Stockton, CA faces midnight deadline to avert bankruptcy. “Stockton’s financial troubles have been compounded, according to city officials, by generous pay and benefits for city employees and retirees and the city taking on too much debt when it enjoyed a home-building boom in the last decade…” Stockton will be the largest US city ever to file for bankruptcy, but probably not for long.
This post was last modified on January 26, 2021
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I have to admit that the idea of an entire city going bankrupt is completey crazy to me. The embarrassment should be enough for people to take action, but then we have the people that are like I am going to die if I am not on Medicare. I feel for those people, but that is the reason they are in that situation. This is the result of unbridled entitlement. This is what death panels and ration health care looks like. Terrible.
It's official - Stockton city officials just announced that mediation has failed.
At midnight tonight, Stockton WILL go bankrupt.
And as of 5 pm tomorrow, I retire. I am not gonna risk my life for these morons in the city council. It appears there is a number of others also going.
We're really short handed here in Florida at the Pasco County Sheriff's department. I bet you could get a job toot-sweet!
Is Florida as nutty as Kalifornia? If it ain't maybe I should seriously look into this..Kalifornia department are laying off cops left and right and I doubt crime is gonna go down anytime soon...
It is mightily humid practically year round, unrelenting wet air. There is a condition here related to cooking one's cranium daily, year after year. There is an element of wacky. But with all that, nobody could suggest Florida might be as nutty as the southern left coast with a straight face.
Hey I grew up in North Dakota, in the summer 100 degrees and 100 percent humidity, in the winter ass deep in snow at 40 below...Florida sure sounds good to me compared to this Insane Asylum I live in now.
Whats really funny is the local Police Department union approached me to run for an open seat on our city council.. (Not Stockton)...It took about two seconds for me to decline since I would open my mouth and tell it like it is and become one of those evil conservatives....heartless, cruel, you know...
I had no idea North Dakota had weather like that. (Er... I mean the heat & humidity. I did know about the snow. Heh.)
We like Florida well enough, but yes, we do have our fair share of loony people.
I can't figure out if I should congratulate you on your pending retirement and new job or commiserate with you and be all offended on your behalf at the morons who messed up your city and put you in this position. You can consider this a combination of "Yay, you!" and "Boo, Stockton politicians!" all in one.
Thanks, I just turned in my retirement paperwork, done and done, funny part, I had to wait for four other guys in from of me at HR. Damn I loved my job, but I refuse to work for people who are dumber than a box of bricks.
My lovely bride just told me that I can not be home all the time, since she has a home computer graphic's business I would bother here int he office when she is trying to get work done...:)
The employees in HR and wondering who is going to get cut when they do more cutbacks. Funny thing is neither the city manager or council members or mayor took a pay cut, and we just found out three of them were getting retirement from CalPers and they are not allowed to...and you wonder where the money went....Like Bill Engval says, "here's your sign".....
Well NSS, congrats on your retirement. When it's official, you should come to Florida and check it out to see if it's to your liking. One nice thing about where I live is that we get the breezes off the Gulf, which makes the heat (93 max where I live) and humidity more tolerable. I'm sure your bride could do her work from anywhere, correct? Rent a place for a few months and experience the region.
I'm not a fan of any ballgame, or team sport. For me, if it doesn't go fast, and crash on occasion, no need to bother with it. But at that particular moment, basketball was more interesting than what was happening on the stage.
Basketball sux, the only thing worse than pro basketball is college basketball!
We could use a good one in Bakersfield, though. Last time I went was about 4 years ago, and one of the girls made me watch basketball on TV. And I HATE basketball.
A man's gotta dream doesn't he..hehe
There are more than enough nudie bars in Florida, I don't think you could make a go of it here.
Heh. I can certainly see the profit potential there, though I can understand your lovely bride's objections.
I thought a Nudie bar/Car wash/Gun Shop/Liquor store/oil change and lube place/Laundromat/check cashing store all in one, how could I go wrong? She still said no....
That sounds like a great idea to me, NSS. If it'll make it look any better to your wife, I'll run it for you.
Actually I wanted to open a Nudie Bar, but my wife said NO!...:)
Oh, yay! Not that we wouldn't welcome you here in Florida if you wanted to move, but I'm glad to see you've got options.
Got a call from a smaller department Lieutenant friend of mine last night on the way home, He said you wanna unretire and be a sergeant here, pay is less but the department only has two sergeants versus the 30 or so at Stockton. Plus the benefits.....Hmmmmm I might just be back in the saddle again in July, smaller place, less crime, nicer folks, closer to home, Chief is a great guy.....I am mulling this one over as we speak, and thank you to everyone for the nice compliments, it is tough to leave a place after a couple decades, not because I want to, but you have to to survive...I appreciate everyone's kind thought. Your a great bunch of people! :)
You guys are making Florida awfully tempting….I must ask the bride, for she is da boss at home and I am but a humble lawnmower/garbage taker outer/fix it guy…hehe
Oh, so you're my long lost, left coast, twin brother!
Very nice sendoff from your brothers.
That's awesome. I'm sure they are going to really miss you!
Tonight when I cleared out my stuff, I came outside and there was most of my shift, the late swings and graveyard, all with their cars in the back lot of our PD, lights on and they saluted me..Damn I was knocked over!!!!! Best damn bunch of folks I ever had the pleasure to know, chocked me up more than a little and it was a total surprise, and what really knocked me out was the fact they did it on their own and I was the only one to get a sendoff like this....Damn I was proud to be a part of that place....I guess it means I musta done something right....
You guys are making Florida awfully tempting....I must ask the bride, for she is da boss at home and I am but a humble lawnmower/garbage taker outer/fix it guy...hehe
Plus we're not going broke. Poppa is right, Florida is worth a look.
Oh, I forgot. The deputies here get to take their patrol cars home and are encouraged to use them when off duity to increase the feeling of police presence.
This is an old one, but becoming truer everyday. CALIF means Come And Live In Florida
I spent 3 weeks in Florida in January '07. I'll never go back. Hot and humid in January? I don't want to see it in August.
One year later, January 08 it didn't get too hot and the humidity was tolerable. February it got downright freezy for about 1 hour a couple nights! Daytime highs crested into the mid 80s. March was okay for a minute.
I believe the weather in southern California cannot be beat. Too bad it is inhabited by an electorate such as it is.
Well, I'm dealing with the electorate. There are also plenty of events here that I can supplement my retirement income with, and plenty of opportunity to make money with my photography.
To be honest, the worst thing about Florida for me wasn't the weather, but the over-regulation that the state is full of. To be able to spend the first 3 months of the year doing events there, I would have had to spend many thousands of dollars getting permits to operate wooden rocking horses. These permits had nothing at all to do with public safety, they were about collecting fees, and payoffs to licensed engineers. I mean, really, a thousand dollars to a licensed mechanical engineer to inspect ONE wooden rocking horse, to see if it was safe? Every year?
A hundred and fifty dollars PER HORSE to the State Inspector to come to each site I set up at to see if I had assembled them correctly, when they don't come apart?
All this while the inspector's buddy is a couple hundred feet away, operating a giant swing resembling a pirate ship, complete with meth heads dressed somewhat as pirates to operate it?
No thanks, I turned around and came home to California, where I'm appreciated. I just show up with my copy of 3 million dollars of liability insurance for me, another 3 million for the promoter, and a 13 year long perfect safety record, and everyone's happy.
You'd like Florida, I think. It's got a lot of weirdness but somehow it works here. Pasco County is pretty nice too.
Well duh, if they're short of money, all they have to is raise taxes right???
Uh, right?
Okay since I work there, let me give you the real scoop on how this soon to be broke craphole got that way.
In Kalifornia cities like Stockton elect retards, morons and liberals who all have grand plans to improve the city, they don't give a shit about crime, poverty,drugs, or the average citizen, what they are concerned about is spending every frickin dime they can lay their hands on, and outdoing the neighboring cities with redevelopment.
Stockton in the last ten years spent 50 million or so on an arena (that's empty 300 days a year) a 25 million dollar marina, built during the housing bust (they said they had to cause the state gave them money, but you can't buy gas at this marina) A Ball park with a minor league baseball team that loses money and the lose is made up by the city, they revamped a theater (the Fox aka Bob Hope) that also loses tons of money, they redeveloped downtown along the waterfront with a theater complex and stores that constantly have crime problems.
Plus the best part a 32 million dollar city hall that was also purchased during the downturn and six million was spent to remodel it and the rent from all the tenants was suppose to cover the cost, the building was recently repossessed by Wells Fargo and is 80 percent vacant!
Between the ballpark, Marina, Arena, Theater, City Hall and parking garages (three of which Wells Fargo also took back) the city loses about 30 million a year! the budget deficit this year? 26 million!
We have the stupidest city council on the planet earth, the mayor owns a balloon business, (Her claim to fame, plus like Jerry Brown she is a retread from the 70's) The Mayor is responsible for spreading crime all over Stockton during her last term, She and the Mayor at the time, Joan Dera came up with an ordinance that all neighborhoods are required to have low income housing, basically she spread the crime problem to every neighborhood, and this stupid bitch gets elected mayor.
The city manager, Bob Deis (dice) was about to be fired as the Sonoma county administrator for unethical practices and fiscal mismanagement, so of course the morons in Stockton hired him and paid for his house in Sonoma (Santa Rosa) since he was crying about it costing him 1500 a month and he could not live their...Plus his salary is about 50 to 100 thousand a year more than the previous city manager...and yes he was hired when we were broke.
The rest of the city council is a bunch of tards, one of them is running for state assembly, I guess now that she fucked up Stockton, she might as well begin to destroy the state.
The funny part is, I am not a big union guy, I have taken a 20 percent pay cut, and now the retired officers will loose their health care, the city says it is a billion dollar expense, so I looked, 75 percent of these folks are within two years of medicare when the city's coverage drops. All unions offered to pay their own cost, the city rejected it, The Police Union offered to pay it's own retirement, the 9 percent per, the city said no, we are going to crush you, So if the city goes bankrupt, Wednesday will be my retirement day, about 7 months earlier then planned, and I have already picked up another job.
Stockton may be to the point where the governor has to bring in the Highway Patrol to supplement the city police, we are at 30 murders this year to date and are now again number two behind Oakland as the second most violent city in Kalifornia.
Stockton has gone as far ass backwards as you can get, but people in this town are too fucking stupid to realize it when they vote. Plus it's a well known secret that political favors and trips under the desk are rampant in this town.
Here's a nice little know fact, the owner of the San Diego Charges, Alex Spanos lives in Stockton, In a gated palace no less. He started out bringing hookers to the field workers during WWII. That's how he started making money. And today he's a billionaire. He and the rest of the finer folks here don't want Stockton to change, and are for the bankruptcy, it's the way they want the city run.
There is nothing short of a direct meteor strike that can save this place from itself. But it is a perfect example of what STUPID LIBERALS CAN DO TO FUCK THINGS UP.
Who knows within 24 hours I could be retired. I might like that.
the owner of the San Diego Charges, Alex Spanos lives in Stockton, In a gated palace no less. He started out bringing hookers to the field workers during WWII. That’s how he started making money
Does this guy also know the Kennedy family? Sounds like they all came from the same seed.
Except Alex used to give to Republicans before he got dementia....I think the rest of the family took a decidedly left turn....
You work in Stockton? We need to go have a beer or 10 sometime.
After tomorrow night I may be a retired Sergeant, previously with Stockton P.D....Sure glad I moved out of their years ago, and yea as pissed as I am right now, I might be able to do about ten beers....and I don't drink much..:)
NSS, tell us how you really feel about it.
Trust me, this was revised several times and it mellow compared to the first draft....:)
Hehe, I've started a few with, "These sorry mothe.." Only to revise before posting!
I did enjoy your post. It's always interesting to hear a first hand report on how things are really being done as opposed to relying on the press for truth in the matter. I wish you well and hope things work out for you in the end.
Well If it goes as planned I will be retired and a truck driver by next month...otherwise I get no health insurance...At least in that job I get to see more of the country and I don't have to deal with all the morons who call the cops because someone stole their dope, or because they can't get along with their neighbors...:)
NSS. I used to be a truck driver. Trust me. Those same morons that you have been dealing with drive, and not very well.
Good luck with that.
Be still my beating heart! I have to admit to a real soft spot for truck drivers. I know they have reputations in certain circles, but I run into them on a fairly regular basis when I go into town to do my shopping, because the stores are along a highway that runs through central Florida (27, for you Florida boys) and we get a steady stream of truck traffic taking things south. The gas station I stop at is also a truck stop. The truckers are always so polite - they'll hold the door for me, wish me a good day, and even quite often step aside and offer to let me go first in line to pay. I guess it must be obvious just looking at me that I'm not some angry feminist who would curse them out or kick them in the shins just for their small displays of courtesy or gallantry. LOL!
As in any profession, there are good and bad truckers. I'm hoping my truck driving days are over. But I'll keep that CDL in my pocket just in case. And always open doors for a lady.
We appreciate a lady. Too many "Garafolo" types out there.
I used to be a truck driver too. Still hold my Class A with numerous endorsements just in case. I think I feel at least a little bit safer up in the cab than I would down there in the street dealing directly with those people. Especially the people of Stockton. NSS, you have my respect for making it through that gauntlet.
Me too, class A with everything except Haz-Mat, no point in taking that test over and over unless you need it. It seems like a waste of money every time I renew my license, but if I ever need a job to fall back on, I'm set.
NSS, you have any good news?
Good luck with the now job, NSS. I think you'll enjoy the adventure. I drive through Stockton often on my way to events in the Central Valley. We should have lunch some time.
Just like the GM stock holders in the government bailout , these public parasites in Stockton ought to realize just how good of shape the private sector is doing . What has happened in the public sector must never occur to the public sector , or so they feel .
I hope more bankruptcies occur as its the only way to get rid of the largest factor to what's ailing our economy .
GM should have been allowed to go bankrupt. They can't even design a functional ignition lock. (My lady drives a Saturn.)
Bwahahahahahaha. Another success of communism.
Stockton would be in the pink, financially, if only they'd had that high speed rail connection to Visalia and Bakersfield. I hope you heartless reactionary thugs are happy about having single-handedly killed the entire economy of the Central Valley with your nitpicking about 'hundred billion dollar boondoggles' and 'sustainable' government.
Seriously, Stockton should look to France, and lower the retirement age for public workers while increasing pension payments. This will attract tens of thousands of new government workers, which will revitalize their struggling public sector(although it might cause some problems for the last taxpayer left in the state, but who cares about him?)
I see what you did there.... ;)
Bakersfield has enough problems, without making it easier for Stocktonians to come and bring their brand of filth.
Stockton can change it's name to El Rancho Primer Domino... 'cuz many more are sure to fall soon.
Isn't it strange how many people get real stupid about fiscal responsibility the day they get elected to public office? If mayors and city councilmen ran their personal bank accounts like they run the cities they are elected to serve all of them would be in the bankruptcy line too. Idiots all, too busy trying to keep their exaulted position instead of doing the job right for all the citizens, not just the few that work for the city.
Won't be long it will be the whole effing state. Then maybe they'll vote the libtards out in California, but I won't hold my breath.
I'm suprised the state didn't go belly up 10 years ago. With all their rules and regulations over businesses, all their epa regulations, it's a wonder there are any private businesses, taxpayers jobs, left there.
Some businesses are just too big to move.
My brother in law works at the Budweiser plant in LA. I don't see them setting up new operations elsewhere just because of an increase in the cost of business, they'll just raise beer prices.
Fortunately, I don't drink their products.