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This Week's Attitude
Yes, you read that right. Not a cost of living increase or a sum equivalent to the rate of inflation, but twenty-damn five percent! Consequently, this year Chanukah and Christmas are coming early for the city's politicians. With an eleven-figure city budget, the raise will only cost taxpayers an additional $1,147,500 a year, so that ain't bad on the surface. But that's not the point! It's the method and the Council members' egregious self-interest. City legislators deserve an adequate salary that can attract qualified candidates. But, more importantly, do they earn it? The City Council is in session nearly year-round, but many members are not always performing Council-related work five-days-a-week. Figures released last week by the non-partisan Citizens Union revealed that 20 percent of the legislative body missed one of five meetings from January through October. Third on the list of most absenteeism was Brooklyn Councilman Charles Barron, who represents Canarsie north of Avenue L, with 26 percent. (Barron told the Courier the figure is misleading and he "never misses an important vote or meeting." He also said when he is not at his Council office he is "in the community helping constituents" and maintains that should be considered as Council attendance, too, which, on the surface, seems to be a valid point.) Before the final Council vote yesterday, which was - to no one's surprise - an overwhelming 41-5 with four absentees. The most vocal holdout was Queens Councilman Tony Avella, who is rumored to be considering a campaign for the mayoral Democratic nomination in 2009. Guess he wants something he can brag about to sway voters. His colleagues, obviously, just want a heckuva lot more pocket change! The major argument supporting the rather generous increase was that part-time Council members haven't had a raise in seven years. The current $90,000 base salary isn't chicken feed, but seven years without a raise is exceptional - unless you work for a cheapskate. Nonetheless, most serving Council members haven't been in office that long, so they got elected knowing they'd have to eke out a living on the existing pay scale, which, for most members, is typically supplemented with extras ranging from $4,000 to $28,500 for chairing committees or being appointed to supervisory roles. As a result many Council members earn $100,000 or more a year - before the new raise kicks in. And that's in addition to rewarding outside incomes that most members earn. The Citizens Union report also showed the range for 13 Council members with outside earnings. Lew Fidler, who represents parts of Canarsie, Mill Basin and other local communities, topped that list with an income between $90,000-$260,000 before he deposits his city check. (Council members are not required to reveal precise external incomes, but it certainly puts a damper on their appeal for a pay hike.) When Council members campaign they also use public money to slyly promote themselves. When Gifford Miller was Council speaker last year, there was a sudden surge in his mailings - reportedly more than the Council did on all constituent correspondence during his term as speaker - that featured his name and image to the cost to taxpayers of almost $2 million. Though Miller's mailings were lawful, it just happened to be when he campaigned for mayor. What's most infuriating about the Council's excessive pay raise is that it is oh so self-serving. Do you know any employee who doesn't think they deserve a raise? (Here's something you'll never hear: "Sorry boss, but I didn't do enough to earn your generous raise.") When federal legislators vote for pay hikes, it only affects the next Congressional session. Putting more money in their own pockets is comparable to the underhanded maneuver when Council members tried to alter the two term-limit voters had approved - TWICE! Rumor has it, they're mulling yet another term-limit modification - without voter input, naturally. Incidentally, other elected officials' salary hikes range from 10 percent for the public advocate, who said her current salary is adequate, to almost 27 percent for the five county district attorneys. The mayor's salary will rise more than five percent to $225,000, although billionaire Mike Bloomberg only takes a $1 token salary. Others whose paycheck will swell include the comptroller (15.6 percent) and the borough presidents (18.5 percent) for what is primarily a ceremonial post. The Advisory Commission for the Review of Compensation Levels of Elected Officials, commissioned by Mayor Bloomberg who endorsed the hikes, recommended the raises last month. Is it just me who finds it a bit too convenient that this took place a year after city elections? However, the panel also recommended eliminating stipends, and, more notably, the Council, from here on, should steer clear of hiking their own salaries. One of these days the City Council is going to be compelled to create legislation mandating that the taxpayers, for whom they ultimately work, must en-dorse any pay increase - and that vote must take place during a Council election year when incumbents and candidates will have to justify a pay hike while campaigning. The Citizens Union concurred with the salary hikes, but only if the Council eliminated its stipends. That's a concession with which most voters could certainly agree! Do I envy the Council members' salaries? Hey, six figures is six figures. But I really envy their chutzpah for voting themselves a raise without suitable taxpayer input. Many employees can't leave work early, schlep into Manhattan to wait their turn for a brief opportunity to gripe about something that would ultimately have little, if any, effect, on the pay hike vote. Now that City Council members have a pending hefty raise they obviously believe they deserve, it's time for them to start earning it by devoting more time to what should be their primary occupation and stop being grinches who stole Christmas - not to mention taxpayers' money.
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