I suggest that you learn something about the politics of water in Deerfield Beach before you allow Jean Robb to continue her ‘know-nothing’ assault on the Community Service Rate established by the court almost 30 years ago concerning Century Village East.
The Observer has given Ms. Robb virtually unlimited space to advertise her faulty understanding of the provisions of that court decision. No mention is ever made of the minimal costs to the City for having to read only three meters for 254 multi-unit buildings, provide only three back-flow preventers and charge 8508 units a base rate plus gallonage when more than half of the units are using no water at all for more than half the year.
I cannot defend the decision made by the City to acquire the water and sewer system of CVE; perhaps the current mayor can speak to that; but until the City is prepared to undertake a full investigation of who benefits most from the current rate schedule, Ms. Robb should not be allowed to continue her perpetual rant.
There is far more muck lurking under the surface of the water rate structure in Deerfield Beach than meets the eye.
Jeff Chester
Deerfield Beach
Firefighters receive too much money
To the Editor:
Did you notice that page three of the July 24, 2008 Observer summarized the proposed Deerfield Beach firefighter/paramedic and battalion chief contract to be addressed at the August 5, 2008 commission meeting. The commissioners will be asked to approve the proposed contract at that meeting.
As voters and taxpayers, you may want to consider what these contracts are asking for based on the information provided.It appears that everyone gets a four percent cost of living raise (if only our pensions or social security payments had such generous provisions), some will also get a two to ten percent longevity raise; and if you happen to be a state certified EMT or paramedic, you will be entitled to either a five or a 15 percent increase.
On top of all of that, merit raises of five percent each year (of a two-year contract) are available to all covered by this contract. Let’s see, if you happen to be a state certified paramedic, you may be eligible for anywhere between a 26 percent and a 34 percent increase. State certified EMT’s may be eligible for anywhere between a 16 percent and a 24 percent increase. At a minimum, those covered without state certification may receive at least a nine percent increase each year and, with longevity, a 14 percent increase each year.
As voters and taxpayers, particularly in these difficult economic times when jobs are hard to come by and foreclosures in our city exceed 600 homes, do you support such lucrative pay and benefit packages for our civil servants? Unfortunately, such contracts are commonplace in Deerfield Beach, and our current elected officials and union leadership that represent city employees are unwilling to challenge the rising costs of providing services in favor of simply adding such costs to the backs of taxpayers.
It’s also interesting that these particular contracts are being voted on just before we learn what the budget and resulting property tax rate will be for 2008.I urge you to let your voice be heard by contacting your commissioners and the mayor regarding where you stand on these particular labor contracts that are about to be considered.
David Nace
Deerfield Beach
Historical essay brings memories
To the Editor:
With interest, I read your article about the old Deerfield Bank. I was employed as a teller at that bank in the early ‘60s when Percy White was the president. My regular customer on Friday night was the “now famous Wayne Huizenga” to cash his paycheck! Thought you might be interested in hearing about this piece of history. I may have a newspaper picture of all the “old” bank employees at that time. Let me know if you are interested, and we could probably make a copy.
Hannie Amadeo
Deerfield Beach
Keep C-SPAN2 simple
To the Editor:
Is anyone else out there as outraged as I am over the fact that Comcast has taken away our C-SPAN2 channel? The company recently “moved” the channel from its “Basic” to its “Digital” level of service. (However, it left our dozens of comedy, entertainment, game, movie and sports channels alone!)
Now, in order to watch C-SPAN2 which offers gavel-to-gavel coverage of U.S. Senate sessions, weekends of “BookTV” and interviews with experts discussing national and international issues of critical importance you’ve got to get a box from Comcast, hook it up to your TV, and pay Comcast $2.88 each month. This to watch a channel which, outrageously, Comcast still boasts on its website: “Created by Cable. Offered as a public service,” so much for “public service” from Comcast.
The cable company has taken away C-SPAN2 from its viewers in many markets across the country and the Internet is jammed with messages of complaints to Comcast.If you’d like to add your voice to theirs, go to comcast.com or write: Brian Roberts, CEO, Comcast, 1500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA19102.Tell him we demand our C-SPAN 2 back!
