A sampling of the Insider mailbag showed that readers seem to be as skeptical of Claremont Mayor Ellen Taylor's claims of impending fiscal doom. This correspondent has figured out how to save the city coffers a buck or two:
Wonderful email. Two things to add:
1.) As you showed, the second deputy assistant dogcatcher makes a six-figure salary. The city manager got a $24,000-a-year *raise* last year, and some *extremely* marginal performers at city hall are making $150,000+ in pay and benefits. Government employees deserve to be compensated reasonably well for their work, but the salaries you revealed were out of kilter with reality. Give me a list of employees and salaries -- I'll save the city a couple hundred grand in five minutes.
2.) When Al Leiga left the council, I went to his (city-funded) going away party, where one speaker after another celebrated the city's "accomplishments" during Leiga's tenure: A new this, a new that, more of this, more of that. It was a laundry list of government growth in things like recreation programs at the community center. (Leiga, best part, is a Republican.) Can the people of Claremont get through a tough economic cycle without a massive sports park, extensive recreation services, a fully staffed community center, and a new LWV-sponsored wetlands project? Yeah.
"We're desperately poor -- come to the groundbreaking ceremony at the sports park!"
So, so dumb.
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We also received some comments on Xavier Alvarez's journey into the criminal justice system, including this from an army vet:
I am retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years and service as an Infantryman in Vietnam. The value of military service has shrunk since the all volunteer army, but for those of us who have served, whether voluntarily or as draftees, service is an earned badge of honor.
Alvarez is a low life who took advantage of those who actually served and has dishonored us. But, even worse, he has dishonored the members who earned the Medal of Honor. They earned it by "service above and beyond the call of duty". If you check, you will find most of the Medal of Honor winners died earning the medal.
I live in Claremont so I can have no say in who represents Pomona. I, and I am sure all other veterans, can only hope that those who can participate recall this scumbag.
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