This Week in the Mercury
Thursday, May 28, 2009
News / City Hall Fish, Fritz Turn Down Pay Rise
Posted by Matt Davis on Thu, May 28, 2009 at 11:47 AM
City Commissioners Nick Fish and Amanda Fritz have opted out of a 2.8 percent "cost of living allowance" pay rise for non-union council employees voted through unanimously by council yesterday. This story was first reported by KGW this morning last night, but we missed it in council yesterday, having been focused on the Lents Baseball story. The Oregonian is also playing catch-up this morning.
Randy Leonard and Dan Saltzman will take the pay rise. Mayor Sam Adams is yet to comment.
"As an elected official, I didn't think it was appropriate to take the COLA when I am cutting budgets and laying off employees," Fish tells the Mercury this morning.
To take the pay increase in context: Layoffs and pay freezes are happening at every other level of government in Oregon: the state, county, and school board. Days are being shaved off the school year for teachers. The county laid off 16 district attorneys in its budget.
I can imagine the election TV ads, now..."In the worst economic downturn since the great depression, Randy Leonard, Dan Saltzman and perhaps Sam Adams too, decided to take a pay rise, when almost every other public employee in the state was facing layoffs, salary freezes and furloughs."
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Technically, KGW first reported this yesterday evening.
Wow. Some integrity at City Hall. The older Commissioners must blink uncomprehendingly at Fish and Fritz like aliens arrived from another planet.
"Turn... down... raise? Whuh?"
Leonard should at least dedicate his raise to funding his stupid stadium. That way his raise can generate a new job!
There are 6000 employees in the city of Portland. Do you know anyone else that is in charge of 6000 people, that makes less than $120k/year? I know directors of non-profits with 5 part time employees that make more than that. Even the Mayor of Beaverton makes more than that. Complaining about the 2.8% raise seems kind of petty...
Matthew and the Council, sitting in a tree!
When you are Randy Leonard and prone to eating $400 meals (using campaign funds) you need the extra scratch for the tip. That's how the big dogs roll!
Apple Computer has 35,000 employees; Steve Jobs' salary is $1/year.
...and he receives no income from Apple stock. None. In fact, the guy is on food stamps.
Matthew D,
I think you did not read enough Dilbert in highschool.
Fat paychecks are not a measure of role worth, sorry, becauses the best managers don't care that much about money. This is a little known fact.
Just like the best managers don't fly to wherever on their corporate jets.
Ey! Steak dinners ain't cheap! Ya think Randy can live entirely on Jiff and Kroger mayonnaise!?
When $ is being shaved from local programs every little dollar seems to help. For example: there are a couple of high schools trying to raise funds from the community themselves to pay to keep on teachers. The couple of thousand dollar difference in Sam's raise could really help with these causes. Just saying that every little bit helps now,
When $ is being shaved from local programs every little dollar seems to help. For example: there are a couple of high schools trying to raise funds from the community themselves to pay to keep on teachers. The couple of thousand dollar difference in Sam's raise could really help with these causes. Just saying that every little bit helps now,
Will: In context, the phrase "Kroger mayonnaise" takes on new meaning.
I just thought I'd mention all faculty in the state university system are taking a 10% pay cut, no COLA and then a pay freeze.
This includes U of O, OSU, PSU and OHSU.
The City of Portland is so broke they may cut affordable housing and economic development in Lents to subsidize a multi-millionaire's baseball stadium.
This says a lot about the Mayor's value system.
Leslie and The Badgers
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