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1. Stockton, Calif., retirees feel shock of benefit rollback Bloomberg Businessweek Share ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From July 12, 2012: For Gary Jones, a retired Stockton, Calif., police officer, getting his brain scanned every four to six months is essential to monitor an inoperable tumor with a 12 percent survival rate. On June 26, Jones, who takes nine pills a day to control facial seizures, urged the City Council to reject a proposal to end health care payments for retirees under a budget the city will use to operate in bankruptcy. He failed. More 2. What's driving the backlash against traffic cameras NPR Share ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From Feb. 23, 2012: Have you ever opened your mail and found a traffic ticket sticking you with a not-so-small fine? If so, your reaction might well have been, "What the [expletive]?" Then maybe you looked carefully at the enclosed photo and realized the vehicle shown (allegedly) running a red light or speeding was, in fact, yours. More
3. US municipalities face $2 trillion in unfunded pension costs Reuters Share ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From July 5, 2012: U.S. states and localities have run up more than $2 trillion of unfunded pension liabilities, Moody's Investors Service said recently, citing data on plans offered by 8,500 local governments and over 14,000 individual entities. More 4. Public workers bid for their jobs Governing Share ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From Oct. 18, 2012: If you want to work on a project for the city of San Diego, you may be required to submit a bid — even if you're already a city employee. In a twist on the way municipalities have traditionally done business, more public employees across the country are being required to participate in a bid process for project work. More
5. City of Portland, Ore., sues insurer to recover in-house defense costs of $1.5 million ABA Journal Share ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From March 8, 2012: Saying that the use of its own in-house city attorneys to fight employment-related claims conferred a benefit to its insurance carrier, the city of Portland, Ore., has filed suit against its former liability insurer. More 6. Why Stockton, Calif., is bankrupt, but [your town here] isn't Bloomberg Share ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From June 28, 2012: The Stockton City Council in California recently approved a petition for bankruptcy, the largest of a city in U.S. history. Municipalities all over the country are in fiscal distress, but few are actually declaring bankruptcy. What went so badly wrong in Stockton, and what lessons can other cities learn? More 7. Law enforcement websites report security breach The Associated Press via PoliceOne.com Share ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From Feb. 9, 2012: Saboteurs stole passwords and sensitive information on tipsters while hacking into the websites of several law enforcement agencies worldwide in attacks attributed to the collective known as Anonymous. Breaches were reported this week in Boston, Syracuse, N.Y., Salt Lake City and Greece. More 8. San Diego D.A. clears 7 officers who killed suspect in cop's death Los Angeles Times Share ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From May 24, 2012: San Diego County Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis has cleared of any criminal liability the six San Diego police officers and one probation officer who fired 36 shots at a 23-year-old man suspected of having shot a police officer half an hour earlier. More 9. Sandy's economic hit may be softened by cleanup, rebuild and insurance payments NBC News Share ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From Nov. 1, 2012: The economic hit from Superstorm Sandy may have a big silver lining. The ferocious hurricane that swamped New York City will almost certainly turn out to be one of the costliest storms on record. Given the scope and severity of the damage, it's difficult to guess the costs from the fires, floods, wind and rain, but initial estimates of $30 billion to $50 billion may turn out to be too low. More 10. Unfunded promises: What Massachusetts cities and towns owe to public retirees Boston Business Journal Share ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() From Nov. 20, 2012: Massachusetts' budget challenges, both at the state and local levels, have been well documented in the years since the Great Recession. Structural deficits are prevalent, as are strains on virtually every aspect of the public sector, from police and fire to schools and infrastructure. More |
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