San Diego Municipal Employees Association Newsletter Spring/Summer 2013 p point MMEA’sEA’s 22013013 NNegotiatingegotiating TTeameam WWorkingorking forfor YouYou view inside on the cover inside Led by MEA attorney Ann 3 President’s Message 17 MEA Children’s Party Smith, your Negotiating Team includes elected members 4 General Manager’s Report 18 Refl ecting Back and from each MEA bargaining Looking Forward unit, ex-offi cio members of 5 Legal Update from MEA’s Executive Committee Ann Smith 19 Adopt a Senior and General Manager Mike Zucchet. 7 MEA is Working for You 20 MEA Members Making Us Proud For more information on 8 Boardmember Spotlight: your MEA Negotiating Team, Ramone Lewis 23 Calendar of Events please turn to page 16. 11 Know Your Rights 12 Celebrating 25 Years of Service 13 MEA Holiday Party 2 y your leadershi Offi cers 2012-2014 President’s Message Bob Cronk President Gregory Woods 1st Vice President Jan Lord 2nd Vice President The last few months Executive Committee members Leslie Simmons Candi Mitchell Treasurer have been very (Library) and Bill Craig (Environmental Services) Lisa Goehring Secretary exciting and a breath who stayed at MEA late into the evening to of fresh air for all City make sure that our members living in the City Executive Committee 2012-2014 employees! Your and specifi cally in District 1, were registered and Brian Anthony Park & Recreation William Craig Environmental Services MEA leadership ready to vote on November 6th. Tina Davis City Clerk and staff have been Mary Enyeart Police working very hard for I also want to point out the skill, enthusiasm Steven Ramirez Environmental Services you and we have had some stunning results to and professionalism of MEA’s staff. These Leslie Simmons Library show for that diligence and commitment to our talented individuals set aside their personal lives Board of Directors 2011-2013 shared cause. While MEA General Manager and family obligations in order to campaign on Brian Anthony Park & Recreation Mike Zucchet will give you a more detailed countless evenings and weekends. The insight Juan Baligad Engineering & Capital Projects Maurice Brown Engineering & Capital Projects overview of the election, I would like to mention and experience our staff brings to MEA has Terri Bumgardner Development Services just a few highlights. tremendous value. Add the fact that they truly Eleuterio Buquiran Water believe in our Union’s mission and you have an Isabelle Camacho Engineering & Capital Projects Over a year ago, when we were seriously unbeatable combination! Nancy Roberts, Dawn Samuel Cerrato Library Rebecca Cesena Park & Recreation p contemplating the possibility of a DeMaio Kealaluhi, Kelly Cruz, Marin Mejia, Gwen Phillips Stephanie Clark City Attorney administration and a hostile majority on the City and Nichole Rice have been doing a wonderful Shamellia Cooper General Services Council, your MEA Political Action Committee job and William Craig Environmental Services Robert Cronk Library interviewed a number of candidates. After not deserve our Tina Davis City Clerk only listening to the candidates but evaluating appreciation Mary Enyeart Police their track records associated with public for the work Sarah Erazo Park & Recreation employees, your union got behind Bob Filner they did on John Fisher Development Services Lisa Goehring Water and Sherri Lightner very early on. In fact, we this election Howard Greenstein Planning were actually the fi rst union in the City to endorse cycle. Francine Howell City Attorney Bob! Soon thereafter, your MEA staff, Executive Graham Hufford Engineering & Capital Projects Committee, Board and various general members However, I Ramone Lewis Business Offi ce Jan Lord Human Resources worked in a number of capacities to help to want to acknowledge in particular the hard work Pete Lynch Development Services ensure the success of our endorsed candidates. of Mike Zucchet, Cathleen Higgins and Lora Gabrielle Mead Police Folsom. Mike has been MEA’s political point Joseph Miesner Library Although the contributions by MEA were many, person and has not only contributed his time but Candi Mitchell Water Helen Phillips Retirees I want to take this opportunity to mention just a his experience and expertise in all campaign Steve Ramirez Environmental Services few people who made this undertaking possible. decisions made by our Union. Even after a great Tony Ruiz III Water While phone banking in the evening at Bob personal loss, Cathleen worked through her grief Beverly Simmons Risk Management Leslie Simmons Library Filner’s campaign headquarters, you would have and dedicated herself to the campaigns. Lora Susan Taylor Real Estate Assets bumped into Boardmembers Alice Daniels (City Folsom coordinated MEA political activities with Cody Wilkinson MWWD Attorney’s Offi ce), Howard Greenstein (Planning) wisdom and skill, all while actually participating in Karen Witherspoon Police and Pete Lynch (Development Services). precinct walks up to the last hour on Election Day. Greg Woods Treasurer MEA Stewards You may have also I realize that a number of factors contributed to Ramone Lewis Chief Steward spoken with union November’s successful political outcome, but John Butcher Engineering & Capital Projects member Kathryn we are right to join in, and to celebrate those Adele Campbell Police Campbell (Library) campaign victories. From those who gladly Shamellia Cooper General Services or retiree member displayed a yard sign to the many who initiated Alice Daniels Purchasing & Contracts Mary Enyeart Police Helen Phillips at conversations with their family and friends about Connie Higgins Police one of the debates. the detrimental impacts of a DeMaio mayoral Francine Howell City Attorney If you participated administration, your efforts were crucial. The Graham Hufford Engineering & Capital Projects Shanae Hymon Water in a precinct walk, climate at City Hall has changed and your voice, Sherry Jones Treasurer you might have vote and support have made all the difference! Renee Kinninger Development Services encountered newly-elected Executive Committee Jan Lord Human Resources members Brian Anthony (Park and Recreation) Although this year will bring challenges, we can Gabrielle Mead Police Gwendolyn Morris Environmental Services and Mary Enyeart (Police) or union member Tim face them with the growing confi dence that we Tia Ramirez City Attorney Mountain (Library) who knocked on doors in are a Union whose strength comes from our Leon Sauls Transportation & Stormwater Rancho Bernardo (Carl DeMaio’s Council district). collective efforts to fi ght for the common good of Janice Stevenson City Attorney City employees. Thank you again and here’s to Greg Woods Treasurer Nick Wright Fire Rescue You may have even received a call from what will undoubtedly be a good year for us all! Boardmembers Juan Baligad (Project Implementation & Technical Services), Sarah Erazo (Park and Recreation) or Ramone Lewis (Business & Grant Administration) along with 3 San Diego in 2013 is obviously a long way from Bob Filner is Mayor today for a lot of reasons, Jackson, Mississippi in 1961, and Bob Filner but one of them is that independent voters has been through a lot and accomplished a realize that even though they may disagree great deal since then. But that original fearless with Filner occasionally (or often), at least spirit and “combative” approach to matters of they always know that he is coming from a public policy have certainly been the hallmark principled place and speaking the truth as he of much of Filner’s political career on the San sees it—he’s not just telling people what they michael zucchet Diego City Council, School Board, United want to hear. States House of Representatives and—so far—as Mayor of San Diego. With Mayor Filner’s victory, the era of Carl DeMaio is over—at least for now. In addition Many people, organizations and media to the strengths of Bob Filner, many City outlets who politically oppose Mayor Filner employees were motivated to help elect Bob are hammering him for his alleged “incivility.” simply to oppose Carl and his penchant for Even some of his political supporters are targeting us in his relentless political rhetoric. concerned about his approach and his No matter your reason for getting involved, we penchant for confrontation. want to thank all of those active and retired employees who stepped up to walk precincts, First of all, let’s give the guy a chance to settle staff phone banks, contribute money, waive in a bit. He’s only been in offi ce for about signs on street corners and participate in all three months. Remember the early days of of the other activities of the campaign. It was Mayor Sanders and City Attorney Aguirre? Not certainly a hard-fought, well-deserved victory Bob Filner Is Mayor exactly peaches and cream. not only for Bob Filner, but for City employees g and indeed for all San Diegans. It would not In case anyone missed it, we have a new Second, Bob Filner’s Freedom Rider have happened without all of your hard work, a ager’s report Mayor in San Diego. Mayor Bob Filner experience provides a clear window into his and for that we thank you! has made quite a splash by spending brain and explains his motivations. Unlike his fi rst 100 days in offi ce upsetting just many politicians who might allow arrogance Now is the time for all San Diegans to help about everything and everyone involved or egotism to guide their behavior, Bob Filner Mayor Filner be successful in running our in establishment politics in San Diego is just the opposite. He will sacrifi ce his own City and moving us forward. If he ruffl es over the last several decades. To say political capital, or even himself, anytime he some feathers along the way, so be it. If he he is shaking things up at City Hall is a perceives that an injustice needs to be tackled does things that make even his staunchest signifi cant understatement.