Long Beach letters

Police contract should consider our children

To the Editor:  

As the City of Long Beach negotiates a new police contract, it must be mindful not only of the short-term financial obligations for the duration of the contract, but, more importantly, of the long-term financial obligations due to free medical insurance for life, generous pension and termination payments.  

Unfunded future obligations that were once ignored are now severely impacting foreign countries and several U.S. states. In addition to drastic cuts in Greece, Ireland has recently reduced the wages and pensions of its police force, the Garda, by 15 percent. California, Illinois and, of course, New York have multi-billion-dollar budget deficits this year and for the foreseeable future.   

Comprehensive planning for future expenses can no longer be ignored. For example, the audited Long Beach financial report shows an over $20 million unfunded obligation for unused vacation, comp and sick time as of June 30, 2009. The 71-person police department accounts for half, or $10 million. It is different in the private sector.  Unlike our police officers, the office manager who retires is not paid for his unused sick days and personal days. Unlike our police officers, the auditor who takes the late train home is not paid for her overtime hours. Unlike our police officers, the truck driver who donates blood does not earn a paid day off. Ordinary citizens who donate get a glass of juice and a few cookies. 

The paid day off that a sergeant earns for his blood donation ends up costing the taxpayers about $500 a pint.  Decades ago-police officers were significantly underpaid. That has been reversed too much, and the need now is for a fair and balanced wage and benefit structure. 

Short-term thinking may be good for politicians, but it is very bad for taxpayers and their children.  

Joseph P. Marron   

Long Beach

United we stand against heroin use

To the Editor:

Regarding your article "Drug issues are front and center" (March 18-24), I wish to share just how much I appreciate and applaud the City of Long Beach for being such a united and proactive force in fighting the war against heroin and its alarming presence in our area.

Also, I thank all those who shared their personal stories with the Herald, the Long Beach Medical Center and the Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking for all that they are doing in bringing awareness to our young people. I thank the Long Beach Police Department for partnering with the middle school on a 10-week drug- prevention program and recognizing the importance of educating our young.

I thank each and every person who is actively taking a stand in protecting our youth in Long Beach and its neighboring communities. Recognizing that we are all in this together and that together, we can all help to make a difference.

Donna Brown

Point Lookout

After settlement, streets still unsafe

To the Editor:

The death of Joseph Shannon, the bicyclist killed by a school bus in Long Beach, wasa tragedy for everyone, including the Shannon family, the grieving bus driver and citizens throughout our city (“School district settles death suit,” March 25-31).

The financial settlement announced last week assures a measure of accountability as the Long Beach School District and the City of Long Beach move forward, but our streets remain far from safe. If there is any silver lining in this terrible event, it is that theHerald, Richard Boodman, a tireless champion of safe streets, and dozens of aroused citizens have kept a powerful beacon of light on the issue of public safety.

All too often we blame both the media and the public for greeting deteriorating public safety concerns with sniggering apathy, but this still-evolving case shows the power of both the press and determined citizens to fight for the well-being of all of us.

Randall Poe

Long Beach