http://www.timesunion.com

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Cuts to municipal work forces harm the public
First published: Wednesday, June 27, 2007

In response to John Tully's letter to the editor on June 14 ("Municipal work forces burden taxpayers"):
  
Cutting the work force in the public sector, in an attempt to lower taxes, is not in the best interest of the public.

In fact, I argue that an increase in available state and municipal jobs would spur economic growth and provide for safer and stronger communities.

Consider what would happen if the allocated resources were based on census figures, rather than reality. The workday in Albany ends with the nightly flight to suburbia for many. Yet, the time spent by these people during daylight hours requires adequate levels of emergency responders, police presence and other services that are often taken for granted.

In short, diminished levels of service could pose significant and serious problems. Absent of a commuter tax, how else can we cover these required expenses?

As far as jobs as a whole are concerned, I would like to see more public sector jobs, hopefully targeted toward city residents who may not have the same opportunities that our suburban compatriots are afforded. That would have a direct and positive impact on the urban business sector and the quality of life in our cities as a whole.

Maybe we could shift the piles around a little bit, so the burden of paying for something like this is minimized. This, too, is a simplistic solution, but one with positive ramifications.

I don't like paying excessive taxes, either. However, there have to be opportunities available in public employment. Think of that the next time the police, fire department or public works department provides you a hand.

RANDALL O'NEIL
Albany

  

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Absent of a commuter tax, how else can we cover these required expenses?

Guess Mr. O'Neil doesn't know that there already IS a commuter tax for those coming from the west and the south.  It's just not paid to the city, it's paid to the NYS Thruway Authority, instead. But wasn't the Thruway supposed to be free by now?  Weren't those bonds supposed to have been paid off before I was born?  Good luck.

I am not opposed to all public sector jobs. Clearly we need our police and firefighters of course. What I am opposed to is first the unions that represent them. Union's in the public sector is utter nonsense. Second, I am opposed to public sector jobs that allow 3hrs lunches, card games while on the clock, so many days off, that the position might as well be abolished and benefits that are raping the taxpayer.

And when I am referencing the 3 hour lunches and card games on the clock and stealing paper/pencils every September for their children's school supplies...I am only referencing what I have been told by the workers themseves!!!

Hi, I am Christine's sister babysitting tonight.  I do work for the government at the state level.  I have never seen people taking three hour lunches (unless there was a retirement party and then we charge our accruals for everything over the 45 minute lunch period we have.  Just what agency I work is irrelevant other than to say it's a mid level clerical position, i.e., support staff.  I'll get to that in a moment.

Yes, we need police and fire and yes I agree the unions for those, and teachers, are outrageous.  Does cutting harm the public?  Well, without enough police and fire, we don't need an explanation of what can happen.  If snow plow people are cut, or sewer cleaners cut, what happens?  How about if nurses are cut at public hospitals.  

But what if they cut employees who answer phones at the tax dept  or the IRS for the public who calls to say "where's my refund" ?   Does that harm the public?  Does it harm the public when you call and be put on hold on the phone?  Does it harm the public if the public goes to the DMV office and has to wait in line for two hours?  No harm other than it takes time out of the life of that person.  But what does the public do?  Probably wait in line and start complaing just like in a store or bank. Change one's weight from one leg to the other, letting out an annoying sigh, perhaps mumbling to the next one in line with something like Yeah, I really have time for this."  Or they might call out, "gee can't you get some other cashiers" When you call social securityand that recording goes through menu choices and then it says "to speak to an operator press 0" and then it says your estimated wait time is 20 minutes, what is your reaction?

Do you stand in line at DMV. You get put on hold for 20 minutes.  In my office where my unit has gone from about 20 people to now 6, and the work stuff was like someelse handled the incoming and coulple people handled outgoing.  With those people all gone how can one person namely me do both the incoming and outgoing?  What happens when I'm working on the incoming and people are calling leaving me messages on the outgoing side.  Now the incoming side work needs to get done and processed to the next level where it winds up with me.  Now poeple are calling and I can't even call them back after 3 days sometimes.  What happens when you call my office and you don't get a return phone call?  Well whose work is more important.  You think your's is, your neighbor (thinks his side is imporant).  Do you wait days for a phone call back thinking that I have not returned your call because I'm ignoring you but in reality maybe if your work is the outgoing nature, I'm working on the incoming items.  While you wait in line for attention, do you think to yourself, "if we paid higher taxes, they'd call back quicker or we would be on hold for 3 minutes, etc."  Probably you've never thought of that.

If someone tells you that workers play cards, then perhaps some investigator's office should be called, have you called?

Only the beaurocracy creates the need for such positions......every time we 'cry' to our elected officials some line to wait in(whether it be the phone, drive thru, or actually physically standing there) has been created.....I dont know what is worse---waiting for our neighbor or waiting for our oversized government.......

PS: I did my DMV stuff on line.....folks who dont have a computer can go to the library.....and if ya cant read maybe ya shouldn't be driving......

First may I say that 'no' I would not call the investigators office as these people are family member, friends and friends of friends. I state my feelings to them...but they just laugh and say that perhaps I should apply for a state job so I can reap the same benefits and rape the taxpayer.

As far as your office staff being cut and having to handle more of a work load...well, welcome to the real world. This happens everyday in the private sector world. The only difference is that the private sector is doing it to keep up with the ever increasing rise of inflation. Trying to survive and not go out of business. When the public sector makes the cut, it clearly does not put money back in the already over taxed NYS taxpayer. It goes to the union heads or state officials coffers.

If anyone thinks that the state cares for the people standing in line at DMV or who is handling the phone lines at social security, which are government entities, they are sadly mistaken. DMV has improved, but surely not due to increased staff (which are ususally rude). They just brought more technology into that system.(and I know people who work there).

I know someone who took a job at the Golub Corporation in the accounting dept. This person worked there not even ONE year. Said it was too much work. Guess where this person works now? Yup..for the state in the accounting dept. Loves it! Loves the time off! Loves the benefits! Loves the long lunches! Loves being able to leave early! This person actually said it is much easier and less pressure to get 'the job done'. NICE! >
And we wonder why the youth of today 'don't want to work'!

When the government starts being in the business of employment, there is clearly a problem, especially when in NYS the public sector jobs outweigh the private sector jobs. In my opinion, most public employees are out of touch not only with the real world, but with the bleeding taxpayer.

I have to agree that the state should not be finding or creating jobs. It should be left up to the private businesses. I think that most of these state jobs could be done through a private sector employer. The public sector jobs increased in great number back when the governer was Rockafeller. I didn't think it was such a good idea then and now I think it has gotten even worse. It is not good for any government to have more employees than the private sector.I think it is like living like a socialist.