Knee pads, Bullshit and Love Island

I hope you didnt have to sit through the knee pad council show.

The discussion of the mayors travel was nonsense as always. Frank Kane stated the mayor is the mayor and doesnt need approval to travel.  But the rest of employees have to get approval. So no checks and balances for the mayor?

Such bullshit. He uses our money and the city is going to say he can go whenever he wants. He is not a king. He is responsible to taxpayers and we require policy and proper procedures when administering appropriated tax payer funds.

Sounds like the king is above the peasants. 

A positive note

Council did acknowledge the Allen Varsity Boys baseball team who won districts this year before falling in the first round of the state tournament.   Good job guys.

Marty Velazquez delivered albeit - through a proxy - an update on the Personnel Policy Manual rewrite. Frank Kane informed council that the document isn't ready after two years of development. The document is so out of date that employees and managers use its age as a reason not to follow the rules. Once you read through the bullshit and get past the tap dancing it is clear that HR failed once again. It really doesn't matter if a PPM is ever produced... it will only be enforced for those who the mayor, directors, and managers plan to target. All others are above the rules, starting with him.  

Towards the end of the committee meeting CeCe asked the very question I had on my mind "is there a plan to abolish the homeless commission?". This may seem out of left field but Tuerk has made it known that he plans to disband the commission and has taken dangerous steps previously to minimize the impact and capabilities of the much needed commission.

Onward

Frank stated him and Chief Roca will be presenting a strategic plan on combating the violent crime in the city. Seriously guys? That is something you do when you get hired, not after you have been the Chief for 5 years and two kids were just killed.

The police DROP Pension took most of the 6:30 meeting.

Chief Roca started out by saying this isnt a money grab. Those were his 1st words.  Awful choice of words. 

After listening to his word salad justification for the DROP it appears this is a money grab. 

Roca bragged about APD being the best department in the area. Stated his officers choose Apd for a career are eager to make a difference and sleep in their uniforms...blah blah blah. Allentown has the worst reputation as a police department in the area. This also came from a guy who spent 3 months on the street as a patrolman per his resume but talks as if he has grinded for 20years.

Im sorry but I walked away from watching the meeting for a little because I can't stand Roca's bullshit robot responses to everything. People want actions not words.

Chief don't you read social media and everyone complaining about the nuisance problems and all the crime? 

Roca blew more smoke than Frank does. Using scare tactics and basically Roca and the FOP pleading on their knees. It became very pathetic for the hour or so they kept speaking.

The big focus I feel Roca was trying to hit home in his feeble attempt to persuade council was the city will have to pay overtime if guys retire. So if 10 guys retire, according to hiring fliers officers make over $100,000 a year. You can't tell me $1 million extra won't go a long way towards overtime considering the police are budgeted at 2.6 million.

A DROP will line the officers pockets at a huge tax increase cost. The 20 year plus guys will benefit. The Chief said that the absence of a DROP will cause more overtime. Huh? You would move out the high earners, promote deserving mid staff and hire more lower to replace those lost through retirement. What he isn't saying is that OT is offered and senior staff get first dibs because of.....well, money 💰 💵 💰. They go after the OT pay first. It is not for the junior officers. There was a very careful choice of words to scare the leaders to making the DROP a reality. 

Council will have to vote in the future but from what I see I think council has realized the benefits do not outweight the negatives.

Oh did anyone see Tuerky jerkey tonight?