County has declined by 2%. Salaries and benefits for County workers has increased by 63.5%...Of 4000 County staff the average compensation for the top 1000 is over $160,000 a year!
A long difficult recession lies ahead with declining revenues and increasing costs. The County has taken a windfall of increased property taxes and given it to themselves, with no increase in services nor additional tax dollars spent on roads and infrastructure. For each of the last four years the County has reduced programs and services. Especially hard hit have been our Human Services and Mental Health programs including closure of Oakcrest (Norton), the Fulton Road facility and now cutbacks to the alcohol and drug treatment programs at the Orenda Center.
The last two weeks have been very interesting with union meetings for many candidates. I have met with a committee of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA 500+), spoke to an auditorium full of Service Employee International Union members (SEIU 3000+), and answered questions from representatives of most of the labor unions in Northern California at a forum hosted by the North Bay Labor Council. I will be forever grateful to all the unions for their gracious hospitality. As Supervisor my door would always be open as I represent the unions interests balanced with the interests of all my constituents.
I shared with unions the same message I’ve been saying to the rank and file members of all our public employee unions for months now. I’ve talked with members of Sonoma’s finest…Sheriff’s deputies walking the streets of Guerneville, I’ve met Permit and Resource Management Department staff tasked with protecting our land and resources, Human Service and Mental Health professionals. I am offering honest and realistic solutions to our problems.
What I have said at debates and to individuals alike when asked how do we address our budget problems. We need a temporary freeze on salaries and benefits in order to avoid further cuts in essential services and lay-offs of County workers. Going into a recession we need more County workers helping people, not less. Also we can’t expect our County workers to provide all our essential services by themselves, we all have to step up to the plate and participate in improving our communities…one way is by leveraging our tax dollars to greatest effect by restoring the cuts to our struggling non-profit and volunteer organizations. Further, we all need to work toward more prevention and less reaction, more the gains from our contributors, less the liability of our failures.
I grew up in Iowa as an “economically disadvantaged” child. Our public servants helped my family, and three out of four “at risk” children became contributors, one became a liability and the Orenda Center helped him on his road to recovery. As Supervisor I look forward to working with our County staff, non-profits and volunteers. “Together Toward A Sustainable Future.”
One more column before the June 3 election (thank you Vesta!). To those who support what we have to say, go to our website http://www.tomlynch4supervisor.com/ and join us. Spread the word to all that you support our pragmatic progressive agenda. Thank you for your support!
Our campaign flyer says, "We must freeze County salaries and benefits and restore funds to our nonprofit and volunteer organizations. To avoid the loss of hundreds of County jobs from Human Services, Public Safety, and Mental Health along with more cuts in essential services, we must reallocate our resources to serve the greatest needs in Sonoma County." This is the heart and soul of our campaign.
We continue …Since 2000 the “median household income” in Sonoma County has declined by 2%. Salaries and benefits for County workers has increased by 63.5%...Of 4000 County staff the average compensation for the top 1000 is over $160,000 a year!
A long difficult recession lies ahead with declining revenues and increasing costs. The County has taken a windfall of increased property taxes and given it to themselves, with no increase in services nor additional tax dollars spent on roads and infrastructure. For each of the last four years the County has reduced programs and services. Especially hard hit have been our Human Services and Mental Health programs including closure of Oakcrest (Norton), the Fulton Road facility and now cutbacks to the alcohol and drug treatment programs at the Orenda Center.
The last two weeks have been very interesting with union meetings for many candidates. I have met with a committee of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA 500+), spoke to an auditorium full of Service Employee International Union members (SEIU 3000+), and answered questions from representatives of most of the labor unions in Northern California at a forum hosted by the North Bay Labor Council. I will be forever grateful to all the unions for their gracious hospitality. As Supervisor my door would always be open as I represent the unions interests balanced with the interests of all my constituents.
I shared with unions the same message I’ve been saying to the rank and file members of all our public employee unions for months now. I’ve talked with members of Sonoma’s finest…Sheriff’s deputies walking the streets of Guerneville, I’ve met Permit and Resource Management Department staff tasked with protecting our land and resources, Human Service and Mental Health professionals. I am offering honest and realistic solutions to our problems.
What I have said at debates and to individuals alike when asked how do we address our budget problems. We need a temporary freeze on salaries and benefits in order to avoid further cuts in essential services and lay-offs of County workers. Going into a recession we need more County workers helping people, not less. Also we can’t expect our County workers to provide all our essential services by themselves, we all have to step up to the plate and participate in improving our communities…one way is by leveraging our tax dollars to greatest effect by restoring the cuts to our struggling non-profit and volunteer organizations. Further, we all need to work toward more prevention and less reaction, more the gains from our contributors, less the liability of our failures.
I grew up in Iowa as an “economically disadvantaged” child. Our public servants helped my family, and three out of four “at risk” children became contributors, one became a liability and the Orenda Center helped him on his road to recovery. As Supervisor I look forward to working with our County staff, non-profits and volunteers. “Together Toward A Sustainable Future.”
One more column before the June 3 election (thank you Vesta!). To those who support what we have to say, go to our website http://www.tomlynch4supervisor.com/ and join us. Spread the word to all that you support our pragmatic progressive agenda. Thank you for your support!
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