08-29-2011, 01:58 PM
BY CARLI TEPROFF
CTEPROFF@MIAMIHERALD.COM
In one corner: a YouTube video features an animated firefighter questioning the mayor — dressed in a butcher’s apron and holding a hatchet — why employee benefits are being chopped.
In the other: the city’s quarterly newsletter, sent to about 60,000 households, with a front page caption that reads “Your vote could SAVE Hollywood more than $8.5 million dollars.
With just two weeks before residents will vote in a citywide referendum on whether to reform police, firefighter and city employees’ pensions, neither camp is pulling punches.
“Our plan is to explain all the mismanagement that has been going on,’’ said Fire Union President Dan Martinez, adding that if the city had been more “fiscally responsible,’’ it would not be in the position it is in now.
Commissioner **** Blattner is sending out e-mails to residents about exactly why they should vote yes to the referendum.
“If they vote no, we will probably have to let go 150-170 employees,” Blattner said.
For residents confused by the mixed messages, there will be a Hollywood Council of Civic Associations meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, where Interim City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark will explain what will happen if the referendum passes or doesn’t pass.
“Everyone is hearing different things right now,” said Sara Case, president of the Hollywood Council of Civic Associations, the group hosting the meeting. “We need to know what changes will occur and how the city is going to run if it passes or fails.”
For this upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, Hollywood is facing a $38 million gap. City leaders have said the only way to reduce spending is to reign in pension costs.
In July, after negotiations between the city and the unions failed to yield contracts that reduced pension benefits by more than $8 million, the commission approved putting the decision in the hands of the voters, and scheduled a referendum for Sept. 13.
The vote would change employee pension plans by reducing the multiplier used to calculate pensions, increasing the age at a person can retire and eliminating sick and vacation time from the formula.
Union leaders say they understand the financial situation the city is in, but are looking for a compromise.
“They are not working with us,” said Police Union president Jeff Marano.
Both the police and fire unions have formed political action committees and plan on campaigning to defeat the referendum.
Martinez, the fire union president, said fliers will begin hitting mail boxes in the next week and many residents should expect knocks on the door from fire union members.
Marano said the police union is aiming to get across the message that the city’s Community Redevelopment Agencies should be abolished.
“They are hoarding money,” he said.
Although there are millions in the CRA budgets, but those dollars are earmarked for only a specific area. So — by state law — the money can only pay for projects within the CRA boundaries.
City Spokeswoman Raelin Storey said the city is limited by state law in what it can do leading up to the elections. Cities cannot advocate for something, but they can educate the public on the referendum.
“This is one of the most important decisions the residents of Hollywood will face,” said Storey. “It is critical that they take the time to get informed and then get out and vote.”
The city is using its quarterly newsletter, New Horizons, to list quick facts on the vote.
Wrapped around the 28-page newsletter, which cost the city $14,000 to produce, are four pages devoted to the referendum.
“On Tuesday, Sept. 13, make your voice heard,” it reads.
Although Hollywood cannot advocate for one side, with “$8.5 million’’ underlined and the word “save’’ in all caps on the front page, the city’s position is subtly apparent.
But far less subtle is a video posted recently by alexvelez33 on YouTube.
“But, your honor, how can you do this to your fire department?” an animated firefighter asks the animated mayor.
The mayor figure responds: “One of the beautiful things is I’m not. I’m going to have the citizens do it.” The mayor figure waves his the hatchet in the air as evil laughter plays in the background.
As of Friday evening, the video had received 167 hits.
One of them was from the real mayor, Peter Bober.
“I think the producer was creative,” he said jokingly. “I haven’t looked that thin since high school.”
Bober said the video loses sight of the real problem. He said the most important thing is that people come out and vote.
“We need to make systemic changes,” Bober said.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/28/2 ... z1WQPI1XrY (http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/28/2376781/with-youtube-video-and-city-mailings.html#ixzz1WQPI1XrY)
CTEPROFF@MIAMIHERALD.COM
In one corner: a YouTube video features an animated firefighter questioning the mayor — dressed in a butcher’s apron and holding a hatchet — why employee benefits are being chopped.
In the other: the city’s quarterly newsletter, sent to about 60,000 households, with a front page caption that reads “Your vote could SAVE Hollywood more than $8.5 million dollars.
With just two weeks before residents will vote in a citywide referendum on whether to reform police, firefighter and city employees’ pensions, neither camp is pulling punches.
“Our plan is to explain all the mismanagement that has been going on,’’ said Fire Union President Dan Martinez, adding that if the city had been more “fiscally responsible,’’ it would not be in the position it is in now.
Commissioner **** Blattner is sending out e-mails to residents about exactly why they should vote yes to the referendum.
“If they vote no, we will probably have to let go 150-170 employees,” Blattner said.
For residents confused by the mixed messages, there will be a Hollywood Council of Civic Associations meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, where Interim City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark will explain what will happen if the referendum passes or doesn’t pass.
“Everyone is hearing different things right now,” said Sara Case, president of the Hollywood Council of Civic Associations, the group hosting the meeting. “We need to know what changes will occur and how the city is going to run if it passes or fails.”
For this upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, Hollywood is facing a $38 million gap. City leaders have said the only way to reduce spending is to reign in pension costs.
In July, after negotiations between the city and the unions failed to yield contracts that reduced pension benefits by more than $8 million, the commission approved putting the decision in the hands of the voters, and scheduled a referendum for Sept. 13.
The vote would change employee pension plans by reducing the multiplier used to calculate pensions, increasing the age at a person can retire and eliminating sick and vacation time from the formula.
Union leaders say they understand the financial situation the city is in, but are looking for a compromise.
“They are not working with us,” said Police Union president Jeff Marano.
Both the police and fire unions have formed political action committees and plan on campaigning to defeat the referendum.
Martinez, the fire union president, said fliers will begin hitting mail boxes in the next week and many residents should expect knocks on the door from fire union members.
Marano said the police union is aiming to get across the message that the city’s Community Redevelopment Agencies should be abolished.
“They are hoarding money,” he said.
Although there are millions in the CRA budgets, but those dollars are earmarked for only a specific area. So — by state law — the money can only pay for projects within the CRA boundaries.
City Spokeswoman Raelin Storey said the city is limited by state law in what it can do leading up to the elections. Cities cannot advocate for something, but they can educate the public on the referendum.
“This is one of the most important decisions the residents of Hollywood will face,” said Storey. “It is critical that they take the time to get informed and then get out and vote.”
The city is using its quarterly newsletter, New Horizons, to list quick facts on the vote.
Wrapped around the 28-page newsletter, which cost the city $14,000 to produce, are four pages devoted to the referendum.
“On Tuesday, Sept. 13, make your voice heard,” it reads.
Although Hollywood cannot advocate for one side, with “$8.5 million’’ underlined and the word “save’’ in all caps on the front page, the city’s position is subtly apparent.
But far less subtle is a video posted recently by alexvelez33 on YouTube.
“But, your honor, how can you do this to your fire department?” an animated firefighter asks the animated mayor.
The mayor figure responds: “One of the beautiful things is I’m not. I’m going to have the citizens do it.” The mayor figure waves his the hatchet in the air as evil laughter plays in the background.
As of Friday evening, the video had received 167 hits.
One of them was from the real mayor, Peter Bober.
“I think the producer was creative,” he said jokingly. “I haven’t looked that thin since high school.”
Bober said the video loses sight of the real problem. He said the most important thing is that people come out and vote.
“We need to make systemic changes,” Bober said.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/28/2 ... z1WQPI1XrY (http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/28/2376781/with-youtube-video-and-city-mailings.html#ixzz1WQPI1XrY)