hey Ronald, What do you do for a living? I am a blue collar worker just like the firefighter and I have taken two paycuts do to the economy. It hits everyone. I dont feel sorry for the firefighters. Bringing in more customers will increase tax dollars to help give them their pay back.

Many have taken cuts... it ain't over yet BTW! Still... it is better than some I know... they lost their job!

Auburn City Council members are going about this economic crisis all wrong. They should increase the pay and benefit packages for all city employees by 100% When the City runs out of money they could declare bankruptcy like the City of Vallejo and get rid of all their employee obligations including pensions.

No one likes to take a cut in pay, but it is a lot better than losing your job. If you don't think you are being paid enough go find a job that pays more or start your own business.

Can someone please post the link to or the entire new contract and pay scales of all parties involved in Auburn and Placer County firefighting along with any benefit and retirement packages...received. Once we all read it...then comments can be justified or not.

Mr. Bailey,

For the umpteenth time, the money being used for the Streetscape project is not coming out of the general fund. It's a one time grant that can not be used for any normal budget items, including wages for firefighters. Comparing the two is pointless.

Whether the improvements to downtown are unanimously loved, appreciated, or enjoyed by the majority of Auburn residents still remains to be seen.

This Streetscape project is a major renovation that may take years to fully appreciate. The budget woes will hopefully be over in a few years.

Ronald, most reasonable people would rather take a cut in pay than lose their employment. A labor contract cannot be negotiated in the press, it must be done by the involved parties. Please don't expect your letter to fire up the masses and expect them to show at the next City Council meeting with torches and pitchforks.

I don't know enough about the negotiations and whose not doing what to whom, I'm just commenting on your letter and voicing my opinion.

As an afterthought, I bet there may be some tourists that will pitch in to help if something happens in their presence, such as a Dr. or nurse assisting with a medical emergency.

The answer to Mr. Bailey's question is YES, tourists will indeed be helping to put out fires, albeit indirectly.

Mr. Bailey (of Applegate) should ask himself what tax-generating industries Auburn has, and with a little thought he will quickly come to the conclusion that the City of Auburn relies on tourism for a large contribution to tax revenues that pay for our very valuable and appreciated firefighters. The streetscape project should make Auburn more attractive to tourism, so long as the community supports that industry in additional ways.

Yes sir, tourist shopping and dining are among Auburn's only industries, and their tax money pays to help put out fires. So Mr. Bailey, next time you take a tour down from Applegate, make sure you don't drive to the Bell Road area of unincorporated Placer to do your shopping. Instead, do your part and shop within the municipal boundary of Auburn, so you too can help Auburn's firefighters do their jobs.

Loomis....your killing my business...I still have a huge inventory of pitch forks, torches, matches, lanterns and now all these female spandex bike suits.... on hand. Since the depression started.. things have slowed way down and everyone just got use to the $3.00 buck gas, high credit card interest rates and new taxes and the trillions of debt piling up all around us....I need some new controversy to increase sales....and move this cra# you guys wanted me to stock up on. I know.. I'll contact those tea party people...are they still around?

hmmm California's unemployment rate is over 12%. I wonder how long it would take to replace these firefighters with new, cheaper, younger and faster people? Maybe they should look around and see who has lost their jobs or had salaries reduced. These public employees are living in a fantasy world.

First we shouldn't assume our elected officials are 100% honest about our lack of money. Take a look around at all the projects that are happening in town. (street and parking lot overlays, sewer upgrades, streetscape, money for serveys and consultants) all this stuff may be important, but you have to ask what are the priorities of the city council. Have any of you asked for some proof that the city has no money.

stumpbranch, I think Dr. Kirby has explained a number of times that the streetscape monies can't be used for anything Else. I don't know if you're a firefighter, a union official , both or neither but your persistence with the same song is definitely not endearing your cause to others. Just read bankers post. The time has come that the belt must be tightened a few notches. Look at the private sector, raise your eyes to the heavens and thank the Lord you are a public employee.

That still doesn't explain all the other projects, surveys and consultants the city is spending money on. I haven't heard the firefighters asking for raises. I just think the city has the wrong priorities. And for your information Streetscape money comes from redevelopment funds that comes from tax revenue in redevelopment areas. The reason it can't be touched is because they have already put that tax money into that fund. I'm concerned with future tax dollars that are still being put into redevelopment funds and not the general fund. If the city didn't have a redevelopment fund that tax money could be directed to the general fund. The city isn't telling the public the whole truth. I'm sorry I don't trust our city officials like the rest of you do but that's my right to do so.

Loomis, The good doctor keeps invoking his opinion on that the funds can only be used for projects like Streetscape an all inclusive name that sounds good but is a totally waste of funds in many of it's areas.

The following is from the Auburn Urban Development Authority website.

Reverse deteriorating trends

Create jobs

Revitalize the business climate

Rehabilitate and add to the housing stock

Gain active citizen participation and investment

They didn't have to build monuments to improve the business climate, in fact the project will make it more difficult to travel through the Phase 1 site even after it is completed. Look at the large number of parking spaces that have been removed, along with the cement protrusions out into the street that are more clutter then anything else, looks like a glorified Atlantic Street in Roseville. Repairing infrastructure is covered under redevelopment, making it attractive is also covered. What is being done over and above what was needed is a very expensive non-redeemable boondoggle.

Build it they will come is a laugh.

Good streets, sidewalks, lighting, underground utilities in a moderated way is far more attractive then what is being shoved down our throats. The only thing it fits in with is the infamous Clock Tower which diverted the flow of traffic and took up parking space.

Sorry for the rant, the firefighters have to suck it up like the rest of us. It is my hope that the downturn is bottoming so all of us can get back to prosperity soon. It is a shame our federal government bailed out those at the top instead of starting with those that pay taxes and create jobs. We are seeing government gone "wild" with no end in site. All you firefighters working for the city, hang in there, hopefully things will get better as you are appreciated.

Stumpbranch:

You are wrong about the redeveploment money. It is tax money but that percentage is earmarked for redevelopment if we don't have a project someone else gets it. In any case that money is not available for general fund use. As to how it is used that wa decide before I came on the Council.

Dr Bill Kirby

Obewan, please accept my apologies, I didn't think that mention of pitchforks and torches would have a negative impact on your business, that's why I made no mention of the ladies spandex suits, I knew that could affect you.

Lommis...actually got 5 calls today and business is picking up...problem was everyone was driving a fire truck...hopefully in the spring all the ladies will show up on their bikes over at Lant's office for their personal fittings. I guess..I will just have to tighten my belt just like everyone else...

Hey Doc, Bulletin: Repairing infrastructure is covered under redevelopment, making it attractive is also covered. All the ridiculous add-ons are also covered but are completely without merit and do nothing except add to the cost of the project. This is what is wrong with government, unlike private capital, it doesn't have to prove that the money spent will have a positive return. So your theory is create a project and over spend on it so other municipalities don't have a chance at improving their infrastructure. Isn't that just peachy. It's still our tax money no matter how you cut it.

fourgen:

Actually that is not my idea. I did not have anything to do with the original plan but we have backed off and are studying the best way to proceed and I hope I can approve the new citizens committee's recommendation.

Dr Bill Kirby

banker, younger and faster meas nothing without the education and skills needed to fight fires. You view is myopic. And no, I am not a firefighter. I

If the city can't pay for firefighters, maybe they should contract with Cal Fire or a local fire district.