Monday, November 21, 2011
Selling of overtime?
This story from WGRZ should make all New York State taxpayers angry. Deputy Mayor Byron Brown reports on an alleged overtime scam involving some members of the Buffalo Fire Department. It goes something like this: Person A calls in sick (despite not being sick). Person B picks up their overtime and sells it to Person C (who happens to be near retirement.) Because person C is in their last three years on the job, this extra income will be added directly to their ridiculously inflated state pensions.
If there's another side to this story, Union President Dan Cunningham didn't present it very well to the viewers/taxpayers. If Deputy Mayor Brown is lying or making false claims, we'd love to see the firefighters expose his lies.
Watch the news report and decide for yourself. On the surface,this appears to be a blatant scam on the taxpayers. One would hope people would have more pride in themselves than to engage in this type of nonsense. All it does is heighten awareness for the need for pension reform. The practice of "pension padding" is an insult to all New York state taxpayers. Tim "Hortons" Kennedy, Andrew Cuomo, and Patrick Gallivan all campaigned on changing the way New York state operates. So far, we've seen very little in terms of results. Kennedy talks about mundane issues like texting while driving. Just a lot of talk to get elected, with no serious effort at reform. Meanwhile, young college graduates continue to leave for better opportunities elsewhere...
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Their Amatuers! Far better to work for a Bank. Pass your losses to the Taxpayers in the disguise of a "Bail Out". Make sure to collect your multi-million bonus at the end of the year..... Whose got the better SCAM now?
ReplyDeleteThat our deputy mayor was shocked to hear about this is a lie. That our deputy mayor wants this practice to end, it did,9 MONTHS AGO! (Slow news day, Scott?) I guess Steve didn't give you the memo. There was no scam. Money paid was for hours worked. DM Brown refused to hire any firefighters between 2002 and 2009. Large manpower shortages require large overtime costs to fill them. It took the Niagara Square Nitwits 7 YEARS! to figure that out,despite being told that repeatedly by the union. Brownie's 20 to 30 vacant positions suddenly morphed into 114 newly hired firefighters. Huh? One of his consultants must have "seen the light". And when this scamming, money grubbing,do-nothing,lying, man-child of a Deputy Mayor makes the statement,"They need to conduct themselves in the highest level of integrity because the public depends on them" is an incredibly reprehensible INSULT to the Buffalo Fire Department and demands a spoken and written apology to every firefighter in the department, active and retired.
ReplyDeleteTexting while driving is a very serious issue,you should really think before you write!
ReplyDelete"Texting while driving is a very serious issue,you should really think before you write!"
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahahahhahaha!Give me a break. When 99% of the population agrees with you, it's not exactly taking a stand. How about pension reform or battling Albany corruption, or "creating jobs?" Kennedy's terrible.
hahaha? Its only a matter of time before the white coats take you to 400 Forest Avenue.
ReplyDeletemike , you were wrong about the Kelly Kid and you are being played for a sucker again by Byron Brown. This issue was in the courts and no laws were ever broken. If it was a massive scam as Byron and wgrz claim how about some names and numbers, otherwise it is an unfounded allegation by a grandstanding fool.
ReplyDelete"hahaha? Its only a matter of time before the white coats take you to 400 Forest Avenue."
ReplyDeletethat's it. as soon as you realize you are losing an argument, accuse the other person of being crazy. I'm sorry that you're not confident enough to keep up with the debate.
"how about some names and numbers, otherwise it is an unfounded allegation by a grandstanding fool."
ReplyDeletepeople admitted under questioning that they bought and sold overtime. do you think the public is that stupid. what more proof do you need? i'm no brown fan. but i'm less of a fan of watching people rip off the taxpayer. it's bush league and unprofessional.
Ive known you since our days at Agathas.
ReplyDeleteI notice the debate has turned to a discussion about me. Why? I have nothing to do with it and just thought it was an interesting story.
ReplyDeleteWe all make our own breaks in life. Nobody owes me anything. How come you don't want to discuss this story? It's clearly struck a nerve with you.
Mike(I had the big post yesterday) again,NO ONE was RIPPED OFF. Those positions have to be manned day and night 24/7.If the money didn't go to C then it went to B or A or D or E. No scam. This is such a hot story that Ch 2 removed it from their website. Deputy Mayor Brown was unavailable for comment as he is learning to tie his shoes. And you mentioned "taxpayer" 4 times in your article. You running for Common Council?
ReplyDelete"NO ONE was RIPPED OFF. Those positions have to be manned day and night 24/7.If the money didn't go to C then it went to B or A or D or E. No scam."
ReplyDeleteIf someone calls in sick(A), they get paid as well as the person who replaces them(C). If C is near retirement, this also gets added to their inflated pension. So the taxpayer gets screwed twice. Not running for Common Council, just a taxpayer myself.
This CRIMINAL practice sickens me. I grew up and still live and pay taxes in the Buffalo. Growing up many of my friends fathers were Buffalo Fireman,and they were hardworking, dedicated men, who were happy to have a job to support their families. The money was nowhere near what it is today either!!! Now many of my friends and family menebers are current members of the BFD. They should be ASHAMED at the practice of buying overtime. If Mayor Brown was not aware of this he is daft!! C'mon Byron and the nerve of Cunningham stating that it is not done and three breathes later saying it has been happening for decades and it is no big deal.. I work in private industry and I could never call in sick and somehow filter the pay to a co-worker to pad their pension. I also cannot get breast implants, nose jobs and hair plugs like half of the fire department and their wives...Oh and I pay for my less than glamorous health insurance hat I have. This is a sinful practice and should be stopped immediately. Shame on the fireman who so many people admire and respect...what a bunch of hypocrites...
ReplyDeletethinKing the city should start some pilot volunteer firehouses. some type of reform needs to take place.
ReplyDeletehope the fbi looks into this scam.
If the BFD has it so good with money, pensions, health insurance, etc., go out and take the test. Wait, maybe you don't wanna get away from that desk and get them pretty hands dirty. Just like Mike Blake, not enough balls to do the line of work.
ReplyDeleteVolunteer houses? What nonsense.
If the BFD has it so bad, why don't YOU quit and go find a job in the private sector? How narrow minded of you to assume everyone wants to be a cop or fireman. It doesn't have anything to do with guts. Are you saying you have to be a cop or fireman to be tough? Remember, one of us signs his name to the comments he writes. Many jobs are risky. Taxi drivers and convenience store clerks have very dangerous jobs, too.
ReplyDeleteI don't work for the BFD, nor the BPD. But i respect both jobs and certainly wouldn't badmouth the departments. Like I said, if they have it so good, take the test. Thats all.
ReplyDeleteI respect the jobs of both departments, also. However, that doesn't mean they have the right to sell overtime. Just because I'm not interested in that line of work, doesn't mean there aren't thousands of others who are.
ReplyDelete