Meet our critics!!!
PRST. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 2226 WORCESTER, MA
Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, Inc. 9-11 Shetland Street Boston, Massachusetts 02119
Rich frauds demand concessions from cops, but here’s how much they make… By Jim Carnell, Editor, Pax Centurion ith all of the constant criticism and scrutiny we’re under, with our annual pay posted on-line for nosy neighbors and voyeuristic cretins to exploit, it’s comforting to turn the tables on our most vocal critics and reveal what they “earn,” for lack of a more descriptive term. If you hear these fakes and frauds pontificating on radio (continued on page A9)
W
Nation’s First Police Department • Established 1854
Volume 39, Number 2 • March/April 2009
PAXCENTURION Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, Inc. Boston Emergency Medical Technicians
By James Carnell, Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association Editor’s note: this article, in abbreviated format, was sent to the Boston Globe for consideration as an op-ed piece. Naturally, it was not published, as the elitists at the Globe and their children are themselves among the beneficiaries of the favors and scholarships (wink-wink, nod-nod) offered by the local colleges and hospitals.
O
n January 1st, Mayor Thomas Menino floated his trial balloon about potential layoffs on the front pages of the Globe. At the time, I predicted public employee unions would soon become the targets, and I was (unfortunately) correct. Virtually every contractual benefit we have negotiated, including pensions, health benefits, paid details or educational incentive plans is under daily attack on the front pages of the local newspapers or the talk-shows. Like witches in 1692 Salem, public employees are pilloried for sport by those looking for scapegoats to explain the bad economy. Two years ago, my union, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, agreed to a negotiated contract that required, among other things, increased contributions to our health care plan. We also accepted very small increases in the beginning, with the expectation that a larger raise was due during the final year of the contract. Of course, even in good economic times, we often received years of “0”% raises (six out of the last 14 years). Strange, but I don’t recall the pundits demanding fairness during those times…. Mayor Menino has estimated that if all city unions were to agree to a wage freeze, he might be able to save (continued on page A7)
By Jim Carnell, Pax Editor uestion: who is radio talkshow host Michael Graham, Margery Eagan, Howie Carr and the general public most angry about in the photo to the right? The photo was taken on March 26th, 2009 in front of the intersection of Ashburton Pl. and Somerset St., ironically the offices of the virulently anti-union/anti-police Beacon Hill Institute and their curmudgeonly leader, Suffolk University Professor of Economics David G. Tuerck. (see joint letter sent to him requesting his own pay and benefit information by the BPPA and BPSOF elsewhere in this issue). In the photo, the intrepid and dashingly handsome Pax Editor directs traffic through the narrow intersection while a veritable cornucopia of lawyers, engineers, and consultants accompanied by photographers and legal secretaries inspect various locations where Trigen steam energy Co. and Verizon are engaged in expensive litigation regarding underground damage that occurred about four years ago. According to some knowledgeable persons present, the lawyers alone cost upwards of $400.00 per hour, not including their retinue of secretaries, photographers, consultants and others. (I counted a total of 12 persons). And as I stated, this litigation has been going on for four years, and will probably continue for several more. There will be meetings and conferences, depositions and hearings, billable hours and consultant’s reports ad nauseum. I predict that, in the end, both companies will settle the case and
Q
$400/hr. Attorney
�
$260/hr. Engineer
$185/hr. Consultant
�
Favors, “scholarships” traded amongst the elite and politically connected for tax-free status… but they want US to accept a wage freeze?
And who’s costing the ratepayers the most money?
�
Politicians, public ignore 10,000 lb. tax-free elephant…
� $110/hr. Photographer
the lawyers and consultants will all walk away with a smile on their face and a pocket full of cash. But who do ratepayers think is responsible for their bills? Who do the drive-by critics focus in on? Is it the $400. per-hour lawyer or the $200.00 per-hour consultant? NO. It’s the cop. The cop who, in Boston, actually costs less than a flagman but gets 100% of the public’s grief and anger. And so, after directing traffic in several busy intersections, including locations in
� $33/hr. COP
Chinatown and the financial area until 12:15, the officer was released with 3.75 hours; meaning a four-hour minimum. (I’m sure that Michael Graham would be mortified about getting 15 minutes of “free” pay for the cop.) As I was leaving, the lawyers were discussing where to have lunch, and I sort of doubt it was at the local sub-shop. (Trigen and Verizon ratepayers will ultimately split the tab for the lawyer’s lunch, but no one will know because it (continued on page A9)
The advertisers of the Pax Centurion do not necessarily endorse the opinions of the Pax Centurion/Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association. The advertisers are in support of the BPPA Scholarship Fund and every patrolmen who risks his or her life to protect and serve the community.