Why don't we just stop paying everyone overtime? Has anyone looked into that? Why do city staff make as much if not more in overtime. Maybe they just stop working overtime, we expect things to slow down a little, and everyone pays a little price.

Everyone needs to pay attention to the city council. The unions are involved in this decision, they have to be. And I'm sure the unions have made friends with the some on the council. This is a very powerful bargaining chip for them. They can ask for anything just to get consent on forgoing the increases.

"Well, if we get xxxxxx, we'll give up the increases."

If the Council person from your district is not properly representing you, you better make them aware of it. If they continue to go against what you feel is not right, you show up at the city council meetings and speak your mind. I will. We cannot allow city council members to run their own agenda. They are our representatives, we hired them to give us a voice at City Hall. I've lived in this city too long to watch it fall to greedy politicians. This cannot be about what's best for the unions, it must about what's best for the whole.

We are in unprecendented times. Nobody has a map. These are the days that change the world. This is the time that your voice can make a difference. Don't let these people run away with our government.

The overtime paid to police and firefighters is done to save on the cost of training and providing benefits for additional positions. The overtime for firefighters actually saved the city almost $1 million last year, according to John Miguel, firefighter's association president. He adds that cutting overtime or reducing positions could lower response times to 911 calls.

Big sacrifices from the City staff, including the City Manager. But not Public Safety, heavens no, i can bet they don't give anything up. Just another slap in the face to City employees and to the City Council who backs them up. City Council should give up their pay, used to be it was a privilege to be a Council member and it was a measly fee they accepted. Now they are paid to do a job where 'they don't understand the budget' and believe Public Safety's cries that money is being hidden - grow up aleady, it's been years they've been crying the same tune. Time to give something up to the City that 'hired' you, yes hired you to "protect and serve" and not accuse and whine.