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Survey says “YES” to Recall in Monrovia
By Frazgo | May 1, 2008
We’ve all been hearing the rumors. Monrovia City Watch has reported that MPOA ran a phone survey and found the citizens support a recall election.
What the MCW post doesn’t elaborate for us is what was the questions asked in the survey. I wasn’t in the loop for that one so I can’t state for a fact what facts were presented to those surveyed. I can hazard a guess knowing the hot buttons around town but I will leave that to the readers here.
What do you think the questions were or should have been?
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Topics: Main Page, City Council, Cops and Robbers, Monrovia |
May 1st, 2008 at 9:51 am
The survey was lame, IMHO. I ended up hanging up.
It identified itself as being from the Monrovia Police Officer’s Association, identified the problem (lack of support from city council) and then proceeded to ask, “Would you support an effort to recall city council member Tom Adams? Press 1 for yes, 2 for no” I waited for a 3rd option for no opinion, but it was lacking.
So I pressed 3.
It continued asking Would you support a recall effort to recall city council member Mary Ann Lutz? Press 1 for yes, 2 for no”
At that point, I was irritated. I was not given an option to register my opinion on the first question, and I have no idea how my non 1 or 2 reply was registered.
So I hung up.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:57 am
By the way, the reason I was looking for a 3rd option is that I wanted to know more before I registered an opinion. I get that it’s important, but don’t know enough to support or oppose a recall.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:12 am
Well Susan there has been a lot put out there. I suspect many in the community believe that a recall is warranted for a variety of reasons, not just the contract dispute with the MPOA. From what I hear constantly that is the proverbial straw that is bringing a lot of frustration to a head.
Thanks so much for at least getting me some details on the way questions were posed in the survey.
May 1st, 2008 at 11:50 am
The recall survey was a very poor attempt to rally support for the Police here in Monrovia.
I understand that the MPD wants to get more City support/money, but a recall? How much money will that cost? Won’t that eat up any extra funds we could give the Police?
I don’t support a recall, mainly because next year we can vote the City Council out anyway without any costly recall elections.
I am much more concerned about what our $182,000k-a-year + subsidized-housing City Manager Scott Ochoa is doing behind the scenes. (FYI his salary is almost the same as Vice President Dick Cheney’s – $205,000!)
Why doesn’t someone just tell Scott Ochoa he can’t live on City “Government Owned” property anymore, sell it, and use the proceeds to raise police salaries?
So to the MPOA – just hang on a little while when next year WE CAN VOTE THE CITY COUNCIL OUT, then maybe the sweetheart deal that Ochoa got can be overturned and that money can be used to do something productive for ALL Monrovians – like pay our Police!
May 1st, 2008 at 1:44 pm
There are two types of people in America. Those who stand on their own two feet and take resposibility. These are the type of Americans who built this country.
Then you have those other people, who take no resposibility and depend on the government to support them.We see a lot of them today on the streets of L.A., it’s May 1st. !
But when local government gets in the banking business and starts handing out loans to those who don’t take responsibility for taking care of them selfs, that’s socialism.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:41 pm
If Ochoa lives in a government owned house throw him out! We can no longer afford to have all of these people on welfare. It is bad enough the cops want more money for less work, next thing you will see is them wanting government owned houses. Then it will be the firemen. Then who knows next. I am tired of paying more in taxes all the time. Maybe some of these people need to get a real job and stop feeding off the system.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:49 pm
That is just what we need, a police state! With the ones in control on welfare.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I don’t think the Police or Firemen want government owned houses…..but they might like Council Member Adams providing free real estate services like he supposedly did for Mr. Ochoa.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Personally I wouldn’t have a problem with our teachers, fire and police being given discounted financing with help the city to make housing here more affordable.
Years ago when I had graduated college Las Vegas was so desperate for all 3 they had all sorts of signing bonuses including discounted loans for first time buyers to get qualified people to move there. (Early 80’s).
The CM Loan is more than just subsidized housing, Gilman take a look at the doc I sent you. More smells than I thought. Can you help me decipher?
May 1st, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I deal with the MPD officers on daily basis. These men and women work very hard to make this an attractive city to live in peacefully. Most of the bad mouthing of the PD usually comes from someone that got a traffic ticket that they felt was bogus. Remember, the officer themselves are not the one’s making a personal issue out of the charade of negotiations. It is the City Council. Many may not know but Mayor Hammond has a very close link to law enforcement. His bother, who passed on many years ago, was a reserve Police Officer for the City of Irwindale. He knows the danger and lives that these men and women lead. From what I have seen, the City Council plays all for one and one for all when it comes to issues. They are going to find out next year at alection time that hardball approaches to their safety contracts are going to be theie ticket back to civilian life
May 1st, 2008 at 9:24 pm
[…] FC Blog has the beginnings of a spirited conversation of the topic running as we […]
May 1st, 2008 at 10:32 pm
You know, I just don’t like it when someone threatens an official with ouster if they don’t do something/comply. It doesn’t ever have to be that drastic, does it? Just don’t contribute to their campaign if you don’t like them.
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:26 am
On the survey: I was at home for the survey call and responded to it. I support our police, but the format of the call (1 for supporting a recall, 2 for not supporting it, running down the list of names of the council members only) bothered me. My “no” vote was based on not knowing enough about the situation but believing a recall to be an extreme (and expensive) measure. Like another blogger here, I was tempted to press another number but feared it might default-register as either a yes or a no. Perhaps I should not have responded at all, but doubtless others may have received this call and responded, like me, without being fully informed of the issues–or pressed other numbers, or hung up–possibly yielding “false positives and negatives” to the survey? The format and the potential for mis-registering respondee intention really bothered me–how useful, accurate, or honest is such a survey approach?
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:29 am
Well Ms H it is one of the tools we have in a democracy to ensure our elected officials perform in a manner that meets the average citizens expectations.
If you recall correctly we had a governor not that long ago that screwed things up so bad we recalled him. That’s how we got “The Governator”.
In Monrovia’s case from where I sit the current group goofed and forgot that people could care less with what they do unless it screw with our safety, police and fire, or our schools. There are quite a few who are still very alarmed with the violence that occurred last spring and hold this council very accountable for ensuring it does not happen again.
Many believe, and I am one in that group, that the violence escalating since early last year with the murder of George Rostran in library park in front of hundreds of witnesses would not have occurred if we had a police force that was fully staffed.
The reason I think this is getting merit as some have told me they are anrgry that the council elections were moved to April 09 instead of this fall. They have opined time and agan to me that this was done hoping that the dust would settle over the crime wave and MPOA salary problems so they can more easily be re-elected. Many think moving the election out 5 months is 5 months too much for business as usual.
Of course,Ms H you don’t live here and walk the streets like I do talking with people to hear what the regular guy is saying. And I don’t expect you to. I therefore disagree this is just a “threat” and simply not contributing to a campaign may not be enough to fix the problem.
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:47 am
Frazgo, Monrovia elections were never in the fall?
I think if you checked, they moved from April, to March, and then back to April.
Perhaps checking the facts before you write might help.
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:28 am
Thanks Hay, shoulda double checked instead of repeating what I saw elsewhere.
Nice to see you working from home so early.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:01 am
PS…I was quoting the rumor and should have cleared up the error with dates. It doesn’t change the sentiments I hear.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:44 am
I would have to agree with Miss H that a recall doesn’t seem like the way to go……I much prefer we return to the remedies of old. You know, tar & feather them and ride them out on a rail…
I’ll bring the feathers….really.
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:47 pm
The facts and only the facts people. It was the city website where I found the information I needed. THEY POSTED THE WAGE AND HOUR SURVEY THE CITY CONDUCTED, NOT THE MPOA. The facts show police officers are even further behind the average pay of those they are compared to. The survey the city posted is full of errors. All of the errors I found are in favor of the city.
By the way, like all other surveyed cities Monrovia picks up the 9% share of the employees contribution to PERS. They pay more in costs because of their young work force. Monrovia officers take home less in their paycheceks than the vast majority of departments.
When my fact finding mission is completed I will post the results. It is possible Monrovia officers are last in compensation.
That’s all the facts for now.
Joe Friday
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Thanks, Joe Friday. Gilman, you need to be slapped and often.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Miss H…read what Joe said, the cities posted salary numbers are flawed. Why slap Gilman, did you have one to many cocktails? (Teasing).
I just learned tied into this is recall survey is two initiatives sponsored by the MPOA. One is to require the PD to be paid the average of the area. The second is to limit the city council and city manager no more than the average paid in the area. It all should be interesting to see how that pans out.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
“you need to be slapped and often”…hmmmmm. Yeap, your right I do. You will have to get in line..that would be the very long line on the left, the line on the right is the spanking line.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Spanking sounds so much more…exotic.
Is wine a cocktail? Even if you don’t mix it with anything? I can shoot these empty bottles off the gates with one free hand. I am uni-crossbowed.
Seriously, this Monrovia thing is a mess. Injustice seems lurking around every corner. I should mind my own business but I can’t seem to. Somebody slap me.
May 4th, 2008 at 5:38 am
This is just another sad way the lazy cops try to get more money. The real heros are the firemen! You dont see them complaining! The last time a monrovia cop was injured it was from eating too many donuts at once.
If the cops want more money, they need to show that they are worth it, to us, the tax payers and stop with the foolishness.
Like I say, the firemen deserve more, not the fat lazy cops, please.
May 4th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Bad Boy is jealous of the police. The donut line shows he has no original thought. What was it with Bad Boy? A ticket, a car towed, slapped around when he lipped off like he does here? A cop took his girl? Sleeping with someone from city hall? People who call names like this had bad parents Joe Friday has seen that scene play out many times. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Next visiting day at Folsom show your dad all your posts so he can be proud of you and give you the love he never gave you as a child. Joe Friday has your number like he does all the dregs of society.
My name’s Friday.
Joe Friday
May 4th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Joe Friday is another wanna be cop just like Parry.
May 4th, 2008 at 8:40 am
#24 That is totally disrespectful of the officers who put their lives on the line. You do remember that Verna got shot barely a month ago?
May 4th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Dear Bad Boy,
I think you need to see a shrink!! As a wife of a Police Officer, I have spent over 30 years alone raising three children while my husband was at work putting his life on the line for folks like you. I assume you live in Monrovia as you talk like you are the expert on current affairs there. You need to take your pompous attitude and go on a ride along some night and really see what goes on! My children and I all went on ride alongs with my husband during his career to see what it was really like. You shouldn’t spout off your mouth until you have walked a mile in a policeman’s shoes, if you could even fit!! I’m sure you can make up a good story to answer my challenge so go for it!!
May 4th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I’d like to go on a ride along-it I can blog about it after.
May 4th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
“if” not “it”
May 5th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Joe Friday appreciates the words of Policeman’s Wife. Bad Boy has slunk back under the rock he crawled out from under. Joe Friday and his S.W.A.T. officers can still find him even in his hideout but it took a cop’s wife to chase him away.
Joe Friday