The following letter to the editor was published in the El Segundo Herald newspaper (HeraldPublications.com) on Thursday, February 16, 2012 in the Letters section on pages 2 and 10. The El Segundo Herald has a strict 250-word limit, including the title.
“NO” on P
The firefighters’ union has financed a propaganda poll with many false claims to deceive voters into voting for Measure P. The pollsters falsely claimed firefighters are paid $100,000 annually.
The firefighters had average total annual compensation of $211,000 (maximum was $342,000), and average annual pension contributions paid by the taxpayers of $42,000 (maximum was $80,000). These figures don’t include Fire Chief Kevin Smith, who had total annual compensation of $358,000 including total annual pension contributions paid by the taxpayers of $84,000.
If Measure P passes, El Segundo will no longer have a Fire Department. L.A. County will provide our fire and paramedic services at a reduced level, without ambulances. The El Segundo firefighters will become county employees, but will keep their higher El Segundo salaries. Chief Smith will be demoted to a captain, but will keep his El Segundo Fire Chief’s salary.
El Segundo taxpayers will be forced to pay the full cost of their astronomical and unsustainable salaries to L.A. County, but will have no control to reduce the salaries to competitive and sustainable levels.
The firefighters receive guaranteed multimillion dollar pensions at 55 at taxpayer expense, and earlier if they falsely claim a “disability” retirement. About 55% of El Segundo firefighter retirees claimed disability retirements over the last ten years, making half their pension income free from federal and state taxes.
The firefighters don’t care about the financial problems they created for us, because only one of them lives here. Vote “No” on Measure P!
Marianne Fong
El Segundo Police Officers' Association (ESPOA) Exposed