It is my opinion that Mayor Berke's main agenda is achieving a gold star to be placed next to his name. All he sees is that honey pot of the police and fire employees. Those men and women who have responded to all your emergencies and non-emergencies day after day, night after night, 24/7.
These servants have been putting a portion of their hard earned money into that pension for their futures. The city promising them to make good on its agreement in giving to the pension. Although they know by being reminded almost daily the dangers of their jobs. Whether it's a firefighter falling thru the roof of a burning building or a crime fighter being murdered. When that call comes in, they go.
Can you govern without breaking promises and screwing the people? It appears not. I find it very hard to believe that pension is the only thing to sacrifice. Yet Berke is going to walk across the backs of the city's fire and police to take their promised money. There isn't a gold star anywhere worth that. Maybe he can hire an out of town study group along with all the others that's been hired and see what a gold star is worth.
Does anyone believe that it's a coincidence that the police chief and his handpicked staff all exited the building together? If you ever wanted an example,of a red flag, that's it. City Hall has been taking on water for years and people know when it time jump ship.
I was a cop long enough to arrest the kids of the parents that I arrested years earlier. The gangs and broken homes continue to snowball and it's not going to stop.
But Andy wants his gold star because he balanced a checkbook. Bud, all I can say to you is this. You need to not whittle down your street warriors.
Michael Burns