Posted by Frugal, a resident of the Menlo Park: Central Menlo Park neighborhood, on Jul 12, 2011 at 1:59 pm

Right on Labor Council.

As if organized labor didn't already have a bum reputation, you're at it again trying to make it worse.

Posted by Peter Carpenter, a resident of the Atherton: Lindenwood neighborhood, on Jul 12, 2011 at 2:26 pm

There is not a single Atherton taxpayer on the Labor Council. The Labor Council is acting solely in the short term interest of labor and is ignoring the interests if the taxpayers. The Town Council should simply ignore this special interest pleading.

Posted by Jerome Leugers, a resident of the Atherton: Lindenwood neighborhood, on Jul 12, 2011 at 2:39 pm

Proceed with the layoffs. It's also time to outsource the police department.

BTW, will the town save money with the outsourcing since we will not require new structures for the building and police departments?

Posted by Tim Wulff, a resident of another community, on Jul 14, 2011 at 9:31 am

The issue, as I have stated before, does not pertain to personalities, circumstances or events, it has to do with the mal-design of governmental mechanisms and structures.

Union representation of government employees violates the constitutional right of taxpayers to be directly, by electoral process, represented in the decision regarding dispensation of their taxes. This is a fundamental and historical issue which was present at the founding of the nation.

Union contracts devolve to decisions made within financial constraints determined by contract law at the hands of appointed arbiters.

This structure is unconstitutional.

It is this that must be addressed in these situations.

Posted by Michael G. Stogner, a resident of another community, on Jul 14, 2011 at 10:43 am

Atherton Taxpayers,

Executive secretary-treasurer Shelley Kessler

"At this point, there are no specific actions planned against the town as labor leaders monitor the situation, but that could change, depending on the results of further talks"

Some might ask who is Shelley Kessler? This might help.

Web Link

Who is representing the Taxpayer?

Posted by Peter Carpenter, a resident of the Atherton: Lindenwood neighborhood, on Jul 14, 2011 at 12:55 pm

"Who is representing the Taxpayer?"

The Atherton taxpayer is finally being well represented by the Town Council, the Town Manager and the Town Attorney.