$100 Million Fantasy
- Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot was urged Monday to find the $100 million a year needed to restore the 55 percent health care subsidy for Chicago’s oldest retirees — a subsidy abolished by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
That’s a tall order at a time when Lightfoot faces a $1 billion spike in pension payments and a budget shortfall “more dire” than she anticipated.
But retirees’ attorney Clint Krislov argued that an even more desperate financial crunch is impacting 10,000 retirees who started working for the city prior to April 1, 1986 and, therefore, are not eligible for Medicare.
We'd love to see this happen - promises were made to these people back when they were hired. But as proven time and again, no agreement with the city is sacred unless put to paper. Lightgroot has already said the upcoming budget "shortfall" is more dire than she had been led to believe - which only reinforces everyone's opinion that she isn't quite ready for prime time. After all, if you aren't willing to stick it to the unions and taxpayers, then you're going to have a bit of a rough road ahead.
Labels: general
posted by SCC at 12:02 AM
58 Comments:
This place is so fucked!
Just bring in Vallas as your chief of staff and budget director, end of story.
She said she considered the Smollet case closed so we can kiss that +$400K away.
Maybe the Mayor elect could get together with Pritzker and practice some numerology. Liars figure and figures lie.
There are only two guarantees death and taxes.
Promises mean nothing to a Democrat...
But they will make the Police Pension Fund whole? Sure they will. Just like Rahmbo didn’t.
This light of foot.
This tender morsel.
This newly elected mayor of serpant infested city.
Rats to the left of her, snakes all around her, sinking swiftly into the muck of debt, no way out of the shit pit she jumped into.
Oh where, oh where, is Mighty Mouse????
Popeye???
Poindexter???
Maybe just Dexter.
Good thing all those retired coppers paid so much fealty to the Democratic machine
Krizlov is the same attorney that settled the Korshak case years ago. The same settlement that had a sunset provision. FOP and RCPA gave him over $500k already and he needs more as a "donation". He is not your attorney! Attorneys dont take donations they take retainers. He is also asking the Court for fees. Fees that total over $3 million dollars. Think he will give back the donations if he is awarded fees?
As for the new Mayor. Watch her come out and support some type of pension reduction. She has to come up with about $100 million in retro for Police and Fire when contract is finished. I would think retiree heathcare is behind pension, contract and everything else.
Someone needs to ask Krizlov if he will give our money back if awarded fees?
How much money to Lincoln Yards? How much money to DePaul? No further questions.
Lifgtfoot speaking to advisor " Oh there's more to being mayor than just criticizing the police?".
Guess we need mental health facilities so we don’t get a Mall Of America repeat at the Water Tower Place...
Rahm left so he wouldn't have to deal with Chicago's financial problems because there an't no good answer,wouldn't look good an his record, I am not the only one who stated after getting in office the city's finances would suddenly look much worse, bankruptcy looks more and more likely, what the mayor needs is a steep down turn in the markets to have others to blame. the proposal to help retirees is just so much hot air , never happen but will be waved about to show intent and concern. don't hold your breath waiting for a pension fix that will make good on past promises,, tighten your seat belt for the road ahead
If you're on Medicare you get a better, cheaper deal on the open market health care plans. Compared to city insurance we, mrs and I, are saving almost $4K a year. I would never go back. No dealing with incompetent city workers from benefits mgmt.
Yea right like that is gonna happen.
In your dreams.
retire now if you can!
found it....
scrap the new police training center
use 100 million from the 1.6 billion in tif funds she just ok'd for the north side project
That would be a nice start.
Face it--that pipe is stuffed with some illegal substance for those numbers to appear.
Hired in 1977 with 9 years prior work in the private sector, warned that no social security would be paid by the city. Took heed to the warning got side job to pay into social security for 20 years plus my 9 years prior. Have medicare, not worried about Krislov and his dire prediction. Lot of other guys I knew or know took the warning seriously, the one from the academy, no social security, get your own, be responsible for yourself, don't lay back and rely on somebody else. Don't forget there was no contract or all of the benefits that are now enjoyed but there were a lot of side work if you wanted to earn your quarters, have a little something extra for those school bills an occasional vacation, or replace the beater I drove to work. God helps those who help themselves. Your whining and bitching is your own doing not some politician this job gives more now than it ever did, maybe slightly different health insurance but better than working in a factory.
What you need to do is start putting out there that any future award ceremonies will be boycotted by all involved. I know this is almost impossible since there will always be coppers out there who care only for themselves and that bend to the will of their supervisors if "they want to stay on the team". We should not allow LightGroot to give out 1 police award ever.
Never ever trust a Chicago pol.
Which is why 9 1/2 will take his money and run as fast as he could away from here, taking his wedding dress with him......him and all his buddies have made their money, so it's off to greener pastures for them, away from this "utopia" they have created, leaving behind the consequences of 40+ years of NOT paying the city's share of the costs (while we workers paid in OUR percentage each and every paycheck), expecting that what we were promised would BE THERE after we dedicated our lives to this city......
Said it before, will say it again......no county, city, state, country can survive when less than half pay into the "system".......
Billions in debt here - trillions and trillions in debt for the country.....
How can you cut health insurance for those who are not eligible for Medicare can they file some kind of lawsuit wasn't it in their contract? They should have kept us on social security in case the pensions cut?
Plenty of money for illegal aliens though!
Open up the TIF monies!!!! It's city tax payer revenue that ought to be used for tax payers instead of a personal slush fund for city council.
LightLoafer is depending on Rahm’s bookkeepers to find some money?
Flip-Flop LightLoafer was against the $1 Billion TIF for Sterling Bay before she was for it.
Some reformer - and not even sitting on a couple phone books behind Rahm’s short desk yet.
Forget about using TIF for any police or retiree benefits, more likely these funds will find there way into the CPS/CTU upcoming contact benefit package.
But here’s a start:
- $14-16 million from COPA (even OPS & LightLoafer’s IPRA was cheaper to run inefficiently)
- $2 mil or more from Sanctuary ID Program
- $1 mil or more from immigrant legal services
- probably $2 mil or more from staff, salaries and benefits just for the Dept of RobinRobinson
- then there’s the whole CAPS money burning in general.
Hey, don’t blame me...I voted for Lori Loughlin
at least she used and wasted her own money.
The same promise was made to every officer who came on the job, either before or after 1986. Should apply to all officers
Funny the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state employees regarding the exact issue. The court stated the state retirees were entitled to the subsidized employee healthcare because the constitution said it could be diminished or reduced. One dissenter. Anne Burke
Here’s the decision
http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Opinions/SupremeCourt/2014/115811.pdf
Since the Trump Administration took office, the following economic surge has allowed the state of California to eliminate its budget deficit and announce this week that there will be a twenty Billion dollar surplus for the current fiscal year. (MSNBC-16 April19). Where’s the surplus for Illinois, Cook County and Chicago? JB, Toni.......Rham?
Just borrow more like everyone before her.
I laugh at everyone who thinks they will have a pension.
Our pensions are a promise also,dont be surprised when those change!
Captain Brennan, the triple merit promoteee who rides his wife’ s Hispanic captain kissasses coat tails....do nothing self serving back stabbing Fellow?... going to be sucking up to the new mayor...or being put in place to make sure she gets what she wants.....
Funny, except they both made every rank by themselves, except Capt, which you can’t .
Thanks for checking in Captain !! Lol
I call BS and NFW on either of them on passing any exam !!! If so why would she be making an EEOC beef to get promoted
They are as useless, Backstabbing and Self serving as they come.
Do as I say not as I do. Right Captain !!!
"stick it to the (...) taxpayers"
At some point that stops working and negative feedback begins as people leave or stop doing taxable things. If not corrected then you're left with the very rich and wealthy that can avoid taxes, those who receive taxes through government contracts and employment, and the poor that consume taxes.
That doesn't work very well.
Sad news from the 25 Dist. A certain 2nd watch Lt. B.K. is going to retire.He is going to be missed in his mine. The same guy who calls other officers dumasses.I know the 9,15, old 13 and 25 dist.aren't going to miss you. Been a do nothing your whole career.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Hired in 1977 with 9 years prior work in the private sector, warned that no social security would be paid by the city. Took heed to the warning got side job to pay into social security for 20 years plus my 9 years prior. Have medicare, not worried about Krislov and his dire prediction. Lot of other guys I knew or know took the warning seriously, the one from the academy, no social security, get your own, be responsible for yourself, don't lay back and rely on somebody else. Don't forget there was no contract or all of the benefits that are now enjoyed but there were a lot of side work if you wanted to earn your quarters, have a little something extra for those school bills an occasional vacation, or replace the beater I drove to work. God helps those who help themselves. Your whining and bitching is your own doing not some politician this job gives more now than it ever did, maybe slightly different health insurance but better than working in a factory.
4/16/2019 09:00:00 AM
All you needed was 40 quarters or 10 years to be eligible for Medicare or a spouse that had 40 quarters. I use my wife’s quarters for my medixare
Anonymous Anonymous said...
If you're on Medicare you get a better, cheaper deal on the open market health care plans. Compared to city insurance we, mrs and I, are saving almost $4K a year. I would never go back. No dealing with incompetent city workers from benefits mgmt.
4/16/2019 07:00:00 AM
Good point and you can get a Medicare supplement plan, not an advantage plan. We should have been offered both a supplement or an advantage plan, our chooce
The illionois supreme court already ruled against city employees. No insurance.
Money for everything except what was PROMISED.
? Why cant the fop manage our own healthcare plan,don't the outside trades do that!?
https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/lawmakers-to-vote-on-adding-daca-work-visa-immigrants-to/article_5f6540da-5ca1-11e9-87b4-efa866d7d658.amp.html
Need health insurance? Ask the state of Illinois ... they are proposing to give Medicaid to non-US citizens. Honestly ... you have to read the article. Medicaid is already 1/4 of the state’s budget. They say immigrants which is code name for illegal immigrants. Another bill is for Illinois MAP grants for illegal aliens b/c federal gov’t won’t give college MAP grants to illegals (separate article). You can’t make this shit up ... fucking state gov’t will drive the State into the insolvency shitter. What the fuck is wrong with these Illinois politicians? Are they that fucking stupid or just taking cues from Soros on how to destroy America (Amerika) from within?
city income tax watch the garbage fee go up up up
Just donate the $100 million to the west side/Engelwood communities are see if its residents can be turned into productive citizens.
Typical politician who will say anything to get elected.
FOP under prior President made an agreement with an Aetna agency for a supplemental plan, most of the retirees I know took it, cost is reasonable when you need surgery, hospital accepted it along with Medi Care on the spot and said it was a good policy. Two surgeries later and several tests and and not an issue with a bill.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
? Why cant the fop manage our own healthcare plan,don't the outside trades do that!?
4/16/2019 10:19:00 PM
You are kidding? Right
Is there no way for your union, or some other legal entity (or even some impacted individual/s, to file a lawsuit laying a claim to the huge amount of TIF money that is always sloshing around, to be used to beef up your pension fund?
Surely it is arguable that you have a superior claim to those assets over the private firms that reap in the benefit of those diverted tax dollars. Just thinking....
And it won't even be that amount. Alot of retirees are on Medicare.
Did you know that all Early Voting judges, because they earn more than $599 for working 15 days straight, are not only taxed by Cook County (understandable), but have an involuntary PENSION CONTRIBUTION deducted from their paycheck?
This, after being reminded by the County that they are "TEMPORARY employees and do not qualify for unemployment" once election ends. Nor do we collect/qualify for any benefits.
On the Pension Board web page it says employees have to SIGN UP FOR and CONSENT TO participating in pension contributions. Never happened.
It also says TEMPORARY employees DO NOT QUALIFY for a pension.
My "contribution" came to around $173. Multiply that by 150 judges (give or take) & that's roughly $25,950 waiting to be refunded from this last election.
Oh, yes....we can apply for a refund. If we 'resign or are terminated'.
We're TEMPORARY employees. We only work election. Do I "resign" & then get "re-hired" at the next election? No one can tell me.
And Human Resources has never notified us about the refund or how to apply for it. (Remember, this is money that SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN TAKEN). I'm guessing a lot of the judges won't apply for a refund BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
A friend was told by someone in the Treasurer's Office it can take 10 - 12 weeks for a refund to be processed.
We also were never given a W-4 form to fill out for anyone to determine what our withholding was, so how did they determine deductions?
Did they just pull a figure outta their ass?
No wonder Cook County's pensions are all fucked up.
Nobody seems to know what the hell they're doing.
Of course, cutting spending, especially that of the public aid in it's many forms nature to ensure that the parasitic catered to constituancy keeps voting for Democrats will not be considered.
richp said...
Is there no way for your union, or some other legal entity (or even some impacted individual/s, to file a lawsuit laying a claim to the huge amount of TIF money that is always sloshing around, to be used to beef up your pension fund?
Surely it is arguable that you have a superior claim to those assets over the private firms that reap in the benefit of those diverted tax dollars. Just thinking....
4/17/2019 01:20:00 PM
--
great question. and $1.6B appears out of nowhere to fund some yuppie bldgs. Im no economist, but that would go pretty far towards make the CPD pension fund solvent I would guess.
How the fuck is it not profitable for a bldg guy to do this on their own? All of a sudden it's just not profitable? ya, ya, the $1.6B is for community roads, electricity, etc. Do I get that when I upgrade my house? Driving down my street is like driving on the moon with all the potholes.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
FOP under prior President made an agreement with an Aetna agency for a supplemental plan, most of the retirees I know took it, cost is reasonable when you need surgery, hospital accepted it along with Medi Care on the spot and said it was a good policy. Two surgeries later and several tests and and not an issue with a bill.
4/17/2019 09:36:00 AM
You are completely wrong. There is and never was a supplemental plan. It’s an Aetna Advantage plan. Don’t believe the issue was about payment, but with an advantage plan it is hard if not impossible to switch to a supplemental plan, especially if you have had two surgeries.
With an advantage plan if premiums go up too much, you cannot switch to a supplemental. If you have a supplemental you can switch to any supplemental plan
Anonymous Anonymous said...
The illionois supreme court already ruled against city employees. No insurance.
4/16/2019 07:55:00 PM
Wrong. Appellate Court ruled against city employees. Supreme Court refused to hear the case. Big difference
In 2014 the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in favor of state employees over the same issue, retiree healthcare being protected by the state constitution
Here’s the Illinois Supreme Court ruling regarding state employees health care
http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Opinions/SupremeCourt/2014/115811.pdf
Health insurance should be a percentage of your annuity, as it is right now for the 55 and out agreement. That would be fine to bring that for all the current retirees who have to pay for their own health insurance. Let the exempt pay more for their health insurance...they can afford it.
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