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Costa Mesa, Calif. Mayor Jim Righeimer on unions’ reactions across the country to efforts to cut pensions.
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And burn it onto another big one negotiating with unions has made big headlines in the past year as budget deficits around the country just exploded as you know but -- story in the Wall Street Journal.
Really caught my attention because the brazen strong arm tactics that are being used what example just one example.
The police union in -- in California began her harassment campaign against the city manager he's Bob -- After he announced the city might have to -- -- another 16%.
Of its municipal workforce.
The union.
Bought the house next stored to him to dice to make his life miserable.
And they invested in billboards welcoming city visitors saying this is the second most dangerous -- California.
And they put -- phone number at the bottom.
Keep in mind that this is -- -- and going big rocks.
Because of unsustainable cost this sounds all too familiar to -- mesa mayor Jim -- timer who joins me now.
Jim I -- name.
Next in the city manager and they unleashed a flurry of construction making all kinds of racket and bullying him at home.
Does this -- or does it sound similar to something you went through as.
Well.
When you -- five years ago I was shocked me.
-- what you find out is that down police unions say in a lot of public safety unions have you strong arm tactics for a long time.
Over the years especially last ten years after 9/11.
We put our police and fire at such levels of hero warship.
That.
We give whatever they want the problem is -- they don't get what they want how -- they react back -- -- -- -- -- right up front.
And our city NL around the country we love our police and our fire right the problem is they've got these labor unions that are negotiating things that are unsustainable now.
When a city like stock and was is filing bankruptcy and and get hit in the end filed bankruptcy.
They just say -- we don't care don't care about reality wanna have what they wanna have let's let's California we have these plans we but.
Now let's what specifically happened to you because we on other budgets are exploding what was shocking to me about this article and your story in particular.
Is the lengths to which the labor negotiators will go to.
To intimidate the other -- -- in -- case.
You were followed home from a bar.
And it and they tried to rescue different driving -- tell us your story.
Yeah I mean actually we are -- -- about public meeting it was like 430 after an in this last summer is hot out.
One and then the city councilman has saved a sports bar restaurant went over there are got to diet -- left the restaurant.
And drove home.
Got home said -- to my wife and kids was talking to on the next thing I know my wife says there's a police officer at the door.
I go watts asked officer what's copies -- step outside this is had -- been drinking.
I'm Michael what are you talking about is will someone reported -- you were drinking.
He said he got to get cast it from my wife and kids -- -- to a sobriety test.
I do the test -- obviously passed he leaves I'm kinda shocked the next in my wife says that he's talking to -- in a car down the street.
I run down the street realize and I've been set up long story short.
The driver of that car the press found out later was a -- was a -- -- fired police officer from Riverside please.
He was -- president of police officers association.
And he worked for the law firm that represents our police association while we're in negotiations.
Today we're looking to -- embarrass me.
You know it set me up it was was worse than man.
That investigator came back later and said -- hammer was just a bonus we are going after the other two councilman.
Who were in that restaurant over there and we sent a woman in with a low cut dress.
To get them to do something that they would be embarrassed by or used for extortion.
I don't you need into your little he is that he admitted an -- your case you didn't back down.
You -- the mayor of Costa Mesa you have not back down from these fights when you look at what happened in Stockton based settled their contract.
But with in the language of the contract they agreed to sell the home after they settled the deal could move out.
Silly eight in -- -- all know even have to have that.
Right it and it to -- -- admits that you know they tried to say they were buying a house next to him.
Because it was a good investment Stockton a city it's going underwear property values have tanked.
But it in by virtue of settling their -- Labor contract with in the labor contract that says.
That they are going to sell the house to get out and stop harassing and it's pretty amazing to be pretty much admits exactly what's going on.
And you point out that this is part of a a -- it's actually published.
Yet there was actually a playbook by the law firm Lackey Denmark -- -- according to them represent about a 130 plus police associations throughout the United States.
Mostly in California which is probably a quarter to a third of all of -- police associations.
And their tactics are unbelievable they talked about you know concentrate on a city councilman -- Citi.
-- manager go after and glass from ask you get their loyalty.
Go after your next video card that's what -- actually saying that.
Under our situation they would get the -- -- of people the microphone -- artists to streets are safe anymore after cutting back on cops went factor not cutting back and any.
Thing and now -- we have to go it's a tremendous strength I would add at the end of this that not -- in Stockton homicides rates in Stockton have tripled.
And it is now one of the ten -- violent cities in America where they're fighting over these issues it and and looking for.
Bonuses and payouts in this and that they -- so much for coming on incredible story.
They -- Melissa next.
