James Burger called a couple weeks ago to bring to Planet Stanley’s attention that indeed the Bakersfield Californian had reported on the pension issue way back in March of 2003.
The stories by James Burger and Devin McHenry get to the heart of the pension issue. They show that the city and county were just starting to see the impacts that the 3 at 50 retirement benefit coupled with a stock market decline would have on local budgets. This issue has been facing us for many years and still requires strong local leadership to find solutions to the problem.
I look forward to seeing continuing coverage and participating in the discussion on the pension issue.
The Bakersfield Californian has been reporting problems the County and City are facing regarding their employee pension plans. On Sunday, 9/6/09, they printed an editorial titled “Leaders failed to be good stewards” that concludes that giving out lavish benefits like 3% at 50 to public safety employees, or 3% at 60 for non-safety, showed our local leaders were fiscally irresponsible.
Of course the BakCal’s new found passion for pension reform is right and good, but it must make one wonder, why did it take so long? And why didn’t they do more, sooner, to help us avoid this mess?
Going back through the online records of BakCal’s past we do find one person who, for years, has held pension reform as a top issue. That person is Zack Scrivner.
In the article David Burger writes, “The two differed on one of Scrivner’s pet issues — the reduction of pension and benefits for future city employees. Scrivner has been at odds with the firefighters union and the Central California Association of Public Employees because of his charges that their demands would bankrupt the city and cut services. Mitchell said that with the city lacking manpower, it needed to offer talented employees incentives to join and stay in the public sector.
Mitchell has been endorsed by the firefighters union and announced Tuesday she also has been endorsed by CCAPE (Central California Association of Public Employees).”
And from another October 2006 article by David Burger, “”Sheryl has a good business background,” said Chuck Waide, CCAPE rep. “She won’t use city employees as a whipping post to make a name for herself,” alluding to Scrivner.
CCAPE and the firefighters union have criticized Scrivner for targeting pensions and benefits. Scrivner claims that exorbitant benefits and pension plans for new hires could bankrupt the city.”
But in return for being a champion of pension reform, the BakCal portraited Scrivner as a political opportunist.
June 2009 Gretchen Wenner “Bakersfield police and fire departments have the 3-at-50 pension plan. Councilmembers Zack Scrivner and Ken Weir have set their political sights on killing it off.” (emphasis added)
June 2009 Gretchen Wenner “Blame for a negotiating impasse with police and a predicted impasse with firefighters has been put mostly on the council’s two newest members, Zack Scrivner and Ken Weir, who lambasted 3-at-50 during election campaigns.” (emphasis added)
June 2009 Lois Henry “He wants to be the guy who broke the 3-at-50 benefit, which would be a first in the state and would virtually guarantee Scrivner ascent to higher office.” (emphasis added)
In their 2006 “endorsement“ of Scrivner’s re-election bid, where they called him a “divisive, partisan figure” who was lacking in leadership, they referenced his interest in the pension issue as such, “Scrivner demonizes the mounting costs of public employee pensions, but offers no solutions to what he says is a looming crisis.”
As a disclaimer I would like to state the fact that I have worked with Zack and I was appointed to the Bakersfield Planning Commission by him. But I believe the impartial observer has to agree that Zack has played a major part in bringing this issue to the forefront. And contrary to the Californian’s claim, he has offered solutions from the very beginning. Ideas such as increasing the age to receive the maximum 90% benefit, shifting to a defined contribution plan for new employees, employees sharing pension costs and even potentially returning to the 2 at 50 pension system that the city had for years. Here is a recent article Zack wrote about pensions.
So it is interesting that due, in part, to his view on pension reform, Zack is a ”divisive, partisan figure,” but it is now the same view held by the Bakersfield Californian. And for all of his work, no recognition in the BakCal’s shaming of fiscally irresponsible local elected officials.
Also interesting is the similarity between their editorial and the fire union’s talking points:
Bakersfield Fire Department employee Alan Neumann said in July 2009, “But rather than keeping the monies aside for the day when it was not overfunded, they chose instead to spend it on ice rinks, water parks and new offices for City Manager Alan Tandy.”
The Bakersfield Californian editorial in September 2009 said, “With no pay raises to pay and with no retirement contributions to contribute, that left more for the politicians to spend on say, oh, aquatic centers, ice skating rinks and sports arenas.”
(Note: The current unfunded liability amount is $100 million, approximately 1/3 of the city’s yearly operating budget. It is a stretch to think saving pay raises and retirement contributions would come close to filling this hole. This hole is here for two reasons only: high expense providing 90% of income at 50 years of age (or 60) for the rest of the employee’s natural life and poor performance from CalPERS investments.)
Ideally, the Californian and other local media would have helped tell this story sooner, so the public could help push the unions to accept these needed reforms. Now, with a hurting economy and many individuals without jobs, let alone lavish pensions, advocating for bringing pubilc employee benefits down to earth is an easy sell. It is a message that resonates with BakCal readers. (At least the taxpayers out there who will not receive 90% of their income for life.)
Perhaps the Californian could be accused of failing to be a good steward as well, by not getting in front of this issue. Luckily we have some leaders in Bakersfield who are willing to take a stand even when it is unpopular in the pages of the local paper.
It has been nice taking in the scenery of Bakersfield’s surroundings for the last day or so. As this modest hamlet is snuggled in the southern end of the San Joaquin valley we are surrounded by beautiful mountains on three sides which are obscured more than 300 days a year by smog, dust, flying geese, hot air balloons, etc. Well the geese, balloons and etc. to a lesser degree than the smog and dust, but you get the picture.
Less geese-y
The point is that it has been clear enough to see these beauties in semi-HD and to up the ante, they are covered in snow. Yet amidst all of this beauty I get the sense a lot of people weren’t enjoying it. Popular comments on a twitter search of Bakersfield:
@mshubacca: Stuck in Bakersfield- all routes under snow… cramping my vacation style!
@davejohnston: Got a call last night, relatives stuck in Bakersfield, CA because of snow road closings. Good times right now…winter begins Dec 21
@cfletcher83: Stuck in bakersfield til the grapevine opens. Hurry up and thaw!
Mother nature has bestowed upon us this wonderful moment, the Chamber of Commerce is beaming and Twitternation is lamenting being “stuck in Bakersfield.” And despite my faux outrage, I can wholeheartedly sympathize with these poor souls. Sitting in your car, unable to accomplish your explicit task of getting somewhere, be it traffic, broken car or snow, blinds you to the outside world and truly befouls otherwise pleasant people.
Luckily I have no intention of leaving the general vicinity for quite a while, so traffic related aggravation will be at a minimum. In fact I believe there is some requirement that new dads not leave the county for two years. That may only apply to new dads who are also on parole but why risk it?
I am just thankful that things look a little nicer than usual and hopeful that possibly a few passing through, stuck or unstuck, enjoy the beauty of the southern Sierras.
The Bakersfield Californian has been reporting problems the 
But in return for being a champion of pension reform, the BakCal portraited Scrivner as a political opportunist.
