In California, exceptionally high firefighter pay and benefits makes “firehouse” firefighter positions coveted slots, with few openings and huge applicant interest. Couple that with a strong desire by existing firefighters to get their offspring and relatives hired (a.k.a. nepotism), and it’s a scenario ripe for corruption.
Here’s one of the more amazing examples. In 2007 the Oakland Fire Department unwisely had all the applicants show up on ONE day. They started lining up 3 days ahead of time.
They were astonished when 8,000 applicants showed up for 23 firefighter openings. Chaos reigned as the fire officials swooped down on the crowd and picked the people they wanted to be firefighters, including the fire chief reputedly picking his son. The article below is an amazing read.
There have been numerous other stories of insider help to get preferred (mostly family) candidates selected. This would not be as big a problem if the CA cities and counties paid closer to market wages — comparable to what most other states pay (ignoring the volunteers). But as long as this job (a job many want even without the high compensation) is in absurdly high demand, this sort of tomfoolery will continue, in one form or another.
http://calfire.blogspot.com/2007/12/oakland-fire-hiring-fiasco-part-2.html
MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2007
Oakland Fire hiring fiasco part 2 – Oakland Fire chief picks his own son?
Oakland Fire chief hand picks his own son in the hiring process?
OAKLAND, Calif. (CFN)– Earlier this week, the Oakland Fire Department passed out more than 8,000 applications. Only the first 1,000 would be accepted that was only the start of this ill conceived hiring process.
Some people began lining up three days ahead of time just to turn in applications for the 23 available positions.
Hundreds of people spent a cold Friday night near Oakland’s City Hall forming a organized line, hoping to become firefighters.
Then the Oakland fire department perverted the process by hand selecting specific people out of the line resulting in a near riot! And of those few selected during the process…
Applicants claimed that some minority applicants, specifically African-American and women, were hand picked over others which seems to be shown in the news videos,There also have been rumors that relatives of high-ranking City Hall officials or people with connections to the fire department were singled out to submit applications.
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To read the rest of the article, go to the link.
Comments 4
Richard, I know you think I am an evil liberal, but I’m with you 100% on this one. Between the obscene pay and nepotism this is a perfect example of the public sector run amok. That said, if you privatize it you will eventually end up in the same situation for the same reasons. The solution might be found in a couple of propositions going around that might cap public sector pay to the equivalent in the private sector. I may be what you call a liberal, but I do believe in basic fairness. BTW I’ve worked in the private sector my whole life.
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Paul Therrio — you are part of a slowly growing contingent of liberals who grasp the fundamental conflict between the excessive wellbeing of government workers and government helping the less fortunate members of society. Too may liberals either don’t recognize this problem, or simply support unions’ demands because unions are the financial backbone of the Democrat Party — even at the expense of the poor and the minorities.
But I take issue with your assertion that “if you privatize it you will eventually end up in the same situation for the same reasons.” Not happening.
For instance, all cities in San Diego County except the Big One contract out their trash collection services. Some pay a contractor for the service via taxes — others leave it to the citizens to arrange and pay for their trash pickup. No excesses that you predict are happening.
And, of course, there’s not 8,000 applicants lined up for blocks to get one of the few 23 positions open (the Oakland ff experience).
Mind you, government can screw anything up — including contracting out. I’ve seen it. And corruption does occur (just like with government employees and agencies).
But unlike a government agency, there are remedies — fining the contractor for subpar performance (as the city of San Diego just did with its underperforming ambulance service), or firing the contractor and bringing in a better outfit. It’s hard to fire ONE government worker — let alone ditch a poorly performing government department.
Why do you keep calling me a liberal ? I’ve worked in the private sector my whole life, I’ve paid off my house and I’m completely debt free. I did this by living conservative lifestyle. It’s unfortunate that in this political climate that the conservative purity line has gone so far right that there is no room for those that don’t follow the Norquist line of thought . It’s ironic that even he has been called a terrorist by many of your Tea Party brethren.
Paul,
Read Richard’s most recent post. If you don’t believe that unions are the cause of all the world’s ills, then, according to Richard, you are an evil liberal.