http://www.baycitizen.org/government/story/report-major-cities-not-prepared-growing/comments/#comments

http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Police-Chief-s-204-000-Pension-Shows-How-3753881.php

http://www.fixpensionsfirst.com/newsroom/

http://www.tomhoganlaw.com/2012-07-17/california-pension-liabilities-dangerously-insufficient-funds/589742

This is not the boy who cried wolf, This is for real!

The super rich aren’t the only ones bleeding us dry, and normal people are helping themselves to the blood as well, take a look a factual data and it is quite evident.

http://www.calwatchdog.com/2012/04/13/why-pensions-are-going-broke/

http://fresnobeehive.com/opinion/2012/02/now_every_californuia_househol.html

http://database.californiapensionreform.com/

Who are these “super rich” people allegedly “bleeding us dry”? Do you mean public union members?

We can prevail. But we need everyone to get involved. We need to defeat their arguments not push watered-down alternatives. We need to make OUSD’s 48% drop-out rate, the closure of 5 elementary schools and the fact that our teachers have never had a contract under Tony Smith election issues. We need to get the candidates to go on the record on our issues and use in-district events to show which candidates are willing to help stop this robbery (even if they need a push sometimes) – and which ones are driving the getaway car.

The current board will use complexity as a weapon of deception to hide how a handful of people are robbing us. OUSD has made the whole conversation about budget numbers. But it’s not. It’s about our future, our children! We can never forget that. We cannot back down.

I still side with being grateful for those who spend their time in service of Oakland students.

Very interesting.

In the real world (Fortune 500), Directors are considered to be (though in fact are not always) “key” people whose special capabilities play a crucial role in the firm’s prosperity. In return for their rarified expertise, they are commonly awarded annual fees, restricted shares, and meeting-related expenses.

IRS regulations might have something to do with this, but I believe that perks like family health insurance coverage would be somewhat exceptional nowadays.

Keep in mind that school board members are anything but exceptional individuals, as evidenced by OUSD’s dismal reputation.

I’ll start supporting free healthcare insurance coverage for all OUSD Board members (and their families) when that same benefit is available to all OUSD taxpayers.

The current compensation for Directors is $787.50 per month. Compensation is restricted by the State Education Code 35120, and can be increased by the board by 5% annually.
Board members are reimbursed for all expenses incurred in the performance of duties, or when making trips on official district business when authorized in advance by the Board. Board members may participate in the health and welfare benefits program provided for district employees. The District is to pay the cost of all premiums required for Board members electing to participate in the district health and welfare benefits program. Health and welfare benefits provided to Board members are to be extended at the same level to their spouses, dependent children under the age of 21, dependent children under the age of 25 who are full‐time students at a college or university, and dependent children regardless of age who are physically or mentally incapacitated. Any member retiring from the Board after at least one term may continue the health and welfare benefits program at their own expense if coverage is in effect at the time of retirement.

All the elected officials in my small hometown were unpaid, part-time. That didn’t prevent them from funneling city contracts to their regular employers, or *paid* city gigs to friends and family.

Surely you’re aware that while a current national political figure’s star was rising his wife was getting big promotions (and salary increases) at her job?

Surely you’re aware that while another current national political figure’s star was rising her daughter was hired at a very attractive salary by the industry her mom was supposedly overseeing?

Surely you’re aware of the number of ex-elected officials who move on to lucrative service careers in “government relations” (lobbying).

So don’t feed me that jive that someone who holds an unpaid civil office is acting nobly.