History says different danielf1935.

Wow, a Firefighter, a City Budget Expert, now you know my personal life history--I'm impressed.

I'll leave you Firefighters to continue to tell the world how desperate the department is for funding, I'll go find a thread with a few real men, a thread that allows everyone to post their views and opinions without fear of getting attacked. OF COURSE, THIS IS JUST MY OPINION.

Wow, a Firefighter, a City Budget Expert, now you know my personal life history--I'm impressed.

I hate to tell you this but your history, in both of your incarnations on this board, speaks for its self. I understand your apprehension at telling the truth about the need to return as someone else. Just don't ask us to pretend not to notice.


I'll leave you Firefighters to continue to tell the world how desperate the department is for funding, I'll go find a thread with a few real men, a thread that allows everyone to post their views and opinions without fear of getting attacked. OF COURSE, THIS IS JUST MY OPINION.

See ya. I love how the bully comes in swinging and cries foul when no one runs to hide.

Hey the hip, I'm headed to the union meeting right now. You should come Speak. We love to hear from citizens. You can explain to us all of our crap!

LarryOkc, thank you for not reading what wasnt there.

Wow, sales tax collections for 4/10 are $2,000,000.00 higher than 4/09. Wonder what that means?

Steve, funny how you keep pushing Bryan Dean as the guy we need to talk to. Maybe you should ask him about getting visibly angry at the OKC union president during an interveiw for having the audacity of using the facts. DOK says we have received 12% in pay increases when facts show it is barely 7% over 4 years.

Hey all you posters, all the FD and PD want is to keep up with the growth of the city, no more no less. If the city grows, then it services need to grow. The FD and PD have shrank during the city's booming growth. Any time a business grows, it employee force normally grows with it along with salaries and by the way the FD has not grown and has not received a salary increase since July 2008. The city has the money but they would rather hang on to it or spend it on projects that benefit their own self interest projects/groups.

Mike, each reporter has their own way of doing things... some might suggest you're arguing the need for the unions to have a pr firm....

Mike, each reporter has their own way of doing things... some might suggest you're arguing the need for the unions to have a pr firm....

I think what he's arguing for is a reporter that comes in without a preconcieved notion of where the story should go. You don't have to read very far into one of Mr. Deans stories to see where he's coming from. When given a different set of numbers than those provided from city hall he gets defensive. He wouldn't want the facts to get in the way of what he wants to say. Just my opinion. I wonder if he cops the same angry attitude when interviewing the mayor or city manager. Somehow I doubt it.

Wambo, do you think all those guys have little matching OKC tattoos? Maybe on the ankle or hip?

Hey the hip, I'm headed to the union meeting right now. You should come Speak. We love to hear from citizens. You can explain to us all of our crap!

LarryOkc, thank you for not reading what wasnt there.

How was the volleyball game after the "meeting?"

I think what he's arguing for is a reporter that comes in without a preconcieved notion of where the story should go. You don't have to read very far into one of Mr. Deans stories to see where he's coming from. When given a different set of numbers than those provided from city hall he gets defensive. He wouldn't want the facts to get in the way of what he wants to say. Just my opinion. I wonder if he cops the same angry attitude when interviewing the mayor or city manager. Somehow I doubt it.

Either way Wambo, if Mark Schwartz were still alive I seriously doubt he'd tell you the union's actions in this fight have helped its cause. You don't get to choose the reporter you're working with - so either you figure out how to improve communications (which is what smart folks do) or you can pit yourself into a mode of "the reporter is our enemy and we must fight!" Good luck with that one... one more time.... get yourselves a pr firm.

Lord Gerald, No volleyball, we did spend some time working out schedules for the MDA events coming up. You know that's our charity of choice and we give alot of time and effort to them.

How's that tornado hoping going for you? Are you looking for death and destruction? Maybe your hoping they will only hit farmland.

Steve, You keep saying were hurting ourselves. I dont get that. We still have a 92% approval with our citizens. If your saying we hurt ourselves with Maps3, I say your wrong. Now I am going to get some feed back on here about that and to that I say whatever! I live in ward five and it went down in flames there, so I am quite happy with where I live and those around me. And not a single time while I have been out in the public has anyone told me they were mad at us. Only on here. I have had a few say something negative about Maps3. Do you think that was because it only benefitted downtown. Those sidewalk and trails will be last on the list whatcha wanna bet?

Lord Gerald, No volleyball, we did spend some time working out schedules for the MDA events coming up. You know that's our charity of choice and we give alot of time and effort to them.

How's that tornado hoping going for you? Are you looking for death and destruction? Maybe your hoping they will only hit farmland.

Steve, You keep saying were hurting ourselves. I dont get that. We still have a 92% approval with our citizens. If your saying we hurt ourselves with Maps3, I say your wrong. Now I am going to get some feed back on here about that and to that I say whatever! I live in ward five and it went down in flames there, so I am quite happy with where I live and those around me. And not a single time while I have been out in the public has anyone told me they were mad at us. Only on here. I have had a few say something negative about Maps3. Do you think that was because it only benefitted downtown. Those sidewalk and trails will be last on the list whatcha wanna bet?

Mike, I’d like a quote on some lawn care. Since you only work three days a week, and have plenty of time to spend on this board, do charity work, and run your two side businesses, I need someone I can trust to mow my lawn. Please give me a quote on a front and back, plus trim, for a small yard. Thanks! LG

How was the volleyball game after the "meeting?"How long did it take for you to come up with that wornout feeble attempt to insinuate that while on duty playing volleyball is a Firefighters top priority.

Wait a minute... I thought all this time it was the firefighters who enjoyed donuts and coffee and the police who played volleyball. I knew Tim Farley couldn't be trusted when he trained me to cover the public safety beat in 1990. My entire six years on that beat is now in doubt.

Wait a minute... I thought all this time it was the firefighters who enjoyed donuts and coffee and the police who played volleyball. I knew Tim Farley couldn't be trusted when he trained me to cover the public safety beat in 1990. My entire six years on that beat is now in doubt.Don't forget holding down a park bench after a long hard day of car washing.

Mike, I’d like a quote on some lawn care. Since you only work three days a week, and have plenty of time to spend on this board, do charity work, and run your two side businesses, I need someone I can trust to mow my lawn. Please give me a quote on a front and back, plus trim, for a small yard. Thanks! LG

Wow, small yard and you need help? Nuff said. Explains a few things.

Lordgerald, remember each of my 24 hour shifts count for 3 of your workdays. Don't hate me because I'm motivated. I lay brick too. Trust me you can't afford it!

I think I'll simply wish y'all luck and leave ya to it.

Steve- we actually do have a PR advisor. It's pretty much been laid out for us to not expect "fair and balanced" reporting from the DOK and not to waste our efforts. Thus my wishes you were back on the metro beat and not Mr. Dean. He has shown how jaded he is several times already. Unfortunately it costs some pretty big bucks to hire a PR firm to represent you, and Cherokee is busy with the ME's office. And for the record, I like donuts and coffee after a good game of volleyball so don't throw all that time spent in PS out the window yet. LOL

RC- Once and for all would you please answer the simple question....are you danielf1935 or not? Geeeesh...inquiring minds want to know.

Lordgerald-you seem like a moron so I'll be happy to cut and edge your lawn after my 72 hours of work in my three days. Just post your address here and leave $300 in a brown paper bag in your mailbox and I'll get to it when I'm not working my second job of 40 hrs. a week to support my family. You sir, crack me up and I'd love to trade positions with you for a week.

Are we laughing yet?

Either way Wambo, if Mark Schwartz were still alive I seriously doubt he'd tell you the union's actions in this fight have helped its cause. You don't get to choose the reporter you're working with - so either you figure out how to improve communications (which is what smart folks do) or you can pit yourself into a mode of "the reporter is our enemy and we must fight!" Good luck with that one... one more time.... get yourselves a pr firm.

So your answer is "Hire someone to spin it, because you can't expect an unbiased reporter or a fair accounting of the events in the newspaper?"

I may be a naive idealist Steve, but that scenario sure sucks the big one. Sad thing is you seem to have accepted it as normal operations. I will say this, with the slant he puts in his stories towards the PS unions, BD has cemented himself a little job security with his superiors.

Steve- we actually do have a PR advisor. It's pretty much been laid out for us to not expect "fair and balanced" reporting from the DOK and not to waste our efforts. Thus my wishes you were back on the metro beat and not Mr. Dean. He has shown how jaded he is several times already. Unfortunately it costs some pretty big bucks to hire a PR firm to represent you, and Cherokee is busy with the ME's office. And for the record, I like donuts and coffee after a good game of volleyball so don't throw all that time spent in PS out the window yet. LOL

RC- Once and for all would you please answer the simple question....are you danielf1935 or not? Geeeesh...inquiring minds want to know.

Lordgerald-you seem like a moron so I'll be happy to cut and edge your lawn after my 72 hours of work in my three days. Just post your address here and leave $300 in a brown paper bag in your mailbox and I'll get to it when I'm not working my second job of 40 hrs. a week to support my family. You sir, crack me up and I'd love to trade positions with you for a week.

Are we laughing yet?

As I have already stated have absolutely no clue who danielf1935 is (even though I know you and mike will disagree).

P.S. I typed slow this time, maybe you will understand.

Rc- must have been posted on a different thread, been known to miss a thing here and there before. Thank you for your emphatic NO as to the double identity. Now maybe we can move on.......I typed slooooooww back to you so there couldn't possibly be any mis-interpretation.

Lordgerald, remember each of my 24 hour shifts count for 3 of your workdays. Don't hate me because I'm motivated. I lay brick too. Trust me you can't afford it!

A hard day at work for MikeMarsh51

8 a.m. Woke up, ate breakfast with the guys.
8:30 a.m. Checked OKCTalk.com, bumped thread, begged for attention.
9 a.m. Showered with the guys.
10:30 a.m. Checked OKCTalk.com and prolonged thread to promote pay raise.
11:00 a.m. Played poker with Wambo36 and Barnold. I love those guys.
Noon. Lunch. Pit BBQ, yum!
1 p.m. Washed dishes.
1:30 p.m. Watched webinar on crock pot recipes. My turn to cook tomorrow!
2 p.m. Responded to emergency call from resident complaining of “funny smell.” Turned out to be a backed-up toilet.
3 p.m. Passed out coloring books to school kids.
4 p.m. Ordered new volleyball from Amazon.com. It’s a Tachikara SV5W Gold Competition Premium Leather Volleyball. Yes, I rule!
5 p.m. Union meeting. Slayed goat.
6 p.m. Dinner. Pot roast, mac and cheese.
7 p.m. Called customers of side business to set-up appointments for lawn mowing and bricklaying.
8 p.m. Checked OKCTalk.com and prolonged thread to promote pay raise.
8:30 p.m. Paid union dues.
9 p.m. Gave rookies their assignments for next day: hose inventory, and helmet detailing.
10 p.m. Watched ESPN Sports Center. Checked OKCTalk.com.
10:30 p.m. Ice cream social.
11 p.m. Bed time, the end of a hard day at work, but only 15 hours into a grueling 72-hour shift.

A hard day at work for MikeMarsh51

8 a.m. Woke up, ate breakfast with the guys.
8:30 a.m. Checked OKCTalk.com, bumped thread, begged for attention.
9 a.m. Showered with the guys.
10:30 a.m. Checked OKCTalk.com and prolonged thread to promote pay raise.
11:00 a.m. Played poker with Wambo36 and Barnold. I love those guys.
Noon. Lunch. Pit BBQ, yum!
1 p.m. Washed dishes.
1:30 p.m. Watched webinar on crock pot recipes. My turn to cook tomorrow!
2 p.m. Responded to emergency call from resident complaining of “funny smell.” Turned out to be a backed-up toilet.
3 p.m. Passed out coloring books to school kids.
4 p.m. Ordered new volleyball from Amazon.com. It’s a Tachikara SV5W Gold Competition Premium Leather Volleyball. Yes, I rule!
5 p.m. Union meeting. Slayed goat.
6 p.m. Dinner. Pot roast, mac and cheese.
7 p.m. Called customers of side business to set-up appointments for lawn mowing and bricklaying.
8 p.m. Checked OKCTalk.com and prolonged thread to promote pay raise.
8:30 p.m. Paid union dues.
9 p.m. Gave rookies their assignments for next day: hose inventory, and helmet detailing.
10 p.m. Watched ESPN Sports Center. Checked OKCTalk.com.
10:30 p.m. Ice cream social.
11 p.m. Bed time, the end of a hard day at work, but only 15 hours into a grueling 72-hour shift.

Awesome.:bow:

Lordgerald, let me give you a run down of my last shift.

0615 Got to work, 45 minutes early, thats how I roll.
0800 After mandated exercise I statred on Payroll, reports and such.
1000 Breakfast.
1005 Dispatched on sick call.
1115 Dispatched to SOB, not you, shortness of breath.
1300 Met Pub-ed to run kids thru safety house.
1515 Responded to a sick call, Emsa sent wrong address, NW not SE.
1700 Sat down for Chicken fry, interuppted by the sound of hail smashing our cars.
1725 Responded to a 88 yr female who broke her hip trying to get inside from the storm.
1755 responded to I-40 and Choctaw road to check welfare. Updated as tornado damage. Arrived at first on scene, establish command, requested more resources, developed action plan, implemented action plan, which set up search, triage and medical at Loves and truck stop on south side. Various other things you might find boring.
2230 Assigned to drive out every inch of 2 square miles in search of damage and victims.
0100 Back at station
0130 responded to emergency water cut off, dishwasher water line ruptured, helped squeegee out water from house.
0210 Back at station, took some Ibuprofen
0600 got up, left when relieved by the other shift, went home to survey storm damage at home.

NEXT DAY

0830 put in 5 working hours at a charity golf tourny to raise money for Project Life, which funds smoke detectors for poor families.

Hey douche bag, I had a great day. Got anything in you douche bag day anywhere near as interesting. Go ahead and tell me what you do for a living! I'm sure it's awesome and quite rewarding!

Lordgerald, let me give you a run down of my last shift.

0615 Got to work, 45 minutes early, thats how I roll.
0800 After mandated exercise I statred on Payroll, reports and such.
1000 Breakfast.
1005 Dispatched on sick call.
1115 Dispatched to SOB, not you, shortness of breath.
1300 Met Pub-ed to run kids thru safety house.
1515 Responded to a sick call, Emsa sent wrong address, NW not SE.
1700 Sat down for Chicken fry, interuppted by the sound of hail smashing our cars.
1725 Responded to a 88 yr female who broke her hip trying to get inside from the storm.
1755 responded to I-40 and Choctaw road to check welfare. Updated as tornado damage. Arrived at first on scene, establish command, requested more resources, developed action plan, implemented action plan, which set up search, triage and medical at Loves and truck stop on south side. Various other things you might find boring.
2230 Assigned to drive out every inch of 2 square miles in search of damage and victims.
0100 Back at station
0130 responded to emergency water cut off, dishwasher water line ruptured, helped squeegee out water from house.
0210 Back at station, took some Ibuprofen
0600 got up, left when relieved by the other shift, went home to survey storm damage at home.

NEXT DAY

0830 put in 5 working hours at a charity golf tourny to raise money for Project Life, which funds smoke detectors for poor families.

Hey douche bag, I had a great day. Got anything in you douche bag day anywhere near as interesting. Go ahead and tell me what you do for a living! I'm sure it's awesome and quite rewarding!

Steve was right.

To be fair to Mike, it's weeks like this that can be quite stressful on police and fire. This is where online conversations don't work - you're not seeing or hearing the human being, you're not seeing his facial cues, his demeanor.
Mike, stay off the keyboard and take care of yourself, ok?

Steve, thanks, I don't need your help! You want to talk about demeanor and facial expression and defend what Lorddouchebag wrote. I took that as a pretty good dig at me. Now I will turn the other cheek once. Words mean things and so do the way they are used. I can take care of myself and don't need you interpreting and/or reffing for me.

A hard day at work for MikeMarsh51

8 a.m. Woke up, ate breakfast with the guys.
8:30 a.m. Checked OKCTalk.com, bumped thread, begged for attention.
9 a.m. Showered with the guys.
10:30 a.m. Checked OKCTalk.com and prolonged thread to promote pay raise.
11:00 a.m. Played poker with Wambo36 and Barnold. I love those guys.
Noon. Lunch. Pit BBQ, yum!
1 p.m. Washed dishes.
1:30 p.m. Watched webinar on crock pot recipes. My turn to cook tomorrow!
2 p.m. Responded to emergency call from resident complaining of “funny smell.” Turned out to be a backed-up toilet.
3 p.m. Passed out coloring books to school kids.
4 p.m. Ordered new volleyball from Amazon.com. It’s a Tachikara SV5W Gold Competition Premium Leather Volleyball. Yes, I rule!
5 p.m. Union meeting. Slayed goat.
6 p.m. Dinner. Pot roast, mac and cheese.
7 p.m. Called customers of side business to set-up appointments for lawn mowing and bricklaying.
8 p.m. Checked OKCTalk.com and prolonged thread to promote pay raise.
8:30 p.m. Paid union dues.
9 p.m. Gave rookies their assignments for next day: hose inventory, and helmet detailing.
10 p.m. Watched ESPN Sports Center. Checked OKCTalk.com.
10:30 p.m. Ice cream social.
11 p.m. Bed time, the end of a hard day at work, but only 15 hours into a grueling 72-hour shift.


That's ah, pretty sorry LG. It's astounding the amount of pent up whatever that you have inside.

Fishtick1979, don't drink Lorddouchebags Haterade, it's ok to like what you do for a living, do it well and be proud of what you've done.

Steve, thanks, I don't need your help! You want to talk about demeanor and facial expression and defend what Lorddouchebag wrote. I took that as a pretty good dig at me. Now I will turn the other cheek once. Words mean things and so do the way they are used. I can take care of myself and don't need you interpreting and/or reffing for me.

I didn't mean to offend. I apologize.

No need to apolagize, not offended. Just not in need.

So the fire chief will present his budget to the council on Tuesday. That should be interesting. Now if you recall, the mayor said if we passed Maps3, it would put more police and fire on the street. DA Prater said if Maps3 passed there would be no negative effect on public safety, no matter how bad the economy gets. As a side note, sales tax revenue for April 2010 was $2,000,000.00 higher than April of 2009. And now the mayor says the only way we can avoid layoffs is if the police and firefighters will just give into our consessions. Something smells to me!

Mike, isn't revenue for the year still down something to the tune of $18 million?

Mike, isn't revenue for the year still down something to the tune of $18 million?

Beat me to the Q .. was wondering about that as well.

With hope for your city and its staffers, across the board, may April be a long standing mark that signals a true turning point and not end up being simply one positive bit of news.

Only down 6.3%, it is shooting back up, we never got a contract for last year. They want concessions for next year. Remember passing Maps3 will put more public safety on the streets. Do you want me to link that from the mayor.

As a reminder, for me if no one else, isn't the budget to be presented one to answer the Q, "what would FD have to cut if there is a 12% budget cut compared to the FY that is ending"?

That's a different Q, to me anyway, of "FD, you absolutely have to cut 12%, so come back and tell us how you plan to do so."

I suspect FD won't have a 12% cut when it is all said and done. I continue to hope those suspicions come true.

As you know, not my town, but I do have friends there.

Only down 6.3% ...

What does 6.3% equate to in $$?
(if you know, don't blow off a fav program or kiddo time to answer)

Kevinpate, I am not sure what they are at for a shortfall. It has changed almost daily. The city dropped what they were asking for from 12% to $9,000,000.00 to $6,000,000.00 to $2,850,000.00 to whatever it will be this week. With the amount of positions being fluid. Due to retirements we are technically at 3 as a current number of firefighters to be fired. So why with a $90,000,000.00 fund balance are we even discussing this?

Do I think they will fire anyone? No. This is politics and politicians want to be elected. In Oklahoma City, a big league city recession proof city. If the only way the brainiac politicians can save money is to lay off public safety personnel, well then they probably arent going to get reelected. Remember, the city has their own unions. The municpal league, ACOG an such. They are pushing their own agenda to redirect funds from essential services to pet projects.

Kevinpate, I am not sure what they are at for a shortfall. It has changed almost daily. The city dropped what they were asking for from 12% to $9,000,000.00 to $6,000,000.00 to $2,850,000.00 to whatever it will be this week. With the amount of positions being fluid. Due to retirements we are technically at 3 as a current number of firefighters to be fired. So why with a $90,000,000.00 fund balance are we even discussing this?

Do I think they will fire anyone? No. This is politics and politicians want to be elected. In Oklahoma City, a big league city recession proof city. If the only way the brainiac politicians can save money is to lay off public safety personnel, well then they probably arent going to get reelected. Remember, the city has their own unions. The municpal league, ACOG an such. They are pushing their own agenda to redirect funds from essential services to pet projects.

Seems we're right where folks expected it to be, that as it got closer, it would not come to a 12% cut at all. Seems either the Cm or the mayor was saying that back then as well, but also noted they needed to be prepared in case things did not improve.

If there are not cuts, then there are no cuts, and PS has fared way better than many state agencies have weathered the downturn.

I continue to hope for the best.


As for the fund balance, many pages back I noted that raised many questions for me, ones which i don't have the answer to. As I recall, no one else seemed to either. I still think those would be important to know before diving into such funds. Again, hopefully it will not matter by the time the budget is approved.

6:00 a.m.: Woke up, fell out of bed,
6:05 a.m.: Dragged a comb across my head
6:15 a.m.: Found my way downstairs and drank a cup,
6:39 a.m.: And looking up I noticed I was late.
7:00 a.m.: Found my coat and grabbed my hat
7:01 a.m.: Made the bus in seconds flat
7:03 a.m.: Found my way upstairs and had a smoke (not really),
7:10 a.m.: and Somebody spoke and I went into a dream
Rest of the day: Ah..... ah ah ah ...... ah ah ah...... ah ah ah..... etc.

Silvermoon, did you read the news today? Oh boy...

Yes, I did.

Certainly someone will need to be paid to count the holes in the Sandridge plan.

Don't know how many holes are in the SandRidge plan.
But there are 4,000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire. And though the holes were rather small. They had to count them all.

Steve,

My point exactly.

Yep. Now back to the bitter political debates that have dominated much of this thread.

Yep. Now back to the bitter political debates that have dominated much of this thread.

Thank you for keeping us on subject...LOL

Is it reasonable to ask the police and fire unions to make concessions because the economy is down? Yes. Should they do this, yes. Is it also reasonable to assume when the economy rebounds that the police and firefighters would return to their previous wages? Again, I would say yes.

Then why has the city rejected $2,6000,000.00 in concessions from the police union, since this was the amount the city had requested. They stated that they "were looking for something more permanent."

It is painfully obvious that the city is using this crisis to gouge into the wages we have worked hard to earn. Sure makes you glad that you bust your butt for these people.

Is it reasonable to ask the police and fire unions to make concessions because the economy is down? Yes. Should they do this, yes. Is it also reasonable to assume when the economy rebounds that the police and firefighters would return to their previous wages? Again, I would say yes.

Then why has the city rejected $2,6000,000.00 in concessions from the police union, since this was the amount the city had requested. They stated that they "were looking for something more permanent."

It is painfully obvious that the city is using this crisis to gouge into the wages we have worked hard to earn. Sure makes you glad that you bust your butt for these people.

Let me get this straight...Half the city is underwater from catastrophic (and ongoing) floods, and you're still mad at the city manager? You're not serious right? This is a joke...right? Cause if you are for real.. then you are with out a doubt insane.

Shouldn't you be clinging to a tree above some raging water while OKC Police Dept rescues you... yet again?

I believe the city and police have come to agreement since there was some discussion about voicing opinions at the recent mayor convention...

There was going to picketing there, I think the police decided not to. I spoke to someone who was at the meeting where the city turned down the offer and that is a direct quote from the city.

The Hip, you arent up on how things work are you. The police dont rescue you the firefighters do! I really did not get the jest of your statement.

Let me say this, our firefighters have already conducted 30-35 water rescues today, one boat overturning during the rescue seriously endangering the lives of two firefighters, the boat driver and the victim they had just rescued. And how is the city thanking us, here take a 4% paycut for risking your lives.

And here we are at the end of this fiscal year, with no contract. The city is trying to gut our contract to save a small amount of money. And yes, I am bringing this up now because events like this show the importance of public safety as did May 10th.

You know we are a major league city now! And we are cutting jobs and putting rigs out of service. Don't you find it at all odd that Norman, Moore and Edmond are building new stations and hiring more firefighters and we are going the other way. They don't have MAPS or the thunder or the Zoo or the redhawks. How does that make sense?

Is the 4% the final version, down from the (alleged by the city) potential of 12%, or is a 4% just the next step in the discussions?

However, it ultimately turns out, the city seems to be faring better than the state, at least based on what I've heard from some and what I've read on DOC situation.

Not a shot, just haven't noticed any articles of late so I am curious where things stand, or given the mess today, where things float may be more accurate.

The Hip, you arent up on how things work are you. The police dont rescue you the firefighters do! I really did not get the jest of your statement.

Let me say this, our firefighters have already conducted 30-35 water rescues today, one boat overturning during the rescue seriously endangering the lives of two firefighters, the boat driver and the victim they had just rescued. And how is the city thanking us, here take a 4% paycut for risking your lives.

And here we are at the end of this fiscal year, with no contract. The city is trying to gut our contract to save a small amount of money. And yes, I am bringing this up now because events like this show the importance of public safety as did May 10th.

You know we are a major league city now! And we are cutting jobs and putting rigs out of service. Don't you find it at all odd that Norman, Moore and Edmond are building new stations and hiring more firefighters and we are going the other way. They don't have MAPS or the thunder or the Zoo or the redhawks. How does that make sense?

Hey Marsh, saw you on the telly, clinging to a tree. Sorry about your dinghy. I'm sure Homeland Security will replace it. Glad the girl made it out OK, though.

Lord Gerald or is it Mr. Joseph? It's interesting that you haven't responded to my question about what you do for a living! Ashamed?

Kevinpate, the reason you are not hearing anything is the city doesnt want you to hear what they are trying to get done. Sales tax is way up. The fiscal year ends June 30th, Start of a new year. The city has a plan to cut 3-5% from the labor.

You have to ask why? These departments provide essential services to the citizens. We have Maps3 that will support all the projects they want to grow the city. We have a dedicated public safety tax that takes alot of burden off of the general fund. The city is 60-70 short in the fire dept. They are over 100 short on the police side. Yet the only way we can save the city is too make permanent salary cuts to police and fire.

While I have, and will probably continue to disagree with Police and Fire re: several key issues (staffing, pay, benefits, etc;), my hats off to them for their excellent and dedicated work during todays flood/rescue.

Kevinpate, the reason you are not hearing anything is the city doesnt want you to hear what they are trying to get done. Sales tax is way up.

REALLY????? So you're saying the city has now collected more than it did the prior year???
The way I understand it, to put it in personal finance language, imagine you had a great job earning $100,000 a year in 2008. You lost that job, and the only job you could get paid $35,000 a year. Things improved slightly over the spring, and you got a raise of $5,000 in April.
I'm not sure that would allow you to resume spending as you were in 2008 - which is, what I believe, what the unions are wanting (or is it more with raises?)
The last I saw, the city was still millions below what it collected last year, and is in fact at mid-2000s collection levels. If I'm wrong, please provide the new numbers.
I think I've asked some pretty critical questions of both sides here and I've tried to stay quiet in recent weeks. But I can't let this one slide. If I'm wrong, well, good for everybody. But I'll be very surprised if I am.

Lordgerald- you must have been one of those fine people that cussed me out for not letting them drive thru 5 feet of water into the parking lot of cars stalled out in the roadway. You are one classy individual and we should probably let natural selection take care of you instead of saving your butt when you're in trouble, but then again that's why we have such job security.

Steve- I understand the point your are trying to make but can't seem to get a straight answer from anyone yet about true numbers. Firefighters have not had a raise since 2008 so our salaries have not increased. What were city revenues in 2008? Not projected but actual revenues. What were they for 2009? Then let's look at 2010. We all understand hard economic times and that the costs of doing business as a city goes up each year, but it hasn't with the police or fd salaries.