> Banker Bonus Anger Is Shifting to Government Workers
Commentary by Joe Mysak
Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) — Move over, investment bankers. The next victims of populist backlash are going to be state- and local-government workers.
As usual, it’s all about the numbers, except this time we’re not talking about dollars in a bonus check. No, this time it’s about numbers of jobs.
Businesses have fired 8.5 million people, or 7.4 percent of those on the payroll when employment peaked in December 2007. Local governments kept hiring through September 2008, and since then have fired 141,000 workers, less than 1 percent of the 14.6 million they had at the top, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In good times, few people focus on how government payroll expands, or how elected politicians raise salaries and enhance pensions and benefits. Americans like government services, and their public officials are happy to comply with their wishes.
Now the good times are over, at least for a while, and Americans find themselves with local-government payrolls that in many cases remain at record levels. They also now see unions refusing to reduce headcount, and are forced to wonder what planet the union bosses are on.
>In response to “They have no empirical evidence to support their claims that CMP is a “dismal failure” in Ridgewood.”
Oh, but we do. Fortunately the Asbury Park Press makes all NJASK data for the last few years accessible to everyone. So let’s do our own Middle School Achievement Monitoring Study and examine the percent advanced proficient data for our middle school grades.
Laurie Goodman has pledged to provide parents with accurate information, and so I am sure she will confirm these numbers, even though the news ain’t good.
Over the last 4 years in the 3 middle school grades, only one of our 12 classes scored above the mean for J districts. Meanwhile top schools like West Windsor Plainsboro and Cranbury were above the mean in all 12 classes. Haddonfield was above the mean in 10 of the 12. One out of 12 isn’t very good for RPS, is it?
More bad news – if we compare each of our cohorts to their own performance when they were in elementary school, ALL of them are worse relative to the mean. Since Ridgewood was re-classified as a J district in 2005, ALL five fourth grade classes have been above the mean, and four out of five 3rd grade classes were above. You can verify for yourself that our 8th graders were 7.6 above the mean and our 7th graders were 7.3 above the mean back when they were in 4th grade. The underperformance of our middle school kids is very real and unmistakable. It’s uncanny that EVERY class that comes through declines so steeply after encountering CMP. My goodness, this is sad.
There’s more. In 2007 and 2008, our 7th graders’ scores were closer to the mean of the AB districts (Newark, etc.) than to the highest performing J districts. But yes, in 2009 our 7th graders actually scored closer to Cranbury than to Newark!!! Finally! Is this the “improvement” that Laurie is referring to?
So, is this the empirical evidence that you wanted? Are their enough data points for you to conclude that CMP is a dismal failure in Ridgewood? If not, there’s more – stay tuned.
And one last comment to the concerned parent who wrote “I want a good foundation for college prep.” You have every right, in fact an obligation, to insist on a math program that prepares your child for college. I’m sure you did not move to this town so that your kid could use Newark’s remedial math program.
> N.J. Gov. Christie cracks down on state’s independent boards and authorities
Governor Christie ordered hundreds of state boards, authorities and commissions to stop hiring lobbyists and end “golden parachute” payouts, and said Tuesday that some of those agencies could eventually be eliminated altogether. The agencies also face new restrictions on travel expenses, all part of an executive order issued by Christie, his 15th since taking office last month. Roughly 700 boards, authorities and commissions operate in New Jersey. But not all of them – including the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, a frequent target for Christie – fall under the control of the governor’s office. (Reitmeyer/Young, The Record)
>I am proud to pay tribute to Sergeant Christopher Hrbek, a Marine that recently was killed in action in Afghanistan by cosponsoring legislation to designate the United States Post Office building located at 216 Westwood Avenue in Westwood, New Jersey the “Christopher R. Hrbek Post Office.”
His dedication to his country and fellow soldiers represents his tremendous sense of loyalty and selflessness. Christopher Hrbek is a true American hero. Chris will never be forgotten by his family, friends or the country he fought for. Sergeant Christopher Richard Hrbek was a field artillery cannoneer with 3rd Battalion, 10th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, stationed in Afghanistan. Hrbek was an active member of his community in Westwood, New Jersey as a volunteer firefighter for nine years. In 2003 in response to the attacks on September 11, 2001, he enlisted with the United States Marines. He heard the call of duty and he answered it.
As a Marine, he served multiple tours of duty which included combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. On December 23, 2009, under enemy fire he saved the life of his sergeant major who stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device. For this he was to be awarded a Bronze Star with a combat “V”. He set the highest example of someone who is willing to risk their own life to save others.
On January 14, 2010, he stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device and died in service of his country.
He is survived by his wife, Jamie Lynn Wengerter; mother and stepfather, Cheryl and James Hodges; father and stepmother James and Gail Hrbek; sisters and stepbrothers Amy Dellentash, Lori Hrbek, Jim and Beau Hodges.
The entire New Jersey delegation in the House of Representatives is cosponsoring the bill. I have also coordinated with Senator Frank Lautenberg, who will be introducing the companion bill in the Senate, cosponsored by Senator Robert Menendez. Sincerely,
The next stop in the fight over whether Hackensack University Medical Center should be allowed to reopen Pascack Valley Hospital will be the Appellate Division of Superior Court, after a ruling Monday from state Superior Court Judge Peter E. Doyne.
Doyne declared that the proper jurisdiction for determining if the state’s Permit Extension Act of 2008 applies to the Westwood hospital license is the Appellate Division, not Superior Court.
That appeal could take as long as a year — and it would center solely on whether the deadline for reactivating the license could be extended beyond last Dec. 28, not on whether Hackensack’s application to do so should be approved.
The two hospitals opposed to reopening the Westwood hospital considered Monday’s ruling a victory. The longer the region goes without a hospital in Westwood, the harder it will be to prove that one is needed, they say.
“A new and unnecessary hospital only serves to weaken” the health care system in Bergen County, said Megan Fraser, a spokeswoman for The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood. “Since it opened its doors almost 60 years ago, Valley has welcomed patients from the Pascack Valley area.”
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center said through its spokeswoman that “Our dedicated physicians, nurses and other staff members have been providing uninterrupted, high-quality care to surrounding communities since [Pascack Valley Hospital] closed, and we continue to assist local towns, expand outreach efforts and provide more health care services to these communities.”
In the 28-page decision, Doyne expressed frustration with the “procedural machinations” in the case. But the question before him was narrow, not a substantive one about the public’s health care needs, he wrote.
“One is compelled to wonder whether the interests of Bergen County residents are best served by mandating the licensing process start anew,” he wrote, particularly since the problem “may have been caused by a misunderstanding of various procedural requirements.”
But that, “unfortunately, is beyond the province of this court.”
Hackensack said Monday it was still “100 percent committed” to opening the hospital. “We will take all the necessary steps, including having our case heard in the Appellate Division,” said spokeswoman Anne Marie Campbell.
Without an extension, Hackensack’s current application to reopen the hospital is moot. It still might ask the state Health Department for a new declaration that a hospital is needed in the region, with an accompanying call for applications, according to an attorney representing the department. But that process could take three to four years, Deputy Attorney General Susan J. Dougherty said in court Friday.
>“Americans for Prosperity” has once again joined with the NJ Tea Parties to provide buses to Protest Government Takeover of Healthcare – Press Conference (outside 30 min –to ensure attendees like Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid hear our message as they head inside) and Meeting following in the GW Hotel Ballroom.
Located half a block down from the Blair House where Obama will be holding his Press Conference to begin ramming this through, we will show our OUTRAGE over this arrogant push for Socialized Medicine (get people thinking of it as a RIGHT and dress it up later).
Americans for Prosperity are holding their own Critical Care: The Patients’ Summit to deliver a simple message: the American people have rejected this trillion-dollar takeover of health care. So Congress should start over from scratch, or better yet, focus on policies that create jobs and get our economy moving again.
Do we want to allow Healthcare to become a guaranteed RIGHT, allowing the government to control 1/6 of the economy AND many of our personal healthcare decisions? Republicans have already served notice they’ll continue to oppose it. They want Obama to start over with the goal of producing a more modest bill that tries to curb costs and helps small businesses and people with health problems secure coverage. The summit at Blair House, the White House guest residence, will be televised live on C-SPAN and perhaps on cable news networks. It represents a risky and unusual gamble by the administration that Obama can save his embattled overhaul through persuasion — on live TV.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday he would participate, but insisted Obama and congressional Democrats would be wrong to push the bills they wrote in the House and Senate.
You know, they are saying: ‘Ignore the wishes of the American people. We know more about this than you do. And we’re going to jam it down your throats no matter what.’ That is why the public is so angry at this Congress and this administration over this issue,” said McConnell, R-Ky, speaking on “Fox News Sunday.” Thursday’s meeting will take place nearly a year after Obama launched his drive to remake health care — a Democratic agenda item for decades. If you wish to go and wish to leave from Bogota (Bergen County) register now by emailing: [email protected] …..
Give your name and the number of people in your group and if we can fill the bus ….AFP will provide the bus gratis; donations to AFP will be appreciated if you are so able but the intent is to FILL THE BUS
LOCATION: BOGOTA: 24 River Road, Bogota, NJ 07603 — Departure 4:00 AM
If we cannot get enough people to go or other locations south are better for you, you can still go with AFP if you wish at other locations… Morristown, Wall (Commuter lot north of exit 98 food and fuel on Parkway)& Atlantic City.
Please contact Chris with your at (201)487-8844 (DO NOT CONTACT CHRIS IS YOU WISH TO LEAVE FROM BOGOTA- -JUST EMAIL MICHELE PER ABOVE).
The full Senate Monday confirmed Andrew Eristoff as state treasurer and Superior Court Judge Lee Solomon to head the state Board of Public Utilities. Another of Governor Christie’s key nominees, acting Education Commissioner Bret Schundler, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday morning for a hearing. After about 90 minutes of testimonly, the panel opted to continue the hearing on the former Jersey City mayor’s appointment. Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), objected to Eristoff’s appointment, saying he had a couple of concerns, including Eristoff’s stand on targeted tax cuts. “New Jersey needs targeted tax cuts” to create jobs, Lesniak said. He said Eristoff’ was “very, very constrained with some limited support for them” in his appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee today. (Ackermann, The Record)
Not a single no vote. Despite lobbying against the three pension reform bills that passed the senate today, the public workers’ unions could not convince a single senator to vote against any of them. Three senators abstained, and a fourth was absent. Does that reflect waning influence of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents 60,000 public workers in New Jersey? (Friedman, PolitickerNJ)
> Village of Ridgewood has Firefighter Applications for career Firefighters available in the Village Clerk’s Office. The last date for filing applications with the New Jersey Civil Service Commission is March 31, 2010.
On April 30, 1789, George Washington, standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York, took his oath of office as the first President of the United States. “As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent,” he wrote James Madison, “it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles.”
Born in 1732 into a Virginia planter family, he learned the morals, manners, and body of knowledge requisite for an 18th century Virginia gentleman.
He pursued two intertwined interests: military arts and western expansion. At 16 he helped survey Shenandoah lands for Thomas, Lord Fairfax. Commissioned a lieutenant colonel in 1754, he fought the first skirmishes of what grew into the French and Indian War. The next year, as an aide to Gen. Edward Braddock, he escaped injury although four bullets ripped his coat and two horses were shot from under him.
From 1759 to the outbreak of the American Revolution, Washington managed his lands around Mount Vernon and served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. Married to a widow, Martha Dandridge Custis, he devoted himself to a busy and happy life. But like his fellow planters, Washington felt himself exploited by British merchants and hampered by British regulations. As the quarrel with the mother country grew acute, he moderately but firmly voiced his resistance to the restrictions.
When the Second Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia in May 1775, Washington, one of the Virginia delegates, was elected Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. On July 3, 1775, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he took command of his ill-trained troops and embarked upon a war that was to last six grueling years.
He realized early that the best strategy was to harass the British. He reported to Congress, “we should on all Occasions avoid a general Action, or put anything to the Risque, unless compelled by a necessity, into which we ought never to be drawn.” Ensuing battles saw him fall back slowly, then strike unexpectedly. Finally in 1781 with the aid of French allies–he forced the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.
Washington longed to retire to his fields at Mount Vernon. But he soon realized that the Nation under its Articles of Confederation was not functioning well, so he became a prime mover in the steps leading to the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia in 1787. When the new Constitution was ratified, the Electoral College unanimously elected Washington President.
He did not infringe upon the policy making powers that he felt the Constitution gave Congress. But the determination of foreign policy became preponderantly a Presidential concern. When the French Revolution led to a major war between France and England, Washington refused to accept entirely the recommendations of either his Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who was pro-French, or his Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, who was pro-British. Rather, he insisted upon a neutral course until the United States could grow stronger.
To his disappointment, two parties were developing by the end of his first term. Wearied of politics, feeling old, he retired at the end of his second. In his Farewell Address, he urged his countrymen to forswear excessive party spirit and geographical distinctions. In foreign affairs, he warned against long-term alliances.
Washington enjoyed less than three years of retirement at Mount Vernon, for he died of a throat infection December 14, 1799. For months the Nation mourned him.
>Its funny but every time someone attempts to debate anything in education ,no matter what it is there always an outpouring from “teachers” and their supporters talking about how “hard” they work and how little they get paid . There are close to 100 comments from “teachers” complaining about there pay or about how the Village of Ridgewood taxpayers who spend over $80 million dollars a year on the Ridgewood School System show an “uncanny lack of support” . Really we suggest if you have any doubts about that support try getting the $80 million from someone else , then maybe you may come to realise how much money that really is and what an enormous sacrifice parents make to live in this town .
We have no doubt that there are many well qualified ,well meaning and hard working teachers out there looking out for the kids, while others are just marking time . We find it very disturbing but the very fact that virtually every comment has turned into a “teacher ” ranting about their pay lends credibility to to all the critics of public education.
Let us be clear and remind everyone once again education is about the students ,end of story ! Its not out educators and their minions ,the school construction authority , administrators or any other form of ego aggrandisement ! Eduction is not about teachers,salaries,days off ,perks, summer vacations ,pensions, or tenure its about the kids !
>What is the mortgage interest rate outlook for the next 6 months: The Fed’s zero-percent short-term interest rate policy has been a primary force behind the steady downward progression of mortgage interest rates since mid-year 2008.
Last week Thursday, during a dinner speech, Fed Chairman Bernanke said the central bank must continue to prop up the economy for an extended period — but cannot do so indefinitely for fear of triggering a scary surge in inflation pressures. Bernanke is still talking about an extended period of low short-term interest rates but at the same time he is reminding market participants that the Fed is moving ever closer to the start of the tightening cycle. This is not a new wrinkle in his monetary policy thinking — the Fed Chairman has fostered these ideas publically many times before.
Suddenly the big question mortgage investors are trying to frame an answer to is “how does the Fed define the word “closer”?
There are those who argue the Fed will begin pushing short-term interest rates higher as soon as the unemployment rate peaks at the end of this year or in the early part of 2010. A second group of analysts and market participants think a series of interest rate hikes from the Fed is a lot further off. They argue Fed Chairman Bernanke is an expert on the Great Depression – which means he clearly knows the economy slipped back into a disastrous recession in 1937-1938 primarily because the government started cutting back on emergency stimulus programs prematurely — driven by the mistaken belief the worst of the economic catastrophe was over.
I believe both camps are probably right. A short-term interest rate tightening cycle from the Fed will not likely begin until the nation’s employment picture brightens noticeably – and even then Bernanke and his fellow central bankers will probably choose to give the economy a “running start” before committing to an extended round of rate hikes intended to head-off the prospect of runaway inflation.
Scott Scarpelli Sr Loan Manager Office 201-335-3517 Cell 201-841-5897 Efax 201-426-2324
>You don’t need to have spent a day doing another person’s job to judge their compensation. That’s not how corporate America works, and that’s not how taxpayer-funded jobs should work, either.
Rupert Murdoch doesn’t have to have ever been a news anchor to judge the job that his news anchors are doing. The ratings and feedback measure that, along with his opinion, regardless of how hard the news anchors work or say they work.
As a parent, you don’t have to have been a teacher to be unhappy with the job teachers as a whole are doing.
Yes, there are some good teachers who go above and beyond, inspire children, and do an excellent job for little recognition.
But those are few and far between. It seems like some teachers here are trying to reframe this into, “there were a few bad apples, but the rest of all did a great job.”
That’s not true, and really, what parents feel about the quality of education their children are getting is more important than the self-report of someone who wants more money.
And how hard you work isn’t the sole determinant of the quality of your work. A salesman could work 80 hours and week and never make a sale. Another salesman might work 20 hours a week and make more sales than anyone else.
Selling is not the same as teaching, but the principle is the same. You could be working extremely hard…doesn’t mean you’re doing a good job.
>As one of the supposed “bashers,” let me state that the teachers I have encountered and am personal friends with have been for the most part dedicated, hard working and professional. I would add extremely patient (to deal with unruly kids and the parents who constantly hover over teachers’ shoulders).
All these nice things aside, there is a gigantic disconnect between what teachers earn in terms of salary and benefits (pensions, healthcare) relative to 1) what the taxpayers can afford and 2) relative to what those working in the private sector earn (related to what taxpayers can afford).
This disconnect must be changed. I.e., teachers’ comp must come down. The main way to do this is to have teachers pay some or all of their healthcare benefits (like all private sector workers do), and to cut or even eliminate defined benefit pension plans.
Teachers can and should dislike this reality (I would if I were a teacher). But it doesn’t change the facts.
Also, the affection that many hold for their teachers of their youth is irrelevant. People in bad schools or poorly funded ones (Catholic schools) have similarly strong positive recollections of their teachers. We must correctly attribute why schools are “good” in terms of test scores, AP classes, college enrollment rates and all the other criteria conventionally used to make such determinations. It’s pretty clear: good schools is most closely correlated with kids’ innate intelligence, which is closely correlated with parental intelligence. “Good schools” = “good kids” = “good (intelligent) parents” — that’s at least 60% of the equation, folks. Teachers can influence this, no doubt, but their performance (good or bad) is a less important factor in the “good school” equation.
>Re: “As the original poster who everyone is replying to here: people on both sides of the issues raised are making points that, whether or not one agrees with them, are posted in a professional manner. Then you also have psychos like 1:16AM who seem to believe that someone who disagrees with them is insane if they express a viewpoint. I hope he/she gets good mental health services.
Ha Ha.
Honey – you are doing everything to prove that you are a bit unbalanced.
I was initially amused at your YELLLING RANT at the end of our original post. (You do know that ALL CAPS MEANS YELLING – but of course you do… you are an all knowing teacher)
You refer to parents and those who pay teachers salaries as “ARROGANT JERKS” who are incapable of performing your highly skilled job. “I KNOW THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN’T DO THE JOB WELL. THEY CAN’T DO IT THE WAY I’VE DONE IT” All the while delivering this tirade with a holier than thou attitude
I laugh because you discredited any valid points you were trying to make as you revealed your true self in your tirade in the last paragraph of your original post. It was really a bit unhinged and showed your disgust and distaste for anyone who disagreed with your position that teaching is a highly skilled difficult job that only a few can master and should be highly compensated.
I found it ironic.
And now you come back with and even more ironic response.
You lament that everyone is behaving professionally and then you most unprofessionally start name calling (Then you also have psychos like 1:16AM). You proceed to believe (wrongly I might add) that I was calling you “insane” since I disagreed with you (which I did not by the way) and was recommending that you take advantage of your mental health services. THEN, you turn around immediately and tell ME to seek out mental health services, because YOU believe I disagree with you! I think we know who the cuckoo-bird is here and her name is the OP.
I hope there is someone in the classroom to restrain you – or are you this cruel and vindictive to the students placed in your care you do not have the means or ability to defend themselves?
I initially recommended you go to seek mental health services tongue-in-cheek, however with your newest round of vitriol I am beginning to wonder if you really do have a screw loose. Your comments are really coming off as someone who is a bit unhinged. I am now more seriously concerned about how you behave in the classroom. Would you call a student who mouths off to you an arrogant jerk (this does seem to be a favorite phrase of yours) or would you resort to violence? No one can know for sure what will happen with someone who cannot take criticism and could potentially snap. I hope I don’t read about you in the papers one day, holed up in your classroom or on the school roof holding hostages.
At this point, I honestly think a little anger management therapy or self esteem therapy would do you a world of good. You have a good health plan and can’t get fired, so please take advantage of it.
Do it for the children.
And if you think I am way off base, consider this…
There are 22 responses in this thread – many of them are long and thoughtful posts. But you ignored those and chose only to identify yourself as the original poster and respond ONLY to me, because I questioned your lack of control.
Hmmmm… proving my point are we?
Let’s also not forget that I called you no names but you have a mouth like a gutter rat.
