News From the Field

New Sac Bee Editorial Attacks Important Survivor Benefit

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 -0700

The Sacramento Bee -- and its affiliated newspapers in Modesto, Fresno and Merced -- has renewed an attack on legislation aimed at easing a 100-year-old restriction on firefighter survivor benefits.

Springs Fire Tops 10,000 Acres As Red Flag Conditions Persist Statewide

Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 -0700

UPDATED: Dry winds and hot temperatures are fanning fires throughout the Southland. A wind-whipped fire in Glendale is forcing school and neighborhood evacuations. Meanwhile, the 18,000 acre Springs Fire in Ventura Co. has reached the ocean and is threatening high-priced homes in Hidden Valley and Malibu.

San Diego Pension Initiative Shot Down by PERB

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0700

The California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) provided San Diego firefighters and other public workers with a major victory this week. In an exhaustive and well-documented decision, the PERB's chief administrative law judge ruled that San Diego's pension-slashing Measure B violated state collective bargaining law.

Divided San Bernardino Council Imposes Contracts

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0700

On a divided vote, the San Bernardino City Council imposed contracts on unions representing firefighters and police officers. The city is pursuing bankruptcy protection, in part by forcing its employees to pay the freight for a history of mismanagement.

Faulty Fire Stats Understate San Jose Staffing Crisis

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0700

San Jose fire officials have conceded that their response time statistics are off the mark, and that they are missing their targets more than they've let on. The "data error" was used to justify staffing cuts that have compromised public safety in San Jose.

CPF President Participates in Electoral College

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0700

CPF President Lou Paulson joined 54 other select Californians on Monday, December 17th to participate in the Electoral College.

Anti-FF Councilman DeMaio Loses San Diego Mayor Bid

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0700

San Diego City Fire Fighters Local 145 won a huge victory in Tuesday's election, as a harshly anti-firefighter Councilman Carl DeMaio lost his bid to become mayor of San Diego. DeMaio spearheaded a June ballot measure that imposed a privatized pension system on firefighters and other city workers.

CPFs Wrap 4-Day No on 32 Tour With IAFF General President

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0700

In the fight against Proposition 32, the stakes are high and every vote counts. That was the message delivered this week by IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger during a four-day, 14-stop tour of California fire stations and union halls.

Prop. 32 Backers Agree: "Things Go Better With Koch"

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0700

A secretive out-of-state Super PAC with ties to billionaire oil tycoons the Koch Brothers has dropped $4 million in support of Proposition 32. The deceptive initiative would silence the voices of working families and let Koch-style Super PACs spend unlimited amounts on politics.

SJ Firefighter Stricken in Blaze Regains Consciousness

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0700

A San Jose firefighter who suffered an on-scene heart attack is awake and alert after a week of unconsciousness. Frank Ryan collapsed Aug. 30 while on the scene of a fire at St. Patrick's Cathedral in downtown San Jose.

New Web Video Unmasks Deception Behind Special Exemptions Act

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0700

The big money backers of the so-called "Stop Special Interest Money" initiative have a secret they don't want you to know: Their "fair and balanced" solution gives special exemptions that protect billionaire businessmen and corporate special interests.

Non-Partisan Analyst: End of Redevelopment Means Billions for Vital Services

Thu, 31 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Ending redevelopment will eventually produce $5 billion of additional general fund money for vital services. So says the non-partisan Legislative Analyst's office. According to a new LAO report, local agencies will eventually see an increase of up to 15% in available property tax revenue without redevelopment.

Court Strikes "Unlawful" Ballot Language in SJ Pension Measure

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0700

The effort by San Jose city officials to tilt the field in a June fight over pensions has been struck down by the courts. Declaring it "impermissibly partisan and misleading," a unanimous appeals court rewrote biased ballot language drafted by the city for its retirement security rollback measure.

NBC2 San Jose: City Officials Influenced "Independent" Pension Audit

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0700

A blistering investigative report suggests that San Jose city officials exerted influence on a supposedly "independent" audit of its retirement system to inflate the fiscal risk to the city. The report also indicates city officials withheld vital information from its Retirement Board.

PERB: SD Pension Measure Violates Collective Bargaining Law

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0700

The state Public Employment Relations Board has ruled that the San Diego ballot measure to eliminate public pensions violates California's collective bargaining laws, and constitutes an unfair labor practice. The ruling clears the way for San Diego employees to file suit to remove the measure from the city's November ballot.

San Jose's Fuzzy Pension Math Unmasked in News Report

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0700

San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed has tossed around a scary $650 million estimate of the city's pension obligation. But an investigative report by NBC11 in the Bay Area has revealed that the number was something the city just pulled out of its ... hat.