Video: Union Rally Demands Respect from City Hall

Shar August 16, 2011 at 10:48 am

UNION THUGS....that is what they are...nothing more and nothing less

Barbara LoPrete August 16, 2011 at 11:13 am

Mr Finn and the council are looking to protect the taxpayers - did I really here that. Is that why they instituted a one percent transfer tax if I try to sell my house and escape? Is that why they continue to hire useless consultants for projects as foolish as hanging art in city hall? Is that why they purchased and bonded the polluted Karta property that if it wasn't for Mary etc would now house a target? Is that why they're going to burden us with another bond to build Mary's firepalace? And that's just the tip of the iceberg that's sinking the middle-class in Peekskill.

Patty Villanova August 16, 2011 at 12:09 pm

These thugs are lucky to have jobs at all, let alone the ones they have working for Big Government. Trust me, in the private sector many of them would be lucky if they could get a job at Walmart's or Home Depot, let alone the elevated status they have as City workers. For once Finn seems to get it-- better late than never. He seems to have a better grasp of fiscal reality than the Mayor. The truth is, get a job with the city and you never have to work another day in your life, the protection is that good. It's virtually impossible to fire someone in a municipal union no matter how badly they screw up. You could fire half of the employees at city hall and nobody would know the difference. They all need to wake up, smell the coffee & maybe talk to some of the taxpayers who are paying for their enviable salaries & benefits that few in the private sector even dream of anymore. Mary needs to take a strong stand but she won't, not in an election year when she needs that voting bloc. These people are a disgrace; they should be ashamed of themselves.

Patty Villanova August 16, 2011 at 12:09 pm

These thugs are lucky to have jobs at all, let alone the ones they have working for Big Government. Trust me, in the private sector many of them would be lucky if they could get a job at Walmart's or Home Depot, let alone the elevated status they have as City workers. For once Finn seems to get it-- better late than never. He seems to have a better grasp of fiscal reality than the Mayor. The truth is, get a job with the city and you never have to work another day in your life, the protection is that good. It's virtually impossible to fire someone in a municipal union no matter how badly they screw up. You could fire half of the employees at city hall and nobody would know the difference. They all need to wake up, smell the coffee & maybe talk to some of the taxpayers who are paying for their enviable salaries & benefits that few in the private sector even dream of anymore. Mary needs to take a strong stand but she won't, not in an election year when she needs that voting bloc. These people are a disgrace; they should be ashamed of themselves.

Dick Johnson August 16, 2011 at 01:06 pm

Enviable salaries? Patty, you've lost your mind. Tell me how much it would take you to ride around on the back of a garbage truck in the heat, pouring rain, snow....inhaling fumes and garbage....waking up at 5:30 to clean up after a city of slobs. If you listened to the interview, these workers are fighting for a contract and fair working conditions. I don't recall anyone saying that they wanted more money. Every single worker, other than the overpaid management, has been working without a contract for almost 2 years. The Unions have now completely halted all negotiations with Rick because he's pompous and unwilling to work with his employees. Where would this city be without workers? You might be looking on the fiscal side of things, but if Rick is so willing to make cuts then maybe he should cut out his monthly luncheons for all of management that costs HUNDREDS of dollars. Why hasn't anyone asked for copies of Rick's credit card statements? This "manager" is the highest paid person, had his rent paid for an entire year, has a car allowance for every single trip that he makes back and forth to his family in upstate NY and has the City paying for life insurance now that he's had 3 heart surgeries. Wake up people. It's not about the workers, it's about Rick Finn and his unbelievable contract. This election should be about removing this fool....fixing the mistake that they made when they brought him here.

Patty Villanova August 16, 2011 at 01:42 pm

In response to Eyes: While I applaud Rick Finn for taking a strong stance and addressing fiscal reality, I don't mean to imply that he or any other management employee should be immune from necessary salary cuts either; they ALL need to feel our pain. Many in our communities are having to decide whether to heat their home or pay their taxes. I don't know if Rick and many of the others who are on the payroll understand this. I totally agree with you that his salary & benefits are way too high as are most of management's. Look at what's happening to our country, our state, our towns and cities: taxpayers simply can no longer afford Big Government. The cuts in Peekskill need to be across the board and that includes getting rid of unnecessary agencies and authorities like the BID. Also, let's look at all the no bid contracts that are costing hundreds of thousands. Look at the proposed firehouse, etc. etc. All of this stuff is simply UNAFFORDABLE AND UNSUSTAINABLE. As far as city jobs: nobody is forcing anyone to be garbage collector or a cop or anything else. You took the job because the pay & benefits were better than somewhere else. Ask the guys working on the private garbage trucks what kind of job security and benefits they have.

TMac August 16, 2011 at 01:47 pm

What's funny is people like you shooting your mouths off and have no clue or facts to what your talking about. First, a large majority of the police and fire personnel are college graduates. Second...enviable salaries? Again you're wrong. Peekskill firefighters are the lowest paid in Westchester yet one of the busiest in call volume per area covered. Police officers...in the bottom tier of salary despite their heavy call volume. Go ahead and get rid of half of them. Your garbage will pile up, you will have no one to call and complain about stupid stuff and if you have a fire or medical emergency...order a pizza and then have them drive you to the hospital it will be quicker and you can explain why your place burned down at 11 am when 3 volunteer firefighters show up.

TMac August 16, 2011 at 01:56 pm

Feel your pain? Poor you...I didn't know that municipal employees were exempt from paying property taxes, or also dealing with the rising costs across the board in the retail market because of fuel costs and the economy. Which by the way in Peekskill have barely been raised in several years and if you can actually see past your ignorance...take a comparative look at other areas around you and what the tax increases have been, what they pay and the similar services you get in Peekskill for the taxes paid here. But its ok...feel good, because the overpaid, uneducated who couldn't get a job elsewhere are on duty right now protecting you, your property, your patrons while in Peekskill, 24/7, holidays and weekends doing things that you would probably pass out, vomit or quit. You have no clue why some become cops and firefighters...just like you chose to do what you did for your reasons. More unsustainable "facts" by you. Try listening and you will see the benefits of the new fire station and how overall it will save you money.

Giant August 16, 2011 at 02:11 pm

I thought the Bulldog was the MC mascot . Pit Bull is more like it. Semper Fi Tmac

Dick Johnson August 16, 2011 at 03:50 pm

Just as you said, the jobs are taken because the pay and benefits are better than somewhere else. So who is the fool, the municipal worker or the private garbage man? Nobody is forcing the private sector employees to be employed there. You called these workers "thugs" because they want the protection that they PAY into. Union dues are paid for a reason. Instead of faulting the men that protect our city and keep our city clean, how about we remove some of the unneccesary management that we have? How about we look at the FIVE employees that Rick has working under him? A deputy city manager that sits tight lipped in the background @ 150k. A "secretary to the city manager" that poses as a Personnel Director that doesn't know the first thing about Human Resources. Not one but TWO part time secretaries to keep his important files in line. And of course, a full time secretary that sits around smoking cigarettes all damn day. Money can EASILY be saved by eliminating half of the "filler" staff and leaving the people that protect us alone.

Shar August 16, 2011 at 03:52 pm

I ask the Firefighters to please leave the UNION...UNIONs are bleeding us the tax payer....I cannot afford to live here anymore...never never have my taxes gone up so much in so little time.

Shar August 16, 2011 at 03:55 pm

I am with you Patty...I am plain broke all the time because of our town taxes, school taxes and on and on...it never stops

Shar August 16, 2011 at 03:58 pm

How about fair and equal for the tax payer

Dick Johnson August 16, 2011 at 04:24 pm

Shar- How does a UNION cost you money? Have you paid any attention to your taxes lately? The city taxes have barely gone up and the school taxes are not determined by Foster and the council. The SCHOOL DISTRICT makes the school taxes and the majority of homeowners don't bother voting for school budget cuts. You can stick with Patty, but her bogus claims and backwards thought process is what got her kicked of the BID. I implore you to call City Hall and educate yourself about your tax rates before you piggyback on someone elses comments.

TMac August 16, 2011 at 05:02 pm

So is it your confused or clueless? Collective bargaining is designed to make it fair and equal for all parties. The unions are not asking for outrageous demands so get real, but I forgot don't let truth get in the way of ignorance. You watch too much network news if you blame unions for the state we're in now But if you like we can have each employee negotiating salaries individually instead of collectively if you like. As said your local taxes which the bulk of the services you receive gets paid from has had minimal increases. So unless PD, FD & DPW employees are now on the payroll of the school district, you again, have no clue. It might be hard for some of you to actually research facts not that it would matter even if you did, but if you can't afford to live here, look at some other area municipalities and their tax increases and the lesser services they get. And by the way the raises that the unions are bringing to the table would equate to less cost to the taxpayer then the legal costs by going to arbitration. The person "responsible" to the taxpayer is also "responsible" for public safety by city charter, is the one who inked a 5 year contract (charter states no more then 3 years) walked in the door with 25 sick days and 5 weeks vacation time. It takes the "thugs" 25 months to get that sick time and can't ever achieve 5 weeks vacation. Maybe they can hire another consultant to clue some of you in. Blame the unions while denying what you're paying for...his ego.

Patty Villanova August 16, 2011 at 05:04 pm

The reason that so few people participate in public/ online debate about local government is simple: nobody wants to be subjected to the vicious personal attacks and threats that result whenever anyone dares to question the actions of the almighty municipal unions and their public servants in Big Government. The playbook has been around forever, the best offense is a good defense and it's always better to kill the messenger than to address the facts. The truth is that the goose that laid the golden egg is dead; the taxpayers have been bled dry by the teachers' & other unions and there's nothing more to give. Elections and budget votes are a joke- totally meaningless, which his why most people don't bother to waste their time voting. The arrogance and greed of the unions and their servant Government, are what is leading to their downfall, not the commentary of concerned taxpayers.

Peekskill Honey August 16, 2011 at 05:14 pm

Liz, I'm going to ask that some of these comments be monitored for slander and veiled threats. This particular comment, by "Eyes," is slanderous towards Ms. Villanova, contains false information (she resigned from the BID, and The Patch reported same, she wasn't kicked off) and the comment seems to contain a veiled threat as the writer alludes to "when her house is on fire." I encourage the firefighters in particular, as these issues are worked through with management, please do not pepper your comments with verbiage such as, "you'll think different if your house is on fire," as was overheard from one of your members at the public hearing for the central firehouse. Some of the members were so intimidating towards the public that evening, that one resident left because they felt completely intimidated by them; so much so that Mr. Malaspina publicly apologized for the behavior.
Please keep this in perspective. I remind you that Finn was brought here by Foster herself. It was this same mayor who, in her first act of governance, flipped an already-approved, in-place budget 4 years ago in order to place a 5% tax increase on the homeowners under the guise that it was to bolster "safety and the first responders." As a matter of fact, she told the public that the tax increase was to boost the police department, including another Lieutenant. Based on revelations that the police department has not gotten the promised increase in force, looks like Foster has played us all.

Liz Giegerich (Editor) August 16, 2011 at 05:31 pm

Comments have been deleted for violating our terms of use. We encourage debate over issues, but not personal attacks including unfounded and unproven allegations. Bottom line is be nice and respect each other or your comment will get deleted.

Peekskill Honey August 16, 2011 at 05:33 pm

Tmac, your "facts" are incorrect. Mr. Finn did not "ink" his contract. For the record, and you can easily see the resolution passed by this mayor and her council that supports my statement, the contract was negotiated with the full blessing of this mayor, and subsequent unanimous consent of the resolution by the council, with Cathy Pisani the lone and appropriate "no" vote. Many people objected to the terms of the contract at the time. I remember Councilwoman Pisani speaking extensively at that Council meeting regarding Finn's contract and the fat benefits and extensive longevity that was in full violation of the City's Charter. Funny, I don't remember seeing you there objecting. If you want a credible argument to hold weight, get your facts straight and lay blame where it belongs - right at Mayor Foster's feet. And like I said, look up the resolution that supports Foster granting Finn his contract. That resolution should tell you that Foster is in no one's corner but her own.

Finnished August 16, 2011 at 05:40 pm

Some of you are jokes. TMac..great comments. Peekskill Honey I was at that meeting and nice try on twisting facts. 1. If my house was on fire or I was having a medical problem I would think differently about many things. 2. The person that left was "intimidated"...really..while sitting in the middle of the crowd who interrupts speakers they don't agree with, yell from the audience and disrupt meetings with chants. OK..say your side 3 times and maybe you can believe that. 3. Mr. Malaspina didn't apologize for any behavior. He was being professional and reached out to the "man's" wife who felt that way to show professionalism and to maintain the image of the fire department. You all act like the same issues you have aren't affecting those work for local government...many who live in Peekskill also. Take a look at the bigger picture..the employees aren't the problem...some services are essential and they deserve a fair wage for what they do.

TMac August 16, 2011 at 05:50 pm

He in fact had to sign it..therefore he "inked" it. Both parties had to agree correct? And maybe I'm missing something here...but did I ever say I supported anyone? And the bottom line is contract negotiations and day to day operation of the city and its employees...fall at the city managers feet. So I'm comfortable with what I've brought to the table. Trust me...there's been other things with that contract that have been voiced that you wouldn't be privy to through the channels most appropriate for my situation.

Peekskill Honey August 16, 2011 at 06:12 pm

Finnished, please help yourself to the city's website that offers the videos and minutes of these meetings. Mr. Malaspina most certainly did apologize after Mrs. Bongar stated that her husband left because of the intimidation. This from the 6/27 minutes of that public hearing, available on the city's website: "Vincent Malaspina, 2nd Assistant Fire Chief, Chief Pappas said most of what I wanted to say, but I do want to say this, I’d like to apologize if anyone felt intimidated." For the record, neither Mr. or Mrs. Bongar were sitting in the middle of any crowd that disrupts the meeting with chants. For someone who allegedly "was there," it's obvious you weren't there. Further, neither of my posts contain one word of disapproval or negativity towards the employees or workers, nor did I anywhere allude that they are the problem. Read my post please. Yes, services are essential, and the workers indeed deserve fair wages for fair work, most certainly in this economy. We all have families to feed, bills to pay, and things just keep getting more expensive by the day. Mayor Foster increased taxes and told the taxpayers it was to fund FRONT LINE SAFETY. So where is that money if your contracts haven't been settled? Remember, the final tax number rests with the Mayor and Council by THEIR RESOLUTION. What has she done with the money you were supposed to get?

Shar August 16, 2011 at 06:22 pm

I am all for looking into management AND UNIONS....

Shar August 16, 2011 at 06:28 pm

Mayor Foster most likely gave the money to ICLEI for Van Jones Coffers

Shar August 16, 2011 at 06:32 pm

What is a fair wage?

Shar August 16, 2011 at 08:23 pm

Patty ....you got that right

Shar August 17, 2011 at 12:51 am

I would never rehire animals like this! So vile and disgusting
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/open-season-union-removes-controversial-message-calling-for-torture-of-verizon-managers/

Shar August 17, 2011 at 12:54 am

Wow UNIONS will do anything to prove they are THUGS
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/open-season-union-removes-controversial-message-calling-for-torture-of-verizon-managers/

angie August 17, 2011 at 12:55 am

Patty let me tell u there r people who work for the city that should be fired and yet they get rid of people who bust there ass and open there mouths when they see something wrong, if uu don't kiss there ass and keep ur mouth shut they will get rid of u, u can't speak ur mind either they have no regard for safety and there r many supervisors and foremans that r very prejudice against others i know and lived it

Shar August 17, 2011 at 01:46 pm

Business owner shot for being non UNION.....Get rid of these union thugs NOW
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/ohio-business-owner-terrorized-shot-for-being-non-union/