Who’s Fiddling While Nor’Town Burns?

Councilman Cherchio had some questions about the coverage by George Knapp over that full-page ad that the firefighters paid for in the Las Vegas Review Journal the other day. Make of this what you will:

Hello Mr. Knapp:

As one of the four North Las Vegas City Council members, I am privileged to represent residents in North Las Vegas . As such, I feel obligated to respond to what I interpret as purposeful misinformation and fear mongering in the full-page media advertisement in the RJ, and in a recently aired television ad by our local Fire Fighters Union.

Let me first say that I am as concerned about our residents and the City as I am about all City employees and their families who are experiencing the effects of this dramatic economic downturn.  I am more than willing to speak with you and Mr. Hurley regarding inaccuracies in the print and television ads.  I am a believer in full transparency. It is vital that our residents and Fire Department employees hear from both sides, since they are the ones that will bear the brunt of our decisions, especially if those decisions are based on short-term political rhetoric, as opposed to a true long-term concern for the solvency of our City.

Our Fire Department recently informed the City Council that only 8.6% of all Fire Department personnel actually live in North Las Vegas . I am confident that all our Fire Department employees realize even in their own home cities how dire the economic situation is at this time. I am sure they would feel it would be prudent for their families’ well being to give back something they haven’t yet received, as opposed to losing their careers with the City.

As someone with a proud union background, I understand what you give back you don’t get back, but I would be more concerned about saving all my members’ jobs and maintaining service to our residents, who we all took an oath to protect.

Please also remember, that we must work with three unions. Our local Police have worked daily understaffed for years. Our City Teamsters and appointed/confidential employees have been required to bare the brunt of the most recent layoffs. I consider Teamsters and appointed/confidential employees no less important to our city on a minute to minute basis than any other union represented employee.  Of the 204 unfortunate layoffs, more than 170 were Teamsters and appointed/confidential employees. These people had helped to maintain Fire and Police communications, roads, lighting, graffiti abatement, code enforcement, and many more vital services.

SOME FACTS:

• Fire Station 52 is in my Ward. It is not slated to close and no resident or business will be placed in peril.

• The image of the Fire Union contract in your story shows an outdated contract from 2006 to 2010. This contract was extended by our past City Manager to 2014.

• We are asking all of our unions to give back a little. We are not negotiating contracts. I would be willing to agree to open the contracts now for the sake of members, residents and the future stability of our City. But this is a long-term strategy which would include the entire City Council.

• While our Fire Union has always been the first to the table, they have NEVER given back anything without future cost to the City and its citizens.  Their current offer would require us to reinstate their Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) by FY 2014-2015.

• In simple math when you add all of the increases from July 1, 2010 – Jan 1, 2015 this amount totals 19%.  The chart below provides details on the dates agreed upon in the current MOU.

Simply put, these past and current proposals are like what was perpetrated on many first-time home buyers who are losing their homes because of rate mortgage adjustments coming due. The play today, pay tomorrow days are gone. I ask only that we start doing what is right for all concerned.

Respectfully,

Richard Cherchio

North Las Vegas Councilman

Ward 4

8.6% of firefighters live in North Las Vegas? Well, that’s more of them than CD1 candidate Michele Fiore, in their defense.