from the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Opinion page, April 8, 2008
[bold added by Cameron Jackson, 831 688-6002]
“Thank you for calling attention to the large Santa Cruz County administrative pay increases reported in the Sunday, April 5 edition. With the hue and cry hyped nationally over unearned bonuses of AIG and others, it is easy to not see the microcosm happening locally. A 27 percent increase of a $200,000 plus salary (exclusive of the generous benefits package) is reminiscent of the millions of “bonuses” awarded to those on Wall Street. A similiar reporting that at least two assistants earned more than $200,000 “with overtime” is equally disturbing. Many small business owners in the county are working long hours of “overtime” just to stay afloat. If overtime hours are needed by county executives in these challenging times, they should be worked without extra compensation just as the majority of county’s taxpayers do to survive (or not). With businesses closing, retiree’s benefits eroding by 40 percent or more and large layoffs taking place, it is time to “reset” the economy to a more fair and equitable basis. Time magazine’s cover story last week argues that such a reset would likely be good for the country, and it can be argued that a similiar rest is past due here at home.”
Dale Brideenbaugh, Aptos
