I agree Rick and Al. I can only hope people will be as empathetic when the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. There is a lot of discussion about our incompetence as well.
On 7/28/09 7:11 AM, "Al Airone" <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks, Ricky, for the reasoned response. I get tired of hearing the > stereotyped, generalized, and frankly irresponsible comments ("Nobody knows > nothin at City Hall", "City workers usually blow off citizens..."). Besides > being myself a City worker, I am also a citizen - someone who has to deal with > the City and its bureaucracy in the same manner as any other citizen. > > Like you, I am sure, I have no special "connection" when it comes to > complaints I have about City services, or expectations for any outcome from > them. Like you, I'm just another voice at the end of the phone or another > civilian asking a cop, a clerk, or a staffer for information or action. I > often wish I had some sort of Harry Potter mark on my forehead that would > instantly get me recognition and "special" service - turns out, it never works > that way. However, I do find that speaking courteously and reasonably during > such interactions, having all my facts available, and explaining my case in a > firm but non-hostile manner often manage to get the job done without any kind > of magic, "pull", or bribery. > > I've had good experiences and bad with City employees. The same can be said > of my experiences with British Airways, Dell Corporation, bank personnel, > tradesmen, and all kinds of others. Even if (and I don't have any scientific > evidence of this) there are more instances of rude or unhelpful behavior from > civil servants in general than from commercial workers in general, the numbers > don't, I'm sure, form a basis for the lazy hurling of vituperation that so > often takes place. If I said "landlords just blow you off," or "lawyers never > do nuthin", I would be just as guilty. > > Reminds me of why so I've blocked many of the more frequent posters on this > list! > > Thanks again for speaking up. > > > - Al Airone > > > ----- Original Message ----- >> >> From: Richard Moreau <mailto:[email protected]> >> >> To: [email protected] >> >> Cc: [email protected] >> >> Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 11:33 AM >> >> Subject: Re: [UC] Tax penalties for the unconnected >> >> >> >> As a City employee, I feel the need to chime in, on both sides. >> >> >> >> Mostly, I just want to ask that people be careful about making >> generalizations about City employees. We're as varied as everyone else in >> every other profession - in our work ethic, in our commitment to our jobs's >> missions, in our abilities to do the jobs we were hired to do, and in the >> resources we have with which to do our jobs (especially in tight economic >> times.) >> >> >> >> There are some benefits to having a unionized, civil service position (which >> is not true of all City jobs, including, I suspect, Marty's, plus many of >> our jobs have been contracted out to non-City employees whose pay and >> benefits tend to be much worse), at least for the person holding that >> position. It gives us a fair amount of the job security that many others wish >> they had, and which more of us should have. Of course, the downside for those >> we serve is that it can be difficult, but not impossible, to get rid of >> ineffective or wrong-doing employees. Also, we have good benefits in terms of >> health insurance and pensions - from my point of view anyway. I used to be a >> waiter for many years, without any such benefits. On the other hand, I hear >> and read of much better benefits at some corporate jobs: matching 401K >> contributions, day care allowances, annual bonuses, etc. My income is decent >> enough for my somewhat laid back lifestyle, but well below what most of my >> college friends and siblings now make. >> >> >> >> I'd also like to remind everyone that we City employees are required to live >> in the city, which cuts down our options (I'm dating someone from the 'burbs >> who is reluctant to move into the city, so we haven't been able to work out >> the possibility of ever living together), but which also means that there is >> an added incentive to do our job well as we benefit from doing so just by >> living here and also because, in doing our jobs, we're using our tax dollars >> that we pay too. >> >> >> >> I don't know anything as a City employee about any kind of program (or >> shady, behind-the-scene means) that let's us not pay our taxes, park wherever >> we want, get first dibs at this or that, get away without doing our jobs, or >> get any kind of look-the-other-way slide when found to be doing something >> wrong or illegal. >> >> >> >> On the other hand, I do see plenty of inefficiences and incompetence. More >> or less than in other large organizations? I don't know. As a test, I once >> mailed something to my house from my office, using the City's mail system, >> not putting it directly in a mailbox. It took 6 days (which included a >> weekend, but still...). Mail from my mother in Massachusetts takes two days, >> sometimes only one, to get to me. >> >> >> >> I also recall, a handful of years ago, maybe it has improved since, that the >> City was paying its vendors (including the foster parents I was working with >> then, all of whom are now contracted out via private agencies) so late that >> many people and businesses wouldn't do business with us. >> >> >> >> Like in other downsizing organizations I am now handling the duties which >> used to be handled by several people; that slows me down, but I've also used >> my creativity to introduce some efficiencies to my area of responsibility, >> which helps make up for lower staffing a bit. I'd like us to take better >> advantage of already-available technology than we do now. I often feel like, >> because of accountability concerns, I'm already having to do two jobs, even >> without staff shortages: my normal job activities and documenting my job >> activities. >> >> >> >> Like many of you, I've also been the target of a 6 month delayed weed >> violation, to which I also got a rude, imperious response from the official >> (a co-worker in some respects) who handled the matter. >> >> >> >> The couple of times I've had to deal with firefighters, I found them to be >> wonderful. I've had good and bad interactions with various police officers. >> I once had to deal with the Rec Dept for an event in Clark Park that I was >> helping to organize and I felt their customer service was horrendous, but, >> oy, maybe I just caught them on a bad day. I do wish that more City (and >> really, every company's) employees saw and understood the customer service >> aspects of their jobs. >> >> >> >> In the end, what I see, isn't specific to City employees. Maybe I'm starting >> to become the stereotypical crotchety old man (I'm in my mid-40's), but >> throughout our society, I see a rash of me-first, gettin'-over, >> what's-in-it-for-me attitudes. When I'm feeling more enlightened, I see this >> as the natural response of people who feel that they have been cheated, who >> feel vulnerable, who feel a need to protect themselves the best way they know >> how. It's still frustrating, but I do what I can, I consider alternative >> explanations for what I believe, sometimes wrongly, to be wrong-doing, and I >> try to be patient with the rest. I hope that anyone dissing City employees, >> or criticizing anyone, for that matter, can do the same. >> >> >> >> Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any past and future >> efforts to make the world a better place and to be patient along the way. >> >> >> >> - Richard (Ricky) >> >> >> >> PS: I took a personal day today, so, no, I am not writing this on the clock >> or using City resources to do so. >> >> >> >> >> On Jul 23, 2009, at 1:54 PM, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> >> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Glenn is reporting on an important truth. >>> >>> The City is slow to cash checks. >>> They have improved. >>> Several years ago, an Auditor found Mail Bags full of checks to the city, >>> totaling MILLIONS. >>> Some were so old that they were no longer valid. >>> >>> >>> The City does not gain in the delay. >>> Even though the late fees and penalties are usually not contested the City >>> loses interest on the deposits and pays out interest on its bonds and >>> debts. >>> >>> >>> This becomes such a nightmare at Settlements that I often tell my clients >>> not to pay Gas and Water if they are less than 21 days from Settlement. >>> I explain that lateness of less than 30 days may not be reported. >>> Title companies must verify Water and Gas because they are lien-able items. >>> It is generally less frustrating to pay a small late fee than to be forced >>> to pay the bills again, at Settlement, and than have the post-Settlement >>> hassle of trying to get money back from the city. >>> >>> >>> The City has also made Realtors and Title Clerks de facto meter readers and >>> bill collectors. >>> I have been at Settlements at which the City claimed THOUSANDS of Dollars >>> in past due gas or Water fines. >>> Twice the bills exceeded Settlement Proceeds. >>> One time the City Solicitor suggested I cut my commission so that there >>> would be enough money, from Settlement proceeds, to pay a PGW Bill. >>> I refused, but it took almost three hours for the City to agree that it was >>> better to get most of their money, while retaining the right to pursue the >>> Seller later, than to torpedo the deal, retain the deadbeat, and cause harm >>> to the Buyer. >>> I never got an apology for being used by the city for: >>> Access, >>> Communication, >>> Collection, >>> Suffering the Settlement surprise of late reporting of old debts, >>> The attempt to extort my payment of bills not collected in any timely >>> manner, >>> The higher prices I (all PGW customers) pay because the city does >>> such a piss-poor job of collection. >>> >>> >>> Glenn, keep advocating for changes that might improve the billing system. >>> >>> >>> I think everyone should have reasonable heat in the winter, and I think >>> better collection might make it more affordable for all, and could even pay >>> for programs that might determine situations requiring assistance. >>> >>> >>> Best! >>> >>> >>> Liz >>> >>> ---------- Original Message ---------- >>> From: Glenn moyer <[email protected]> >>> To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>> Subject: [UC] Tax penalties for the unconnected >>> Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:48:45 -0400 (EDT) >>> >>> Neighbors, >>> >>> I want everyone to be aware that the city does not cash its checks in a >>> timely fashion. >>> >>> I did a test this year because i serendipitously discovered that the city >>> had secretly levied charges against me for property taxes a year or two >>> ago. Like most Philadelphians outside of the old boys and girls network, I >>> pay my property taxes in full. >>> >>> On April 15 of this year, I paid my city business taxes at the municipal >>> services cashier and mailed my state and federal tax bills. (I wanted the >>> time stamp recording the time the check was presented to the city). The >>> state and federal government cashed the checks in a timely manner. The >>> city waited so long to cash the check that it appeared on the following >>> months bank statement! >>> >>> >>> Earlier this spring, knowing that I had a zero property tax debt to the >>> city, I discovered that I was charged small amounts on the property taxes >>> of each of my properties in a previous year. After the initial shock, I >>> realized that these amounts look like interest and penalty charges, yet I >>> had no recollection of paying late. >>> >>> Clearly, if a citizen pays taxes close to the deadline, he or she is >>> penalized because the city delays cashing the checks. >>> >>> For those of you who have ever tried to correct mistakes caused by the >>> city, you know that it is nothing but an exercise in futility. (One >>> neighbor once remarked, "I don't bother trying, I just look for a way to >>> cheat the city and even things out!") Nobody knows nothin at city hall. >>> The city workers usually blow off citizens telling them to "go to their >>> councilman with complaints!" >>> >>> It does no good to tell them that the entire councilman staff is too busy >>> to return calls or e-mails, let alone work on the problems in government >>> that have serious consequences for constituents! >>> >>> Neighbors, as long as we have two separate systems, one for the politically >>> connected, and nothing for everyone else; the complete helplessness at the >>> hands of our government will continue. Like usual, I will be forced to pay >>> more, even though I was cheated by the incompetence of the city system. >>> >>> Should the city place a grace period, before adding penalties, equal to the >>> delay caused by their incompetence? But going to the mayor's office of >>> complaints or the offices of city council is a complete waste of time >>> because these people don't want to change the system and view this cheating >>> as "revenue enhancement" like the bogus trash tickets. It's really nice >>> that city employees get handicapped stickers, don't have to pay parking >>> tickets, don't have to pay trash tickets, or taxes. But when they >>> condescendingly insist that little people should have a stiff upper lip >>> when cheated, it doesn't allow the little people to feel good too. >>> >>> I don't want to see city workers cheated like the rest of us. I want city >>> officials who listen and respond to the real problems of ordinary >>> Philadelphians. They need to stop the damn photo ops and stop depending on >>> the special perks in the old boys network, so that they have time to fix >>> the government! >>> >>> Sincerely, >>> Glenn, a cheated citizen >>> >>> ---- >>> You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the >>> list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see >>> <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. >>> >>> >>> ____________________________________________________________ >>> Workers Compensation Legal Advice. Click here >>> <http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2142/fc/BLSrjpTOcqG47m4j2aZaRBg7ZwfJA0x >>> 2TUWrWh1neCxCRTLHPwV8TFUBMSc/> >>> <http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2142/fc/BLSrjpTOcqG47m4j2aZaRBg7ZwfJA0x >>> 2TUWrWh1neCxCRTLHPwV8TFUBMSc/> >
