Ignoring the Strike: Arizona Republic's Disservice to Arizona

Did anyone else notice that the Arizona Republic's online addition is missing a major story?  That's right, although the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1433 has officially been on strike against Veolia Transportation (the management company contracted to provide bus service in Phoenix) since 12:01 am Saturday morning, the Arizona Republic's online addition hasn't printed one word on the story.  Now why would the state's leading newspaper choose to ignore a story that affects tens of thousands area residents?

My guess is that since Veolia Transportation is the factual villain, the anti-union and anti-labor Arizona Republic doesn't want to report on it.  If the Arizona Republic reports on the strike, it will have no choice but to point out that ATU 1433 and its members are in the right.  It will have no choice but to show that Veolia Transportation has been negotiating in bad faith with the union for the last 20 months while also trying to secure a sweetheart contract with the City of Phoenix.

It will also have to show that if bus service in the Valley wasn't privatized, the union wouldn't have been able to strike, under state law.  That's right.  Because the striking workers are employees of Veolia Transportation and not employees of Phoenix or Tempe, they are not covered under state laws barring strikes by public employees.  That's right, privatization of a public service has allowed for this massive disruption to the lives of tens of thousands in the Valley.

But the Arizona Republic doesn't want to report that type of story.  It only wants to paint unions and labor as the villains and this strike doesn't allow for that.  To bad that the Arizona Republic is doing such a disservice to the people of Arizona.

Arizona Bully of 2011 Nominee: Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio

Arizona Bully of 2011 Nominee Councilman Sal DiCiccio

Being able to play nice with others is the hallmark of any good politician.  Trying to circumvent your fellow city council members who won’t agree to your demands by asking the state legislature to force the city to do what you want is the sign of a pure bully.  In 2011, Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio did just that in his attempts to have all services provided by the City of Phoenix privatized.  Councilman DiCiccio is a big fan of privatization of city services and was able to get the Republican dominated Arizona Legislature to contemplate bills requiring Tucson and Phoenix to put any expenditure over a certain dollar amount for “competitive bidding”.  Luckily the bills both died, but I am sure they will be resurrected in the coming session.

If Councilman DiCiccio’s attempts to circumvent the Phoenix City Council weren’t bullying enough, The Arizona Republic reports that Councilman DiCiccio wants to take “pay raises and bonuses” off the table for upcoming contract negotiations with city employees.  He wants to do that by voting on parts of the city’s Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget before negotiations begin.

Congratulations Councilman DiCiccio, you are an Arizona Bully of 2011 nominee!

Phoenix Mayoral & Council Election 2011

Tomorrow, Tuesday, the voters in Phoenix go to the polls to choose a new mayor and five council members.  As with all elections, this one is very important.  Unlike other elections, this is the first mayoral and five council election in which someone has identified themselves as a "tea party" candidate for mayor.

In the mayor's race, Governor Brewer would like us to vote for ethically challenged and former councilwoman Peggy Neely.  The Arizona Republic would like us to have as our next mayor lobbyist Wes Gullett and the various public unions would like us to elect the only registered Democrat in the field of six, Greg Stanton.  Anna Brennan, Claude Mattox (*Warning* website has automatic audio) and Jennifer Wright are also on the ballot.

I myself support Greg Stanton for mayor.  Not because he is a Democrat or supported by the unions, but because he has a vision for Phoenix that doesn't include privatizing everything in sight.  He understands that if you want qualified people to work for the city, you need to treat them with respect and pay them a decent wage.  He also understands that Phoenix needs a good public transportation system, including light rail and that services for the poor and working poor are just as important as services for the elderly and the wealthy.

I have already voted for Mr. Stanton for mayor via my mail in ballot.  I hope the majority will and have done so as well.

An Open Letter to Phoenix Councilman Sal DiCiccio

Mr. DiCiccio,

I understand that being the pockets of businesses is par for the course in American politics.  In fact, its a time honored tradition.  But the latest move by you is the worst form of corporate ass kissing I have seen in a long time.  I am speaking of course about your attempt to end run the Phoenix city council by going to the Arizona Legislature to force the city to privatize most of its services and to dictate what the city can offer for wages and benefits to its public employees.  That's pretty bold for someone who wasn't even elected to the city council, but was appointed.

I understand that you believe that privatization is the most efficient way for the City of Phoenix to deliver services, but I believe privatization to be nothing more than a diversion of limited city resources and corporate welfare of the highest order.  Currently, out of an operating budget of $3.5 billion, $425 million is paid to corporations to operate certain city services such as public transit.

I am sure that you have a lot of friends who are investors, company heads or owners that would like the majority of the city's budget paid out to them.  But you have been rebuffed by the seven others sitting on the city council.  You can't help your corporate friends if your city council members won't play ball, right?  So what's a person who doesn't play with others do?  He finds the biggest bully around and gets them to do his dirty work for him, the Arizona Republican controlled Legislature.  That is what you have done and its rather shameful, because I have no doubt they will do the dirty work for you.  Too bad its the residents of Phoenix who get screwed by this deal.

Its too bad that you don't actually care about the people of Phoenix, only your corporate buddies.

Sincerely,

Phoenix Justice