maybe menlo fire fighters should read and digest this bit of info,
instead of looking for more money, things "ain't" so hot right now.

It is a start. A good one at that.

BUT... it is all in vain if we continue to pay LARGE SALARIES ($250k) to our city manager, who also gets HOUSING BONUSES, VEHICLE BONUSES, BONUSES FOR THE HECK OF IT, LOW-INTEREST LOANS, and an assistant who makes too much as well.

Let's hope that the city council wakes up and pays a realistic and down-to-earth salary for the new city manager, a PUBLIC employee.

The city of Menlo Park pays above the national average and the penninsula average in EVERY job.

Menlo Park pays a riduculous amount for jobs that are equivalent in the private sector (administrators, office managers, etc) This visciopus sycle is driven by a council with little or no REAL business experience and a city management that personally benifits from this salary inflation. It is a road to ruin as these employees pensions come due.

It needs to stop.

The city of San Jose is firing more than 120 officers so there is no shortage in the classic "Supply Demand" world of people to fill openings. we should be reducing their pay not holding it steady. we should be asking them to cover ALL of their ridiculous pensions, or at least the portion over what hte city pays it's other employees (2%/60). THe city and it's managers and council need to get their fiscal act together and serve the people rather than it's employees.....

Roy Thiele-Sardina

3% every 6 months since Jan 2009, that is 6% a year over 2 years to Jan 2011 is 12% increase in the middle of a recession. I would say a freeze for 2 years after a12% increase the past two years is a sweet deal. Don't think asking for financial givebacks in addition is unfair.

San Jose PD officers have had to give back 10% AND they are still laying off 120 officers. In addition, I think something like 20 sergeants are being DEMOTED. They think a wage freeze is a big deal? Time to join the real world!