Citizen About Town

By Nancy C. Arcuri, Editor and Publisher

E-mail: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

Fax: 626-307-9081

I have attended the first three Ad Hoc Committee Meetings on the County Fire Service question. I will be attending all of them to keep an eye on the progress of the committee.

All of the documentation is available on Monterey Park’s Fire Department website for the public to review.

The management of Monterey Park is not allowing the meetings to be televised on the city’s cable channels so many of the taxpaying voters are not aware of the questions being asked by the Ad Hoc Committee, who represent our interests.

On May 29 the Ad Hoc Committee majority requested the Council release the city attorney’s legal opinion to them and the residents.

One June 6 the Council majority Betty Tom Chu, Mitchell Stanley Ing and Teresa Real Sebastian refused to allow City Attorney Mark Hensley to release his legal opinion on this issue. They stated attorney client privilege as the reason that the Council could not release this document.

Since we the residents were not able to obtain the legal opinion from the Council we have determined that Measure J supports the residents’ rights to determine the fate of our Monterey Park.

In 2010 the Council majority (Benjamin Frank Venti, Betty Tom Chu and Mitchell Stanly Ing) allowed the County fire issue to be part of the firefighters labor negotiations held behind closed doors.

This Council majority kept the taxpaying voters in the dark.  Although Frank Venti did brag that the firefighters brought something to the table.

Going County will mean more chances for advancements and larger paychecks with more and more overtime for the firefighters.

If the legal opinion was given to the public and the Ad Hoc Committee idea was not supported by the Council majority then the firefighters threatened to sue the city.

Did Frank Venti, Betty Tom Chu, and Mitch Ing sell out Monterey Park residents to the Monterey Park Firefighters Association and the Los Angeles County Fire Union?

Will the Council majority force the question on the ballot regardless of any recommendations from the Ad Hoc Committee?

Will the taxpaying voters be subject to heavy handed tactics of the firefighters who will again go door to door highly recommending the people vote to Go County or no one will respond to their 911 calls for help?

That was their story in the last election.  Residents should be aware of this political situation and report any threats or intimidations to the police department.

Scott Walker is correct that government unions should not be given the power to negotiate their salaries, perks and other benefits since the unions are not thinking about the taxpayers who will be paying their heavy price tag.

I recommend to the Monterey Park Council that none of the department be outsourced to save money.

Jobs being outsourced are the main reason for the downturn in the economy in California and the United States. Jobs have been sent out of California and the country in the name of saving money but the high unemployment is hurting us all.

I believe the fire department should brown out a fire truck if anyone calls in sick or is on vacation.

Teresa Real Sebastian did request more information on browning out a fire truck at the Budget Hearings.

Will this Council majority force the fire service question on the ballot to benefit the firefighters?

If they do then I believe that our fire staff should be reduced to 12 members per shift with a battalion chief.

The first firefighters to be laid off should be the ones who are not licensed paramedics since most of the 911 calls are for medical emergencies. Next they can layoff staff members close to their retirement age and some of the young members who don’t have valuable experience, which is the policy of Corporate America.

After all Los Angeles County will only provide 12 firefighters per shift so it must be safe and it will save our hometown money.

On June 11 Councilmember Betty Tom Chu resigned her seat. She read a letter into the record blaming certain Councilmembers for their comments in closed session and members of the Concerned Citizens and former RAMP members.

She was instrumental in 2010 in requesting the County Fire Service do a new study on taking over our fire service. Her resignation may change the whole fire service issue.

On June 20 the Council will decide whether to leave the seat vacant until the March 2013 elections, appointment another person to the seat or have a Special Election which can cost us up to $80,000 in funds we don’t have to spend.

Currently the firefighters don’t have three votes to force the fire service issue on the ballot.

Will the AD Hoc Committee’s research continue or will it be laid to rest?

If this committee goes forward with Mrs. Chu’s appointment still be part of the committee?

City Manger Paul Talbot stated that Mrs. Chu’s appointment maybe replaced if a new Councilmember decides.  The Ad Hoc meeting proceeded as scheduled.

Our estimated overtime for fiscal year of 2012-13will be $1,278,600 according to the Budget Hearings for our firefighters.

Councilmember Teresa Real Sebastian asked for more data on the possibility of browning out a truck or engine in the Budget meetings.

This information and the approved budget for the fire service are vital for the committee to review as part of their decision process.

Monterey Park taxpaying voters deserve the truth.

May our United States of America continue to be the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Thank all of our current and retired military members for keeping us safe.

Happy Fourth of July to all of us!