Supervisor Neil Derry
BY NEIL DERRY
Published: 29 July 2012 01:00 AM
Sugarcoating medicine works for children, but it is counterproductive in situations requiring mature dialogue and communication. San Bernardino County has a public pension problem — a big problem that continues to grow unabated. Our pension fund is currently underfunded by more than $1.7 billion. To put that in perspective, our general fund budget is approximately $2.3 billion.
On Thursday, I will bring before the Board of Supervisors a pension reform proposal that will:
— Increase the retirement age for new county employees.
— Decrease the amount of money new employees earn each year toward their pension benefit.
— Require all new and current employees to contribute to their pensions.
— Minimize the effects of pension spiking by averaging annual compensation for new employees over their final three years of employment versus the current single highest year.
We can talk about promises and contractual obligations. We can talk about “would’ve, could’ve, should’ve.” We can talk about a lot of things. But, unfortunately, none of this changes the reality and gravity of the situation at hand. Our pension fund is careening toward insolvency and this will create a series of unpleasant realities. Bickering over what is right or fair is counterproductive.
Take a child born into an impoverished home with one parent and inferior educational opportunities. The kid was dealt a bad hand relative to other children in more ideal circumstances. He may respond with bitterness and blame others for his unfortunate lot in life.
At the end of the day, when this child turns into an old man and reflects upon his life, it is really irrelevant whether he was dealt a fair hand or not. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon him to do whatever it takes to overcome these circumstances and lead a life that brings personal fulfillment and happiness.
The same must be asked of our employees. Many are going to feel betrayed or cheated whenever pension reform is mentioned. Some will feel like the rules are being changed in the middle of the game. And frankly, elected officials must understand that these feelings are valid and appropriate given the circumstances.
To read entire column, click here.
Hey Derry…. Glad you are soon to be unemployed. On behalf of the employees of the County of San Bernardino— we will not miss your sniveling conniving leadership.
Good attitude, and you will whine right next to him after the county goes broke and you are unemployed right next to him. Sorry the truth hurts but the days of the taxpayers financing everything you feel entitled to are over fast.
It Figures:
If Neil Derry becomes “unemployed,” it likely means that James Ramos will be Supervisor. To your knowledge, does he have any insight into this issue, or a plan to solve it?
You are quick to bash Mr. Derry for “sniveling, conniving leadership,” but what are Mr. Ramos “leadership” qualities?
I believe that he voted to pay himself for meetings he did not attend. Is this the type of leadership that you and the “employees of San Bernardino County” want to see in a supervisor?
I’m willing to give Ramos a try. He could not possibly be less of a friend to public employees that Neil
“It figures”… u r nut too smart, r u? “Give Ramos a try”, based on what evidence is he even capable of handling that kind of responsibility, except maybe for his tribal government? Unless u r a San Manuel yourself (don’t forget, I wear moccasins too), then maybe it makes sense to blindly “give Ramos a try”??
I for one, feel Supervisor Derry has done quit a good job in the face of the political adversity he has been faced with in attempting to reform local government at San Berdoo doo County Government Center.
Now the status -quo system run by SBCo. CEO Devilreaux and his SEBA/ SBPEA union goons wants to replace an honest Supervisor with someone that has PAID HIS DUES by way of cash donations and campaign contributions to all that will accept them (especially for “Public $afety” in just about every IE city in SanBAG!)
To the general public, the employees groups look like an utter disgrace, because changing this political SHYSTEM (shysters running the system) can only begin if the employees make the first ETHICAL REFORMS themselves (like stop participating in PAC’s & SUPER PAC’s now!)
“It figures” , though, is probably one of the County’s consultants in the UNCLASSIFIED SERVICE anyway… no worry about how the current budget crisis will impact all those line employees and boots on the streets, and thanks to the SBPEA Chicken and SEBA’s Where’s the Beef, most of the association members are totally apathetic and don’t care either.
#4 – You may be willing to give Ramos a try, but I am not. He has no clue on how to lead our district. That’s why he stays so quiet when he could easily offer solutions and ideas on how to address our economic situation. Let me hear something concrete and specific from Mr. Ramos instead of the few catch phrases he uses … “we need to market the valley more” …. “We need to engage the public to see what their needs are” ….. “We need to work together” … etc, etc, etc.
Has he offered a solution or a direction we must go to deal with our pension problem? NO. Don’t count on him bringing anything to this discussion, unless one of his buddy supervisors writes it into his trusty notebook …. you know the one I’m talking about …. the notebook that he read from at the April candidate forum in Big Bear.
We need a seasoned and informed leader like we have in Neil to help get us out of this mess. He is an “outside the box” thinker. He is well informed on all issues that face our county. He is the only supervisor that will stand up for what is right for the taxpayer.
Ramos will certainly be more of a buffoon than any current supervisor except Josie. When you extract yourself from the role of employee, Derry has proposed more reform efforts towards board, elected official, and union lackeys than anyone else.
The reform solution has to be countered with layoffs and cuts in services. If pension reform passes, and the threat of deficits still loom large, Employees will not only lose negotiated benefits, but will certainly be slammed with salary reform on scale not yet seen in the inland empire. That is Greggy’s job; as he and the BOS could never stomach the dissolution of the RDA. Empire building begins and ends with special projects and the BOS urges have been quelled by Jerry B. Employee salaries are the new BOS piggy bank.
At least Rutherford and Derry are aiming for reform.
Once again Neil rides up on the white stallion rescuing us from evil! Neil couldn’t read a financial report if it him in the face. I’ve worked with Neil and he can’t grasp the issues in the pension arena. The issue is the benefits not the pension structure. The very same large benefits Neil promised SEBA he would support when he was initially elected. Why doesn’t he introduce a motion to reduce the “3 at 50″? That solves the pension issue immediately. Why doesn’t he introduce legislation at the State level to stop safety disability abuse? Why hasn’t he done any of these in his first two years in office?
We all know the answer. Neil was owned by SEBA and he wouldn’t go against his biggest campaign contributor. Now that SEBA support has gone Neil suddenly becomes a pension reformer!! Wow, the hypocrisy of this guy is overwhelming. He only cares about himself. Anyone who knows Neil knows that. What a phoney!
#9 Dean – prove it
Dean: You are an f-ing moron. What is the difference between the benefits and the pension structure? They are one in the same. You are a frigging idiot. The pension structure creates the benefits! You must be that idiot Tobin Brinker, who is a teacher, leaching off the similar pension called STIRS. Brinker, you are a whore. You want yours, but you want to F everybody else.
What?…..Get over it. Derry is a hypocrite playing the only card he has left and that is a weak anti union hand. He has no money or support and he will face an embarrassing loss in November.
Derry will be just fine. The more the public finds out about Ramos the Clown, the easier it will be for Derry to prevail.
Red Anon. = Communist Dick- tater( head)
Wouldn’t be one of those Obamanation affiliation guys, now would u?
What?:
So what are all these big secrets? When are they all going to be reveled?
We have been hearing for month’s that when we find out about Ramos, it will cost him the election. If you know something that’s that important, say it. Because it looks like you don’t, or I’m sure you would have already.
Red Anon… are you talking to US?!!!!!!
Little stevie blunder:
How does Red Anon. calling it like it is on #12 make him a communist?
If he’s part of the Obamanation, guess he must be a Socialist Dick(tater)head.
Plus I know he likes Devilreaux… (that should speak for itself).
LSW,
YOU are on the wrong blog, take your mouth and none sense elsewhere, you are giving us a headache…chill out and we MAY pay attention to you!
LSW….Why would you assume I support Devilreaux? I promise that nothing is further from the truth than that idea. BTW, Sharon is back.
Anonymous, Steve Rogers s an idiom. He actually thinks he is funny by making fun of people’s names.
Who? Captain America’s arch enemy is the Devil.
Repairman:
In response to your Comment #17, attempting to predict the future (Neil Derry “will face an embarrassing loss in November”) does not qualify for “calling it like it is.”
Observer of Facts:
What we have is a difference of opinion.
Repairman:
Try testifying in Court claiming that your prediction of future events is “calling it like it is.”
The Judge will also have a “difference of opinion” with you.
Observer of Facts:
If I’m ever in court I’ll remember that.
Repairman…….some do not believe that a house filled with smoke most likely means that there is a fire. In fact, they will not believe it until they are engulfed with flames……Derry’s political house is all but embers at this point and yet a small handful believe that the smoke is coming from the fire place even though the structure burns before their very eyes.