SALARY-FLATION IN MONTEREY?

On his first day in office, President Obama enacted a pay freeze for the 100 White House employees who make over $100,000 a year. Will Monterey City Council follow the president’s lead and freeze the salaries of the 144 city employees who make over $100,000 a year? Monterey has 500 employees for a city of 30,000 people. Better yet, the council could save $1.65 million a year if they reduced those same $100,000-plus annual salaries by 10 percent. By comparison in 2004, only 30 of the city’s 485 employees made over $100,000 a year.   

An additional $350,000 savings can be made by not renewing four former department heads’ part-time consultant contracts that rang from $71,000 to $97,000 a year. They already receive generous retirement benefits. Is this “double dipping?”

Currently, state legislators earn $116,000 a year while Monterey County’s average income is $78,000. Does Monterey have a top-heavy bureaucracy with too many manager salaries consuming dwindling public funds? Is this salary-flation?

Shouldn’t the Monterey City Council evaluate management employee costs, benefits, retirement obligations and consultant contracts before selling the Sports Center, cutting the library hours, or dipping into neighborhood improvemnt program funds? 

ECONOMICS LESSON

I thought I was experiencing a 30-year belated déjà vu the other day while having coffee with one of my Brit pals. Thirty-plus years ago I was telling anyone wise enough to listen what America and the world needs is a complete and total break from the tired old triad of failed economic models, the three unholy “isms”: Capitalism, socialism and communism. The Nobel Prize for economics awaits the first person to invent a new economic paradigm that is viable, workable and irrefutably sustainable.

It’s a foregone conclusion that socialism and communism are egregious failures, but it’s absolutely pathetic that so many who chant the mantra of capitalism cannot see just what a total failure it is, too.

It is critical that humanity change course soon, but a new economic model must emerge. Obama and his team are proposing nothing more than re-worked permutations on the old and failed model.

Jeffrey Van Middlebrook | Pacific Grove

remember pilates

I am writing regarding your recent article “Getting in the Zumba Room” (1/29). As a certified Pilates and Zumba instructor, I was dismayed to see this article suggesting that your readers “forget Pilates” in favor of Zumba. Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi and Zumba are offered at my studio, Momentum Fitness. Zumba is definitely not a substitute for the workout attained through Pilates, which emphasizes developing core strength. Zumba is a fun cardiovascular Latin dance-based workout. Core strength is essential to protecting the back from strain during all activities including Zumba. Please let your readers know that Zumba is not the only workout a person needs to be fit.