Salary Priorities and No Respect

October 2, 2002

Dear Editor,

Joe Weichman asks why the Santa Monica police and firefighers' unions didn't endorse Bob Holbrook, the council candidate who has been the council's strongest champion of public safety. ("LETTERS: Taxes, Wages and Endorsements," Sept. 30)

People get stuck on the "Police" and "Firefighters" part of the groups' names and forget the second half, which is UNION. While our police officers and firefighters as a whole are dedicated to our public safety, the small number who make up the unions' executive boards have another priority, and that is SALARIES, which depend on the budget set by the City Council.

Historically, these unions have protected their financial interests by endorsing both Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights and non-SMRR candidates.

This year, however, there is no need for the unions to support the only non-SMRR candidate who has a chance to win, Bob Holbrook. Even if Dr. Holbrook is elected, he is just one vote. The only other "non-SMRR" council member Herb Katz, can be counted on to play "You-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours" games with SMRR council members most of the time.

So the unions -- and this includes the teachers' union, which negotiates with a SMRR-controlled school board -- may as well suck up to SMRR as much as possible by not endorsing Holbrook, which helps SMRR elect all three of its candidates.

Never mind that there will be no one left on the council to speak for those of us whose views differ from the SMRR party line. I wish we could have council members who weren't all cogs in the same machine.

Rachael Lebowitz
Santa Monica

October 2, 2002

Dear Editor,

I deeply appreciate the Police Officers Association and the Firefighters Union for informing me about the results of their endorsement selections. ("Dinolfo, McKeown, O'Connor Win Public Safety, Teacher Endorsements," Sept. 25)

I find it strange that I had to rely on The Lookout to find out that I did not receive their endorsement. This brings the question to my mind: Is the Santa Monica police and firefighters association a sincere organization, let alone whether they can show any respect or have any manners.

I spent my Sunday afternoon away from my loved ones and family to give the POA and Firefighters Local my time and I would at least expect some shred of respect and decency from these organizations to notify me of their decision, rather than reading about it in surfsantamonica.

I guess its very evident that the police officers association and firefighters association could care less about those who interview with them and the community as a whole. I guess it's just all about the pay raises and a generous 3%/ 50 retirement package (retire as early as 50 years of age with 3% of the annual salary times the number of years on the force) that you are negotiating for rather than public safety.

Sincerely,