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FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

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FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 3rd, 2008 @ 2:46PM (15 years ago)

What will it take to get an investigation started. This thing stinks bad, real bad.

What is involved in getting someone started looking into this. It seems to warrant at the very least looking into.

Tax Payer (citizen)

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 3rd, 2008 @ 2:55PM (15 years ago)

So we have 63 million in the rainy day fund...Nashville has 16 million, Cincy has 30 million, and Lexington has 15 million in their rainy day funds. Why is the Mayor sitting on all of this surplus cash and threatening to lay people off? This guy is hiding something major...your freaking Chief Financial Officer just doesn't resign on whim because she wants too. Jane Driscoll is either going to be a scapegoat for the Mayor when we get ahold of the books or she jumped ship to protect herself. I've also noticed Chief "Puzzle Palace" White hasn't been giving any more interviews. I'm guessing the Mayor told him to go bury his head since he sounds like a fool any time he talks about the budget.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 3rd, 2008 @ 3:13PM (15 years ago)

You would think that the news media would have picked up that story already. Did no alarm belss start ringing??? The CFO of a major city suddenly resigns without notice amid claims of finacial problems. Do you not think if it had been normal Jerry would have already announced her leaving for "health reasons" or "to pursue other goals" or had some sort of other cover story if he asked her to leave. I think Jane is going to have to be subpoenaed and given some type of immunity before anyone will hear her side of the story.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 3rd, 2008 @ 3:24PM (15 years ago)

Thanks for the clarification. a bunch of us were wondering why we hadn't heard anything and why the statement about there not being any more meetings was made. I agree. Why hold a meeting when nothing has changed?

I would also like to thank the people that run this website because the mayor has no influence in the way stories are reported as he does with some other outletts. It is amazing how much is put here and that we are discovering. I wish everyone would start asking these questions.

Show us the books Jerry! Don't give me the baloney about we have to rush and hurry because this crisis didn't happen overnight. There is a long string of poor finacial decisions you have made that obviously you don't want anybody to see.

I will ask 1 more question: Why did jane Driscoll up and leave all of a sudden?

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 3rd, 2008 @ 4:01PM (15 years ago)

The 2 recent polls on major news outlets reported that the public doesn't agree with the mayor about charging metro emplyees for his financial blunder in numbers greater than the rejection of his dubious libray tax.

Wave 3 wa 89% against him.

WLKY was 91% against him.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 3rd, 2008 @ 4:33PM (15 years ago)

Why does Jerr need an answer right away and says that there is'nt time to provide an audit to the unions ??? Is the Fiscal year not over until July 1st ?? What's the big hurry Jerry ??? Need to do some last minute Christmas shopping for your Cordish buddies ?? Once again he is trying to pull the wool over the public's eye by making it seem like the calender year is the end of the fiscal year. You let unions work for 1-2 years without being in much of a hurry to settle contracts. Open up and take your medicine. Did I also hear you use the term " finacially irresponsible" when referring to dipping into your slush fund, I mean your "Rainy Day" fund. Is taking 10 mil from your 63 mil not worth the quality of life to workers( that are all under paid anyway ) you may have to layoff at this time of year. And don't say "well, I have to pay the Firefighter's with some of that cash"...because if you had done the right thing before instead of trying to screw them in the court system that bill would have been several millions less. This is no longer a Police or Fire or EMS or Public Works or Dispatcher problem. We must all join together and meet the "bully" at the playground and stand up against him as a unified group. I would rather give (3) of my vacation days to a single mom or husband working two jobs to support his family that is being forced to take furlough days than give them to the Grinch....

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 3rd, 2008 @ 4:38PM (15 years ago)

Fox 41 just did a story and interviewed several senior citizens. I think one hit the nail on the head with "The city needs to be more about necessity and less about luxury." I'm glad Fox has the fortitude to air these interviews instead of just bits and pieces like other stations.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 3rd, 2008 @ 5:11PM (15 years ago)

Kudos to VP Larry Priddy for the very informative e-mail he sent out to our members today. We need to hear more of this kind of information all the time. If you didn't get an e-mail you need to call the Lodge and let Tessa or Anita know your home e-mail address. 968-0117

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 3rd, 2008 @ 6:19PM (15 years ago)

I do not work for LMPD but am a registered member of this forum. I am a Fire Capt and everyone I work with is 100% behind the PD. We work side by side on a daily basis, and for the 16 years I have been here, I have never seen such bold faced lies by the mayor and his staff. The thought of layoffs over using money from the "rainy day fund" is absolutely nothing short of selfish. This is NOT your city Mayor; it is OUR city. There is not a rainy day time, short of the 40 days and 40 nights, like right now. No time to look at the books; no time for an outsider to see things, but by God, he wants an answer right now. The only thing that stinks worse than this, is Jane Driscoll leaving here post so suddenly and unannounced. In the past, any time a city employee retired, there was emails sent out to everyone letting them know about the retirement and to thank them for their years of service; but not this one. Not a single word from the big house on Jeff.; nothing. We get emails about the most frivolous things from city hall; but something of this magnitude, we hear notta....It stinks of something under the table. Not only is there more to this story, there is more to lots of stories lately. I sent the mayor and email; got a reply back from his driver!! Not only that, it seems the mayors name was on the return...Seems that the tough questions get pushed off on someone else..Oh and I also addressed his driver as well in regards to the take home cars, from which he personally benefited from for years. Of course that wasn't addressed..I would ask the Council members who read this, and I know you do, have the best interests of OUR city in mind and start doing some digging. I see Council members on TV for every little thing that goes on in their district, now step up to the plate and PUBLICLY show that you too are tired of the lies and deceit from this administration. Ask for a full investigation from the next two levels of government. It is always asked about when there is an officer involved shooting or such...If this thing is not exposed now, the truth will just keep getting swept under the rug and the public safety workers in OUR city will continue to get the shaft. To the FOP members, you want to stop by the firehouse for coffee or lunch/dinner, just stop in..We are here with you

More FREE work from off duty Police

December 3rd, 2008 @ 7:16PM (15 years ago)

Man arrested in carjacking case

A man led Jeffersontown police on a foot chase early yesterday morning after an off-duty officer spotted a vehicle matching a description from a carjacking incident near Hurstbourne Parkway and Interstate 64.

Devaughn D. Odeneal, 30, was arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree fleeing and evading and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, Jeffersontown Police Chief Rick Sanders said.

No one was injured during the chase, Sanders said.

He said the carjacking happened around 9 a.m. in the driveway of 9608 Glenawyn Circle. He said the owner of Chrysler Cirrus went out to warm up his car, returned about 15 minutes later and was approached by a man with a handgun who took the car.

When an off-duty officer later attempted to pull over the vehicle, the driver fled on foot.

Sanders said 15 to 20 officers were involved in the subsequent chase, including five off-duty Jeffersontown police officers and members of the Louisville Metro Police K-9 unit.

Odeneal was eventually arrested on the grounds of the East Chase Apartments on Somerset Place.

Sanders said Odeneal has three prior felony convictions, all for handgun possession

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 3rd, 2008 @ 10:10PM (15 years ago)

JIM KING........I seen you on the news defending Jerry.......YOU ARE A JOKE. Whats in it for for you, and why do you seem to be the only one on his side when the rest of the council are starting to see the truth. No you will not be mayor some day and I will NEVER vote for you. But I guess you cant upset your daddy huh?

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 3rd, 2008 @ 10:52PM (15 years ago)

FYI, AT THE BUDGET MEETING TODAY, IT WAS SAID THAT THERE IS 97 MIL. IN THE RAINY DAY FUND. CHECK IT OUT.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 3rd, 2008 @ 11:36PM (15 years ago)

Again I ask, why is it that ONLY city employees, and specifically the public safety ones, are being asked to foot the mayors bill? IF it is such an emergency then why is the mayor not asking ALL the city citizens to pitch in and "get some skin in the game"? I didn't vote for the mayor so I take no responsibility for his mishandling all the money. He wants to basically tax us at least $2000. Why not tax all the people who voted for him?

And to the lady in the courier who says we should be willing to give up our raise and that it won't result in a reduced paycheck, well, from your logic I can only assume you proudly cast your vote for king jerry.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 4th, 2008 @ 6:36AM (15 years ago)

Well ,so the finance committee didn't even show up to the council meeting last night........funny huh? Another funny thing was hearing a council woman's answer to this ...will you take a pay cut? Her answer....some of us left better paying jobs to do this job and we haven't had a COST OF LIVING raise in 5 years........well I ask, has anyone had a cost of living raise since the merger? I know I have not! I didn't vote for merger but Jerry said it would merge the services and we would have so much more money! What a joke!

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 4th, 2008 @ 6:46AM (15 years ago)

Back to the Police take home cars.............I HOPE they keep them because I live way out in Jefferson County and the only police cars I ever see is the ones that live out here. I UNDERSTAND that the Department is short officers and that is why they can't patrol out by my house but PLEASE let them keep them or I won't feel so safe out here!

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 4th, 2008 @ 7:23AM (15 years ago)

I have heard a few mentions of Jim King, the council president, and his blind support for Mayor Abramson. Quite frankly I dont care because you will find that in most governments, but what I have pieced together is that Jim King is head of King Southern Bank, a privately held bank here in Louisville, and that the city has deposited funds at this bank. Is there any truth to that?

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 4th, 2008 @ 10:35AM (15 years ago)

Many of us have talked to fellow taxpayers that are not employed by metro government and one thing is clear. The citizens of Louisville are not aware that Police, Fire, and EMS have not had a cost of living raise since merger. Does anyone know how many times we accepted a 0% raise? Police, Fire, and EMS were receiving less long before November 2008.

The community is not aware that for many years the take home cars have been used as leverage in contract negotiations by jerry. They are not aware that due to the take home car policy the salary of an LMPD officer is significantly less per year than that of an officer in a city similar in size.

Why does the media make it sound like "Off Duty" work is a luxury. It is what is is......a second job to provide for your family. Nobody wants to work a second job, let alone pay a fee for it.

Police, Fire, and EMS look stubborn and selfish on the 6 o'clock news. Is it time to release some info?

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 4th, 2008 @ 2:55PM (15 years ago)

I have heard the term LAY DOWN on this forum. What is the point? Why will you stop policing just because of some threats? Who is getting hurt by you laying down? It seems the citizens.

Re:ABRAMSON BLACKMAILS LFD

December 4th, 2008 @ 4:41PM (15 years ago)

How about that for a headline! The firefirghters didn't have their state incentive money on their checks today because the mayor told them if they took a pay cut and 3 furlough days he would let them keep it. Well they didn't and he true to his workd for once proceeded to follow through with his extortion demand and killed the hostage (or in this case their incentive pay) he basically cut the pay of each firefighter over $100 a pay. WHAT A JERK! He should be indicted, impeached and thrown in jail.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 5th, 2008 @ 12:05PM (15 years ago)

Ladies and Gents, do not LAY DOWN on our community. When you get down to it - the taxpayers pay our salary, not Jerry, and they are the ones who need us. Even though we are justifiably angry - taking this anger out on the public by not being proactive or sloooowly responding to calls will just hurt the public; and in the long run it will hurt us as well. Now is not the time to bite the (actual) hand that feeds us. I have had many citizens walk up to me and tell me they support us - and we NEED that public support. Please do not alienate the only outside source that can assist us - the public. People will eventually figure out who the crooks are. An old Kentucky boy once said, "You can fool all the people some of the time, some of the people all the time, but not all the people all the time." Abraham Lincoln

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 5th, 2008 @ 1:15PM (15 years ago)

I truly hope that it is aparent to everyone now that this is not just one issue but that there are many issues involved and they all have one common denominator: Jerry Abramson. Abramson is the cause of all of these problems. He has been caught and stil he tries to blame everyone else for the problem.

Each day in the news we see yet another situation exposed. There are about 15 issues just off the top of my head relating directly to the economic breakdown of the City and yet this arrogant manipulator continues to espouse his own virtures and lie with a straight face to everyone that will listen.

The other day at the meeting with the FOP he was interviewed afterwards and spoke of reaching common ground. Nothing was reached, there was no common ground. He continued to demand and threaten lay offs if we didn't conceded.

The Firefighters bravely stood their ground over the lawsuit which Abramson started in 1995(?) and could have settled but in his arrogance he decided todrag it through the court system. Well it has been to the Ky Supreme court now and he still hasn't paid them.

His latest attack on LFD was to take away their State Incentive money. He then told them that if they agreed to a pay cut and furloughs he would not do it. THAT IS EXTORTION! When they declined they went back and talked about it and decided to take a real solution to him. All that he would have had to do was to pay them the money seperately was to create a different account in peoplesoft and pay it out. He chose to send a letter to the state two weeks ago BEFORE the negotiations had even gone into the first round and told the state he would not accept the money. That means that all the while he was talking to all the unions his mind was already made up and he was already stabbing the firefighters in the back.

Did everyone get that? He had no intention of ever following through with any negotiation. He backdoored them before they even had a chanve to open the negotiations!

Today he announced that he will go hand in hand with them to get this changed in the legislature. Wait a second, isn't the state broke and can they really afford to create another level of beurocracy? The solution to this and many issues escape him becuase doing the right thing is an alien concept to him.

Another disappointment

December 5th, 2008 @ 3:09PM (15 years ago)

Usually I agree with him on quite a bit, but Bill Lamb's latest POV segment was a bit aggravating for me. I don't think people are laying all the blame for every mistake on Abramson. What we are doing is asking that he be held accountable for the things he HAS done and IS doing now, like the current battle w/ the FOP. There's no question who is to "blame" for this going on, but Lamb seemed to be calling us all whiners because we want to see some accountability in all of this.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 5th, 2008 @ 5:46PM (15 years ago)

JOHN MCGUIRE STAY OFF TV. STAY OFF TV. STAY OFF TV. STAY OFF TV.

YOU ARE NOT THE MAN FOR THE JOB WHEN IT COMES TO TV INTERVIEWS. WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE MEMBERS OF THE FOP WANT A SPOKESPERSON FOR INTERVIEWS. YOUR HURTING OUR CAUSE MORE AND MORE EVERTIME YOU SPEAK IN PUBLIC.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 5th, 2008 @ 6:09PM (15 years ago)

Here is how I feel, Give Jerry the damn cars (since that is the last thing he can use to try to extort money from us. Then he will lose another 40 to 50 thousand a month in CASH from the PD . We no longer have to pay for use of the car. I'm sick of his threats and King Jerry I am not going to give you a dime of MY money. If you have to lay off people then that's what YOU have to explain not me. Firefighters I would burn a blazing trail to Frankfort, to the State Supreme Court and make them make him pay the millions he owes you. To the media in this city, you've been in the bed with this hooligan for so long you can't see the truth if it smacked you in the face. Jerry is a thief, crook ,extortionnist and other things to bad to name. He really thinks he's a ruler (he's more like a dictator.) I just hope the people of this city sees him for what he is and they don't forget on ELECTION DAY, because that is where you get rid of a King, at the poles, if he doesn't get indicted first, because sooner or later your under the table deals WILL catch up with you.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 5th, 2008 @ 9:53PM (15 years ago)

Let me first start by pointing out to those who believe the news will ever be on our side, THEY WON'T. It doesn't sell rating and King Jerry contributes to much behind closed doors to them. The BEST thing we could do is to USE a SPOKESPERSON to dive our message out there because it's obvious they will give more air time to people who they like. Anytime a reporter wants to talk to McGuire refer them to our spokesmen who we 2nd in the meeting for. Next Ive said it before...PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN...newspaper,radio, tv ,help from the national chapter....the media is easily swayed by this Mayor and does not want to portray him in a negative light, so let us show the people in a responsible and adult way what is going on in THEIR government. Bill Lamb has no interest in reporting the truth or is in a neutral position..it is obvious by Fox 41 news casts he is a strong supporter of the Mayor. WHY do we not get on the offensive, stop waiting for the Mayor take the first blow and start showing the community what we are doing and why, because the mayor and his media cronies will turn this into a Police Fire bashing and everyone will be on HIS side if we dont start acting now!

Second, if the Mayor wants to cause a public safety issue let him...make him take the car it is nice but it'll be just as nice to not have to worry about being shot at, or roll up on an accident, or stop a shoplifter running out of a grocery store on my own time. I have given SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much to this community on and off duty that this whole thing makes me very sad, they obviously dont care about what our Mayor is doing to this community or what he is doing to US. Fire fighters FIGHT, keep on fighting for what is YOURS and dont let him get what he wants. Government is for the people and by the people...Dictatorship is what this administration has turned into..dont believe me look at the way he treats the members of the metro council WE elected into thier positions for a voice to be heard in government and he dosent even acknowledge thier requests for the paperwork on the budget or for them to show at the meeting. He dosent even consult with any other government entity before making his statements to the news why...To WIN public sympathy...the Mayor is great at pointing the finger at someone else and if WE dont watch it everyone will be pointing the finger at US.

Last, I am proud to work with people who put their lives on the line everyday they go to work or get in the "car" off duty. Stay strong and together, if he decides to take the cars 90/10% then let him, its just a car. Continue to act professionally make your runs help those in need and be safe. WE NEED to ALL stick together to show this community what is going on in thier goverment.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 1:20AM (15 years ago)

As I read the comments posted on this site one thought occurs to me. We will still do our jobs. We will show up, police and continue. The only thing that will be lessened is the mayor. He has chosen to take from the community and it shows what he really cares about. Yes the economy is bad and the experts say it won't get better for at least a year. This incident has really shown people for what they are. Some play politics, some dance around the issue yet the police are still working. Will things change if the fleet is no longer a take home fleet? Yes, it will be inevitable. The only constant is that the men and women in blue will still show up and do their jobs. The editorial staff at the Courier-Journal said that the mayor tried to negotiate with the police. He did not. To issue an edict with four choices, three of which violate the contract that he signed is not negotiating. Why should any bargaining group representing employees of metro government bargain with him? He said "if it goes above 25 million, all bets are off". That shows that what ever he says has no meaning. It has been reported that the rainy day fund is over 90 million dollars by the local media and that he has another 10 million in another account. The mayor refuses to open his books or even discuss other issues. He just says that if the demands that he made aren't met up to 200 people could be laid off. This is the worst kind of scare tactics and poorest representation that I have seen in this community yet and I am a life long Louisvillian who was watching the Tonight Show when Johnny Carson asked if we knew where our mayor was over thirty years ago. The reality is that the mayor does not have to have a balanced budget until the end of the fiscal year so he has over six months to work out this situation yet he refues to do anything but demand more from those who serve. I thank those who serve, in all the branches and they all have my deepest respect for what they do. Why they do it is simple, so others may live. Next time you see on the news about a fire fighter going into a burning building, an EMS worker putting their heart and soul into saving a life, a police officer going down a dark alley or running into a dark building remember, they do it for you.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 9:27AM (15 years ago)

Corrections just had a class graduate yesterday and LMPD has a recruit class now..........I wonder if Jerry will lay them off just to get back at us for not "going along" with his master plan?

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 11:21AM (15 years ago)

Time for us to start the open record requests on each metro account, each item and service purchased by metro, and all incoming and out going transfers from the accounts.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 11:49AM (15 years ago)

I am not a lawer, I do not like lawyers; but right now we need a good damn lawyer - one to investigate fraud / racketeering / extortion / conflicted-interest-bargaining / tax evasion.....................IRS audit sound good? Who holds the mayor accountable? Who are the citizens' checks and balances? Except for a couple, the City Council is a room full of Jerry's cronies wishing to line their pockets. If 10% of what I have been told is true, Jerry is not the Grinch who stole Christmas - but the Joker from a Batman movie!!!!!!!!! and he is laughing all the way to his hidden banks (at the community's expense.) Jerry may have started out by caring for people, but he left them by the wayside long ago. He now resembles Stalin.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 12:48PM (15 years ago)

I noticed a change in Abramson's tactics last night. When it comes to blame placing in pubblic he now says he is dissapointed that none of the Unions are willing to help when other Metro Workers and CItizens are. WTF? Other Metro workers didn't have a choice. You TOLD them they would get cut and furloughed and they have no protection. Just exactly who are the citizens that are helping??? Have you passed the hat in the community somewhere? Why haven't somoe of your rich buddies come through like Owsley? Why haven't you big time corporate execs returned a favoer or two? Has Cordish or Atlas said they would lower their fees during these hard times or do those type of propossals just not interest you.

Again, stop with the lies that you are trying to say it is just the mean old unions and all the regular joes are behind you. I have never seen such an obvious attempt at union busting in my entire life. Abramson has signed contracts with 75% of the metro employees who all have agreed to raises less than the cost of living every year since merger because of his pleas that he was broke only to see him turn around and spend lavishly on yet another idiotic project. Now he is trying to tear up our contracts. The buck stops here. I am not being greedy. I am trying to feed my family and pay my bills. I am not his slave.

I am tired of his lies. This most recent febble attempt to say citizens are helping is ridiculous. In case you forgot Jerry I work for metro government and I am a tax paying citizen too!

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 1:01PM (15 years ago)

I and many other of unionized metro employees would be willing to help out in one way or another. However, the mayor will not listen and has not taken any measures on any of the cost saving features that have been offered by the unions. He has also told folks at the teamster meeting that he won't sign any agreement on anything that we would conceede so that he could turnaround and shaft us again a week afterwards.

When the police started payong for gas when it was $4 a gallon it was one thing, but when gas went down did he stop those charges...no. Gas costs less now than this time last year and we are still paying for it as if we were at $4 a gallon.

I will not do anything ever again without a written guarantee. Even then that means nothing to Abramson and it is apparent in his trying to break all the union contracts. I would rather that he was honest about all his dealings but i guess that is just too much to ask for.

WHY DID JANE DRISCOLL QUIT??

Everyone needs to keep asking this question until we find out. Something is seriously wrong here. People just don't up and quit like that without a reason. Has anyone in the media tried to contact her? Has anyone asked Abramson why during the biggest finacial crisis that has faced our city since the great depression why his Chief Finacial person mysteriously resigns without notice?

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 1:17PM (15 years ago)

WHY DID JANE DRISCOLL QUIT??

WHY DID A CAREER CIVIL SERVANT LEAVE WITHOUT NOTICE AMIDST A FINACIAL CRISIS ??

HAVEN?T WE HEARD ANYTHING FROM ABRAMSON ABOUT THIS ??

ISN'T IT CURIOUS THAT THE ONE PERSON WHO COULD ANSWER ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS SUPPOSED "PROJECTED" BUDGET SHORTFALL IS NO LONGER AROUND??

CAN ANYONE PLEASE ANSWER THESE QUESITONS ??

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 6:41PM (15 years ago)

Jane Driscoll left for the same reason so many other top people have left, the benefits change for retirement on Jan 1 and if you are close to being eligible you are crazy to stay around. That being said, Jerry keeps placing the blame on the employees if lay offs occur and threatening 200 layoffs.

With so many people retiring are we talking about real layoffs where real people lose their jobs or just not filling the vacant positions? I know in my department we lost a large number of ineffective managers that had been with the old city for 27 years. We could cut payroll 15% by not replacing them. The private sector cut out the layers of middle management years ago, for some reason Jerry keeps all these inefficient levels of management. Our department is actually running better with less managers.

So Jerry keeps threatening layoffs, I don't care. I feel sorry for those it happens to but the lowest go. Jerry wants my family to take a huge economic hit so that some 21 year old kid with a GED that is related to a council womans hairdresser doesn't have to go back to working at Home Depot, I don't care.

Service will suffer, I don't care. Service is already terrible and I've grown used to it over the last six years. You want to save money? I can show you how but you needed to ask my Union six years ago, not now that you are broke.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 6:42PM (15 years ago)

I will not vote for any proposed bailout for this mayor or administration. My answer remains the same as day one. Tell me where to park 1300 police cars, Sell half of them and net a total of approximately 2.5 to 4.5 million dollars. It is basic math depending on the amount of each cars worth, and what it would bring at auction. Apply that number to YOUR budget shortfall and I am finished with my portion of the fiscal responsibility being asked for by YOU. After you take the cars you will have no further carrots to dangle over our collective heads. The PD will have contributed 2.5 to 4.5 million dollars to the problem and I can sleep well at night knowing I have done my civic duty. I will never vote for decreased benefits or wages that have been fought for, signed, voted on by our membership, and ratified by your signature. I have not even mentioned the 65 million dollar Rainy Day Fund, which by the way, is a SURPLUSS in most economic circles. I also know that you do not ever ask for money when you are sitting on a fortune. I would call that crying wolf. Why is Kelly Downard the only person up there speaking out against all this mess? I can assume the remainder of the Metro Council is too embarassed by the wool being pulled over thir eyes to care? Get off your butts and save some jobs. Tell the mayor he will not lay off employees. Tell him to plug the 20 million dollar hole with the SURPLUSS, then cut services to make up the shortfall over time. Charge yourselves some interest on this small loan from the SURPLUSS account and create a greater SURPLUSS over three or four years repayment time. Hell I'm not even in the banking business and I can figure this crap out.Tell chicken little the sky is not really falling, the ceiling has simply been lowered for a while. We can no longer afford to spend obnoxious amounts of money on parks, sidewalks, bike racks, illegal land trades or anything else for that matter. Cut back spending and not reduce services. Was that not the rallying war cry for merger? Is that what the mayor promised at re election time people? Hold this man to his word for once. Stand united on this front and vote as I will. No further reduction of my salary now or in the future, Take back YOUR car and sell it. No further reduction of my benefit package now or in the future.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 8:02PM (15 years ago)

So when are we going to start picketing city hall with the Fire Department and EMS? Whats next?

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 11:53PM (15 years ago)

I wonder if the idiot citizens will get a refund on their taxes they pay since the mayor is taking their tax money, and cutting the services that he is taxing the idiots for?

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 11:56PM (15 years ago)

there are threats of terrorist attacks in NY. India just had their 9/11. Great time to reduce and ******** off remaining police. Your on your own suckers.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 11:43PM (15 years ago)

Jane and Jerry sitting in Federal prison. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, than comes marriage here comes bubba and thats not a baby carriage.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 6th, 2008 @ 11:48PM (15 years ago)

oh when the sick, oh when the sick, oh when the sick go marching in. i would like to be in that number, when the sick come marching in. one moor time...

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 7th, 2008 @ 5:53AM (15 years ago)

So in other words she retired from a full time job, making a hefty salary to come back to work and not get paid? Nothing fishy there. ( Maybe I should retire and still patrol my beat, just to help out.) Hmmmm.......

I guess since she is technically no longer an employee she would not have to answer the Metro Council's questions. I would further surmise that Jerry will appoint an interim cabinet chief who won't be able to answer anyone's questions for awhile because they aren't familiar with the whole process.

This sounds suspiciously like a delay tactic so that Metro Council cannot get the answers they need in order to find out the truth on what exactly is being covered up.

Remember this is his projection, just because he doesn't expect to have a ton of money to squander he says we will be short. Well if you take is "projected" spending out of the picture and focus on what bills come in every month then I don't think the future looks quite so bleak. Do you?

What a novel concept. I don't have money coming in so I won't spend it. WOW!

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 7th, 2008 @ 12:09PM (15 years ago)

Why is Jerry TAXING the 6000 metro employees, we did not create this so why are picking up the tab.....WE are the 16th largest city in the country how about everyone working or living in Louisville gets a $30.00 one time tax accessment. 700,000 X $30 = $21,000,000.

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 7th, 2008 @ 3:28PM (15 years ago)

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I would like as many coments as possible. Does everyone understand what Gorilla Warefare is? It is doing whatever you can to battle city hall for declaring war on us. If the FOP wont lead we will have to use our own individual tactics. What are some ways we can fight?" Some are turn in our cars, do bare minimum, sick time. What else?

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 8th, 2008 @ 2:08PM (15 years ago)

Since Jerry owes all this money to the firefighters, and just slapped them in the face with their incentive pay, You have a judgement fron the courts why doesn't your union put leans on city property and items till your are paid. I think this would bust the King's bubble. PUT IT BACK TO HIM THE SAME WAY HE WOULD DO YOU IF YOU OWED THE CITY MILLIONS.

EMS (Teamsters) Vote Tallied Today

December 8th, 2008 @ 7:08PM (15 years ago)

I just want to let everyone know that the Teamsters tallied their votes today.

Yes-141

No-417

EMS specifically-----138-6

That means that all Union City Employees are together in telling the Mayor to come up with a better solution.

Stay Safe

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 9th, 2008 @ 5:25PM (15 years ago)

How much does Thunder over Louisville cost to produce? I kow its in the Millions. I think its funny the Mayor says 'those contracts are already in place' and will allow a stupid fireworks show to go on, and lay off employees before he cancels it...because of 'contracts'!

Hey Mayor- the Fire Department and the Police Department HAVE CONTRACTS TOO!!!!

FOP meeting with mayor a big disappointment

December 13th, 2008 @ 11:49AM (15 years ago)

THE MAYOR IS A JOKE MIKE ESTES