Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Irishlass, you are AMAZING. I dont think we have ever spoken before, but what you wrote on this thread is perfection. Thank you for speaking so eloquently on the behalf of wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of police officers. My father, uncle and now my brother were all NYPD. Thank you. Just thank you.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

I have two words that Bloomberg taught me...PENSION PADDING. hopefully Cuomo can straighten the mess out for all the dishonest ones that spike their pension payout. Taxpayers contribute significantly. So anyone that thinks its minimal is misinformed.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

QUOTE]Posted by sometimesmommy

You know that feeling of family I keep talking about, how our blood runs blue...this is exactly what I am talking about. There is strength in numbers and we are a huge strong family that takes care of our own.

If you want it, do the same.



Our blood runs red to protect all including YOU.....but its not blue so based on your last sentence I guess you dont care.

Thank you OP I responded to...for clarifying.


Yes, of course everyone's blood runs red, this is ridiculous and I had thought when I was writing it that someone may take it out of context, but I wrote it anyway. I thought that with my very clear examples and language, my meaning would be obvious. I have a sneaking suspicion that you understood what I meant and you're not that obtuse.

In no way did I say that I don't care for someone that is not police or police family, it is absolutely absurd of you to suggest that I don't, how awful. I would love for the private sector, as well as other unions, to develop a feeling of family at their jobs, I think it's something that is sorely lacking today. Most people don't want to socialize with the people they work with, my job is no different.

Do not assume what I think.

I'll go with your statement at it's face value that you don't understand what "it" in "if you want it, do the same."

If you want IT , at your job, to have a fund to help the families of those who are KILLED AT WORK, work with your HR/Finance office to set IT up. Get everyone to pay into IT. If you want to help a family or coworker that is going through a medical/health problems, organize a fundraiser with your fellow coworkers to raise money to help pay their medical bills. If someone is gravely ill at your job, organize a team to go to the persons house and helpout the family with chores and to sit at the hopsital and help the family.
Organize BBQ's, monthly outtings, family picnics, and trips. Build a sense of togetherness, of unity, of family.

Organize this if you want IT.

That is IT.

Message edited 2/21/2011 7:54:50 AM.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Posted by MrsProfessor

Posted by Metsmomma

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Noble???????BAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, come on, he's noble!

Narcissistic
Obnoxious
Boorish
Loathsome
Entitled

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Posted by Mommy2Boys

Posted by IrishLass
Really? You understand the risks taken? Please feel free to explain how you have come to understand this, I would LOVE to know. You arent' married to NYPD or FDNY, and you aren't either. So please, explain.

Then you can further explain how it is excessive to compensate the men and women and their families that have sacrificed their lives for strangers. Yes it is their job, yes they knew signing up, but they also signed up with the benefits due to them.

You can tell me you understand when your husband joins the department under a contract to protect his family and then the employer wants to take it away from him if he dies for that employer.

You can tell me when your husband doesn't go to sleep next to you at night and you know he's in the projects doing verticals waiting for someone to put a gun in his face. You can tell me when your husband comes home with red eyes because cried all the way home because he held the skull together of a 27 year old shot in the head on the way to the hospital, or he was on the rape of an 8 year old, or he spent 3 days not coming home from a murder. You can tell me you understnad when it's someone you love digging through the wreckage at Ground Zero looking for any signs of life and the next day going to the funeral of a fellow fallen officer...for 3 MONTHS STRAIGHT. THESE ARE THE MEN I LOVE, the men in my life..my Husband, Grandfather, Father, Brother and Cousin.

You can tell me when you are the one that holds your breath when the phone rings and he's at work or the police car drives by. You can tell me you understand when you hear a report of an injured/killed cop and you hold your breath, cry and pray. You pray it isn't yours and you pray for the family that it is. You can tell me when you have to press his dress uniform when he has to go to a funeral of a fallen officer, and you wipe his tears as he puts his uniform on. You can tell me how you understand when you look at the picture of the fallen officer on the tv or the paper, even though you didn't know him, because we are all a family and at the end of the day we all bleed blue.

You have no clue about the sacrifices the men, women and families of the NYPD and FDNY, all other MOS in other departments, or the Armed Services, make everyday. Don't speak of what you don't live.

Who are you to say that the benefits received by these people that make the ultimate sacrifice are excessive?

I'm married to a brave, selfless man who has put himself in front of death for strangers. I'm not strong enough to do what he does, but I'm strong enough to be his wife..and it's not easy.

You do it. You live this life. Are you up for it? When you are and you do, get back to me about how you understand.

Beautifully said

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

I think the average should be based on total tenure, not the final 3 years but also if someone is working OT, why is this an issue as long as they are WORKING. If they're sitting on their arse or golfing during work hours, than I could see the problem.

While I do like Bloomberg & has done many things to help the city navigate a financial crisis, he is anything BUT noble.

Message edited 2/21/2011 9:44:13 AM.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

ok, since this thread is still here I will respond, but first I want to take the time to qualify myself since it seems that is what it takes to have an opinion here.

I am a NYC resident and I work in federal law enforcement. My brother, cousins, grandparents etc are all combat war veterans. My brother up until two months ago was a fire fighter in a city (though not fdny-his dream) after coming back from serving two tours as a Marine in Iraq. I have many friends who are both FDNY and NYPD and I have dated two cops. I know first hand that I could NOT be that wife. Just dating them was too much anxiety for me, and there was only LIKE involved. they were not my love nor my life and I could never do it as I do not have the strength. I barely had enough strength to be the sister of a HERO. b/c I do believe that is what these men and women are. HEROES.

Anyone who puts their life on the line to save another, whether it's every day or once in his/her lifetime TO ME is a hero.

so please understand where I come from when I say that we are BROKE. this city is BROKE. It's not about what people deserve anymore. it's about what we can DO. where are we going to take this money from? HOw can we turn a blind eye to pension padding any longer when we are BROKE? we have NO MONEY to support our needs.

the federal govt is BROKE. I cannot express to you what it is like in my office right now. we are looking a forced furlough straight in the eye on March 4th (unless news has changed since I work up this morning). we are running on FUMES. and my office is a law enforcement office.

what the Fed, STate, Cities, and counties are doing is what EVERY living breathing entity does when it needs to conserve...it is focusing on the core and letting the limbs bleed.

I don't think for ONE MINUTE that it is fair or what anyone deserves, but that doesn't mean it's not what has to be done.

I am losing money. I can no longer get overtime and they are also playing close eye to OT in my office for pension padding as well.

I don't think ANY of what NYPD or FDNY or any of the other law enforcement people who put their lives on the line every day deserve any less than the world, but we DON't HAVE IT.

what are we supposed to do?

I know people hate Bloomberg but I do not for one minute envy his position.

I do not believe he hates teachers, cops, fireman, old people, special needs people, people on welfare...I just think he is trying to honestly be as fair as possible and save us from financial collapse b/c I TRULY believe that is where we are headed and it scares me.

this is just the most awful thing....here we are so scared that we are fighting each other over a bone. a BARE BONE that has one scrap left and we all want it so we are treating each other like savages.

and you know what...a few weeks ago I posted something that should have us ALL UP IN ARMS. how many CORPORATIONS pay PEANUTS to the federal govt in taxes b/c of loopholes.

and here we are, trying to suck each other dry while they stay fat. it is the very thing that is killing our society and we are too busy fighting each other and making sure our middle class neighbor is killing himself to pay his taxes while Mr. Carnival Cruise pays next to NOTHING.

and no taxes to the federal govt means less aid on the local level. by MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS of DOLLARS.

please people, we need to be on each others side. we need to stop allowing our govt and our people to be ROBBED BLIND in the name of capitalism.

Please please please understand where I am coming from. I have seen first hand what happens when a miltary vet, who has watched his buddies shot to death, is left to his own devices with next to nothing in terms of service. Irishlass, I have held the head of MY soldier brother while he has cried at the memory of what he went through. I have watched him dive for cover when kids set off some firecrackers in the middle of a square. I KNOW what its like to watch someone you love HURT b/c they are so selfless that they chose a life to serve and protect.

again I say, we are pointing our anger in the wrong place, to our own demise.

our society is in DEEP DEEP trouble, and it is only going to get worse.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

The salaries of cops, fireman, teachers, etc. is not what is bankrupting our state. I think current public pensions system have contributed massively to our economic crisis. NYS retirement system needs to be addressed or it is only going to get worse.

Currently public employees only contribute to their pensions for the first ten years of employment (this may vary by title/job because DH is NYPD and he has over 10 years and says he still see's money taken out. He thinks it may be 20 years for them.)

Public employees DO NOT pay state income tax after retirement at the cost of over 1 billion dollars to the state and that figure will only grow.

NYS is one of the only states that allow overtime to be included in their pension calculation (however, the NYPD has changed this in their contracts so that new recruits pensions are based solely on their base salary not inclusive of overtime).

Public employees are double dipping. Receiving pensions from the state and then working for the state in another area (such as school admins retiring from one district and working for another).

I have said it a million times on here, years ago public employee salaries were less because of the added bonus of pension/benefits after retirement (defined-benefit pension system). However, today public salaries are up to par with private salaries. I have no problem paying teachers, cops, fireman, etc. $100k a year. They deserve it. But then let them contribute to their pensions for their entire carrer, not just 10, 15, 20 years. All NYS residents should be paying income tax whether they were a public or private employee. NO double dipping. Why should a NYS employee retire at taxpayers cost and than continue to work for NYS at tax payers cost? The burden of public pensions will not fall on the goverment, it falls on the tax payers.


ETA: So I dont sound anti-public employee we also need medicare/medicaid reform. Fraud costs the state over $6billion a year.
I have also heard (and someone please clarify) that NYS public employees do not pay into Medicaid/Medicare after retirement.



Just want to add again, my DH is a cop, obviously a public employee...so I dont discriminate But the sad truth is, we have to make changes for our kids. Our generation is the first generation since our parents that WONT do better than the generation before. People are living long, which means it is costing tax payers more for pensions, benefits, etc.

I truely think that if we made some adjustments to the pension systems, we could absolutely pay our teachers, fireman, cops MORE money yearly.

The gross mismanagement of money by banks and wallstreet have not helped the situation but if anything we have only learned we have to do more with less. We cannot get frivolous the next time the economy goes up and is booming again like we did in the past. Otherwise it is going to be a continous cycle.

Message edited 2/21/2011 10:43:41 AM.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Posted by Ophelia

ok, since this thread is still here I will respond, but first I want to take the time to qualify myself since it seems that is what it takes to have an opinion here.

I am a NYC resident and I work in federal law enforcement. My brother, cousins, grandparents etc are all combat war veterans. My brother up until two months ago was a fire fighter in a city (though not fdny-his dream) after coming back from serving two tours as a Marine in Iraq. I have many friends who are both FDNY and NYPD and I have dated two cops. I know first hand that I could NOT be that wife. Just dating them was too much anxiety for me, and there was only LIKE involved. they were not my love nor my life and I could never do it as I do not have the strength. I barely had enough strength to be the sister of a HERO. b/c I do believe that is what these men and women are. HEROES.

Anyone who puts their life on the line to save another, whether it's every day or once in his/her lifetime TO ME is a hero.

so please understand where I come from when I say that we are BROKE. this city is BROKE. It's not about what people deserve anymore. it's about what we can DO. where are we going to take this money from? HOw can we turn a blind eye to pension padding any longer when we are BROKE? we have NO MONEY to support our needs.

the federal govt is BROKE. I cannot express to you what it is like in my office right now. we are looking a forced furlough straight in the eye on March 4th (unless news has changed since I work up this morning). we are running on FUMES. and my office is a law enforcement office.

what the Fed, STate, Cities, and counties are doing is what EVERY living breathing entity does when it needs to conserve...it is focusing on the core and letting the limbs bleed.

I don't think for ONE MINUTE that it is fair or what anyone deserves, but that doesn't mean it's not what has to be done.

I am losing money. I can no longer get overtime and they are also playing close eye to OT in my office for pension padding as well.

I don't think ANY of what NYPD or FDNY or any of the other law enforcement people who put their lives on the line every day deserve any less than the world, but we DON't HAVE IT.

what are we supposed to do?

I know people hate Bloomberg but I do not for one minute envy his position.

I do not believe he hates teachers, cops, fireman, old people, special needs people, people on welfare...I just think he is trying to honestly be as fair as possible and save us from financial collapse b/c I TRULY believe that is where we are headed and it scares me.

this is just the most awful thing....here we are so scared that we are fighting each other over a bone. a BARE BONE that has one scrap left and we all want it so we are treating each other like savages.

and you know what...a few weeks ago I posted something that should have us ALL UP IN ARMS. how many CORPORATIONS pay PEANUTS to the federal govt in taxes b/c of loopholes.

and here we are, trying to suck each other dry while they stay fat. it is the very thing that is killing our society and we are too busy fighting each other and making sure our middle class neighbor is killing himself to pay his taxes while Mr. Carnival Cruise pays next to NOTHING.

and no taxes to the federal govt means less aid on the local level. by MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS of DOLLARS.

please people, we need to be on each others side. we need to stop allowing our govt and our people to be ROBBED BLIND in the name of capitalism.

Please please please understand where I am coming from. I have seen first hand what happens when a miltary vet, who has watched his buddies shot to death, is left to his own devices with next to nothing in terms of service. Irishlass, I have held the head of MY soldier brother while he has cried at the memory of what he went through. I have watched him dive for cover when kids set off some firecrackers in the middle of a square. I KNOW what its like to watch someone you love HURT b/c they are so selfless that they chose a life to serve and protect.

again I say, we are pointing our anger in the wrong place, to our own demise.

our society is in DEEP DEEP trouble, and it is only going to get worse.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Posted by Ophelia

ok, since this thread is still here I will respond, but first I want to take the time to qualify myself since it seems that is what it takes to have an opinion here.

I am a NYC resident and I work in federal law enforcement. My brother, cousins, grandparents etc are all combat war veterans. My brother up until two months ago was a fire fighter in a city (though not fdny-his dream) after coming back from serving two tours as a Marine in Iraq. I have many friends who are both FDNY and NYPD and I have dated two cops. I know first hand that I could NOT be that wife. Just dating them was too much anxiety for me, and there was only LIKE involved. they were not my love nor my life and I could never do it as I do not have the strength. I barely had enough strength to be the sister of a HERO. b/c I do believe that is what these men and women are. HEROES.

Anyone who puts their life on the line to save another, whether it's every day or once in his/her lifetime TO ME is a hero.

so please understand where I come from when I say that we are BROKE. this city is BROKE. It's not about what people deserve anymore. it's about what we can DO. where are we going to take this money from? HOw can we turn a blind eye to pension padding any longer when we are BROKE? we have NO MONEY to support our needs.

the federal govt is BROKE. I cannot express to you what it is like in my office right now. we are looking a forced furlough straight in the eye on March 4th (unless news has changed since I work up this morning). we are running on FUMES. and my office is a law enforcement office.

what the Fed, STate, Cities, and counties are doing is what EVERY living breathing entity does when it needs to conserve...it is focusing on the core and letting the limbs bleed.

I don't think for ONE MINUTE that it is fair or what anyone deserves, but that doesn't mean it's not what has to be done.

I am losing money. I can no longer get overtime and they are also playing close eye to OT in my office for pension padding as well.

I don't think ANY of what NYPD or FDNY or any of the other law enforcement people who put their lives on the line every day deserve any less than the world, but we DON't HAVE IT.

what are we supposed to do?

I know people hate Bloomberg but I do not for one minute envy his position.

I do not believe he hates teachers, cops, fireman, old people, special needs people, people on welfare...I just think he is trying to honestly be as fair as possible and save us from financial collapse b/c I TRULY believe that is where we are headed and it scares me.

this is just the most awful thing....here we are so scared that we are fighting each other over a bone. a BARE BONE that has one scrap left and we all want it so we are treating each other like savages.

and you know what...a few weeks ago I posted something that should have us ALL UP IN ARMS. how many CORPORATIONS pay PEANUTS to the federal govt in taxes b/c of loopholes.

and here we are, trying to suck each other dry while they stay fat. it is the very thing that is killing our society and we are too busy fighting each other and making sure our middle class neighbor is killing himself to pay his taxes while Mr. Carnival Cruise pays next to NOTHING.

and no taxes to the federal govt means less aid on the local level. by MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS of DOLLARS.

please people, we need to be on each others side. we need to stop allowing our govt and our people to be ROBBED BLIND in the name of capitalism.

Please please please understand where I am coming from. I have seen first hand what happens when a miltary vet, who has watched his buddies shot to death, is left to his own devices with next to nothing in terms of service. Irishlass, I have held the head of MY soldier brother while he has cried at the memory of what he went through. I have watched him dive for cover when kids set off some firecrackers in the middle of a square. I KNOW what its like to watch someone you love HURT b/c they are so selfless that they chose a life to serve and protect.

again I say, we are pointing our anger in the wrong place, to our own demise.

our society is in DEEP DEEP trouble, and it is only going to get worse.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Message edited 2/21/2011 11:43:25 AM.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Message edited 2/21/2011 12:08:31 PM.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Posted by mom2aidan

Posted by Ophelia

ok, since this thread is still here I will respond, but first I want to take the time to qualify myself since it seems that is what it takes to have an opinion here.

I am a NYC resident and I work in federal law enforcement. My brother, cousins, grandparents etc are all combat war veterans. My brother up until two months ago was a fire fighter in a city (though not fdny-his dream) after coming back from serving two tours as a Marine in Iraq. I have many friends who are both FDNY and NYPD and I have dated two cops. I know first hand that I could NOT be that wife. Just dating them was too much anxiety for me, and there was only LIKE involved. they were not my love nor my life and I could never do it as I do not have the strength. I barely had enough strength to be the sister of a HERO. b/c I do believe that is what these men and women are. HEROES.

Anyone who puts their life on the line to save another, whether it's every day or once in his/her lifetime TO ME is a hero.

so please understand where I come from when I say that we are BROKE. this city is BROKE. It's not about what people deserve anymore. it's about what we can DO. where are we going to take this money from? HOw can we turn a blind eye to pension padding any longer when we are BROKE? we have NO MONEY to support our needs.

the federal govt is BROKE. I cannot express to you what it is like in my office right now. we are looking a forced furlough straight in the eye on March 4th (unless news has changed since I work up this morning). we are running on FUMES. and my office is a law enforcement office.

what the Fed, STate, Cities, and counties are doing is what EVERY living breathing entity does when it needs to conserve...it is focusing on the core and letting the limbs bleed.

I don't think for ONE MINUTE that it is fair or what anyone deserves, but that doesn't mean it's not what has to be done.

I am losing money. I can no longer get overtime and they are also playing close eye to OT in my office for pension padding as well.

I don't think ANY of what NYPD or FDNY or any of the other law enforcement people who put their lives on the line every day deserve any less than the world, but we DON't HAVE IT.

what are we supposed to do?

I know people hate Bloomberg but I do not for one minute envy his position.

I do not believe he hates teachers, cops, fireman, old people, special needs people, people on welfare...I just think he is trying to honestly be as fair as possible and save us from financial collapse b/c I TRULY believe that is where we are headed and it scares me.

this is just the most awful thing....here we are so scared that we are fighting each other over a bone. a BARE BONE that has one scrap left and we all want it so we are treating each other like savages.

and you know what...a few weeks ago I posted something that should have us ALL UP IN ARMS. how many CORPORATIONS pay PEANUTS to the federal govt in taxes b/c of loopholes.

and here we are, trying to suck each other dry while they stay fat. it is the very thing that is killing our society and we are too busy fighting each other and making sure our middle class neighbor is killing himself to pay his taxes while Mr. Carnival Cruise pays next to NOTHING.

and no taxes to the federal govt means less aid on the local level. by MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS of DOLLARS.

please people, we need to be on each others side. we need to stop allowing our govt and our people to be ROBBED BLIND in the name of capitalism.

Please please please understand where I am coming from. I have seen first hand what happens when a miltary vet, who has watched his buddies shot to death, is left to his own devices with next to nothing in terms of service. Irishlass, I have held the head of MY soldier brother while he has cried at the memory of what he went through. I have watched him dive for cover when kids set off some firecrackers in the middle of a square. I KNOW what its like to watch someone you love HURT b/c they are so selfless that they chose a life to serve and protect.

again I say, we are pointing our anger in the wrong place, to our own demise.

our society is in DEEP DEEP trouble, and it is only going to get worse.

My problem is this: There is SO much corruption in different industries! LOOK at what the banks have done to our housing market! Madoff has stated that banks KNEW what he was doing! The MTA - I don't know where to begin with that. When are we going to look at these areas for reform? Why are we starting with FDNY/NYPD? I'm legitimately asking this question. Is it because it's easier to cause reform here?

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Im the wife of a NYPD 2nd Grade Det. My husband was in 911 & was there in the clean up for 2 months afterward. Yes cleaning up body parts & debris. From what i understand that isnt what his job entailed. But guess what? He did it. Cause alot of other people sure couldnt & wouldnt. We will not know the long term effects my husband will have & hopefully & i pray everday that we will never have to worry about it. But for those families that do, that lose their parents or spouse due to these type of things shoudl absolutely not lose their spouses or parents pension in which they have earned & put the time into. These NY/FD that risked their lives for NY didnt have to. They just did. In any case we will all have different opinions on this. But the fact remains is that most cops & firemen love their jobs & respect their jobs. Of course no matter where u work there will be bad apples. That will never change. But overall they put their lives on the line everday trying to keep all of us safe. I would never disrespect that. Those who do should be ashamed but i guess those who do also think a person who throws a ball or catches one should be paid millions!

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Posted by VickiRG510

Im the wife of a NYPD 2nd Grade Det. My husband was in 911 & was there in the clean up for 2 months afterward. Yes cleaning up body parts & debris. From what i understand that isnt what his job entailed. But guess what? He did it. Cause alot of other people sure couldnt & wouldnt. We will not know the long term effects my husband will have & hopefully & i pray everday that we will never have to worry about it. But for those families that do, that lose their parents or spouse due to these type of things shoudl absolutely not lose their spouses or parents pension in which they have earned & put the time into. These NY/FD that risked their lives for NY didnt have to. They just did. In any case we will all have different opinions on this. But the fact remains is that most cops & firemen love their jobs & respect their jobs. Of course no matter where u work there will be bad apples. That will never change. But overall they put their lives on the line everday trying to keep all of us safe. I would never disrespect that. Those who do should be ashamed but i guess those who do also think a person who throws a ball or catches one should be paid millions!

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Posted by stickydust

Posted by mom2aidan

Posted by Ophelia

ok, since this thread is still here I will respond, but first I want to take the time to qualify myself since it seems that is what it takes to have an opinion here.

I am a NYC resident and I work in federal law enforcement. My brother, cousins, grandparents etc are all combat war veterans. My brother up until two months ago was a fire fighter in a city (though not fdny-his dream) after coming back from serving two tours as a Marine in Iraq. I have many friends who are both FDNY and NYPD and I have dated two cops. I know first hand that I could NOT be that wife. Just dating them was too much anxiety for me, and there was only LIKE involved. they were not my love nor my life and I could never do it as I do not have the strength. I barely had enough strength to be the sister of a HERO. b/c I do believe that is what these men and women are. HEROES.

Anyone who puts their life on the line to save another, whether it's every day or once in his/her lifetime TO ME is a hero.

so please understand where I come from when I say that we are BROKE. this city is BROKE. It's not about what people deserve anymore. it's about what we can DO. where are we going to take this money from? HOw can we turn a blind eye to pension padding any longer when we are BROKE? we have NO MONEY to support our needs.

the federal govt is BROKE. I cannot express to you what it is like in my office right now. we are looking a forced furlough straight in the eye on March 4th (unless news has changed since I work up this morning). we are running on FUMES. and my office is a law enforcement office.

what the Fed, STate, Cities, and counties are doing is what EVERY living breathing entity does when it needs to conserve...it is focusing on the core and letting the limbs bleed.

I don't think for ONE MINUTE that it is fair or what anyone deserves, but that doesn't mean it's not what has to be done.

I am losing money. I can no longer get overtime and they are also playing close eye to OT in my office for pension padding as well.

I don't think ANY of what NYPD or FDNY or any of the other law enforcement people who put their lives on the line every day deserve any less than the world, but we DON't HAVE IT.

what are we supposed to do?

I know people hate Bloomberg but I do not for one minute envy his position.

I do not believe he hates teachers, cops, fireman, old people, special needs people, people on welfare...I just think he is trying to honestly be as fair as possible and save us from financial collapse b/c I TRULY believe that is where we are headed and it scares me.

this is just the most awful thing....here we are so scared that we are fighting each other over a bone. a BARE BONE that has one scrap left and we all want it so we are treating each other like savages.

and you know what...a few weeks ago I posted something that should have us ALL UP IN ARMS. how many CORPORATIONS pay PEANUTS to the federal govt in taxes b/c of loopholes.

and here we are, trying to suck each other dry while they stay fat. it is the very thing that is killing our society and we are too busy fighting each other and making sure our middle class neighbor is killing himself to pay his taxes while Mr. Carnival Cruise pays next to NOTHING.

and no taxes to the federal govt means less aid on the local level. by MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS of DOLLARS.

please people, we need to be on each others side. we need to stop allowing our govt and our people to be ROBBED BLIND in the name of capitalism.

Please please please understand where I am coming from. I have seen first hand what happens when a miltary vet, who has watched his buddies shot to death, is left to his own devices with next to nothing in terms of service. Irishlass, I have held the head of MY soldier brother while he has cried at the memory of what he went through. I have watched him dive for cover when kids set off some firecrackers in the middle of a square. I KNOW what its like to watch someone you love HURT b/c they are so selfless that they chose a life to serve and protect.

again I say, we are pointing our anger in the wrong place, to our own demise.

our society is in DEEP DEEP trouble, and it is only going to get worse.

My problem is this: There is SO much corruption in different industries! LOOK at what the banks have done to our housing market! Madoff has stated that banks KNEW what he was doing! The MTA - I don't know where to begin with that. When are we going to look at these areas for reform? Why are we starting with FDNY/NYPD? I'm legitimately asking this question. Is it because it's easier to cause reform here?

Yes, there is corruption in all industries but with respect to the private sector the best the government can do is legistlate against it - which is being done. In terms of funding, beyond taxation, you obviously cannot take private money to fund pensions etc. It is a double edged sword because you don't want corporate taxation to be so great that the companies relocate to other states, countries. Because, the truth is, there are many places willing to offer tax breaks to companies that go there because of the benefit they provide to their local economy in terms of jobs etc. so the solution is not as easy as saying "lets just tax companies more and make the difference up there".

With respect to what banking has done to the housing market - I speak from first hand experience in saying that the banks clearly did not anticipate the extent to which the housing market would collpase and the depth of foreclosures - the banks have lost BILLIONS of dollars from this. Many have collpased entirely - had they anticipated that they obviously would not have done it. Madoff is a con man so his words are meaningless to me.

In terms of the housing crisis the blame has to be spread amongst many, yes, the banks, but also rating agencies, individual mortgage brokers AND the consumer. I do not believ in hiding behind the idea the "Bank X told me I could afford this..." AS an adult, one should KNOW what one can afford. We have to take responsibility for our own part in this. WE (the consumer) created the ridiculous bidding wars and wanted to live the dream without really earning it. Everyone tried to take the easy way and we are all, as a society, paying for it know one way or the other.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Posted by Mommy2Boys

Posted by IrishLass
Really? You understand the risks taken? Please feel free to explain how you have come to understand this, I would LOVE to know. You arent' married to NYPD or FDNY, and you aren't either. So please, explain.

Then you can further explain how it is excessive to compensate the men and women and their families that have sacrificed their lives for strangers. Yes it is their job, yes they knew signing up, but they also signed up with the benefits due to them.

You can tell me you understand when your husband joins the department under a contract to protect his family and then the employer wants to take it away from him if he dies for that employer.

You can tell me when your husband doesn't go to sleep next to you at night and you know he's in the projects doing verticals waiting for someone to put a gun in his face. You can tell me when your husband comes home with red eyes because cried all the way home because he held the skull together of a 27 year old shot in the head on the way to the hospital, or he was on the rape of an 8 year old, or he spent 3 days not coming home from a murder. You can tell me you understnad when it's someone you love digging through the wreckage at Ground Zero looking for any signs of life and the next day going to the funeral of a fellow fallen officer...for 3 MONTHS STRAIGHT. THESE ARE THE MEN I LOVE, the men in my life..my Husband, Grandfather, Father, Brother and Cousin.

You can tell me when you are the one that holds your breath when the phone rings and he's at work or the police car drives by. You can tell me you understand when you hear a report of an injured/killed cop and you hold your breath, cry and pray. You pray it isn't yours and you pray for the family that it is. You can tell me when you have to press his dress uniform when he has to go to a funeral of a fallen officer, and you wipe his tears as he puts his uniform on. You can tell me how you understand when you look at the picture of the fallen officer on the tv or the paper, even though you didn't know him, because we are all a family and at the end of the day we all bleed blue.

You have no clue about the sacrifices the men, women and families of the NYPD and FDNY, all other MOS in other departments, or the Armed Services, make everyday. Don't speak of what you don't live.

Who are you to say that the benefits received by these people that make the ultimate sacrifice are excessive?

I'm married to a brave, selfless man who has put himself in front of death for strangers. I'm not strong enough to do what he does, but I'm strong enough to be his wife..and it's not easy.

You do it. You live this life. Are you up for it? When you are and you do, get back to me about how you understand.

Beautifully said

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Message edited 2/22/2011 9:02:19 AM.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?

Message edited 2/22/2011 9:07:33 AM.

Re: Since bashing teachers went on for 12 pages, can we discuss how Bloomberg is trying to $crew the NYPD, FDNY, etc.?