Tax bills on the way; due date extended to July 31

By JOHN HOWELL
Posted 7/9/19

By JOHN HOWELL Nina McPherson had the feeling she would be paying more taxes this year, but when she didn't get a bill by last Friday and with the July 15 deadline for the first quarterly payment fast approaching, she took matters into her own hands. On

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Tax bills on the way; due date extended to July 31

Posted

Nina McPherson had the feeling she would be paying more taxes this year, but when she didn’t get a bill by last Friday and with the July 15 deadline for the first quarterly payment fast approaching, she took matters into her own hands.

On Monday she visited the latest home for the City Tax Collector, after discovering the office was no longer housed in the former Greene School on Draper Avenue. She hadn’t seen stories that most of the City Hall Annex offices would be located in the recently renovated Buttonwoods Center at the intersection of West Shore Road and Buttonwoods Avenue.

McPherson didn’t have to wait in any lines, and in only minutes she not only confirmed her fears but had also written out a $1,005 check for her first quarterly payment. She will be paying about $200 more a quarter.

According to Kyla Jones, Tax Collector, tax bills were mailed by the city’s vendor last week and should be delivered this week. She thought they would be arriving by Monday.

The bills will contain information on the Buttonwoods location and that payments can be made in person, by mail or by visiting citizenselfservice.com that accepts e-check and credit card payments.

Tax bills for the fiscal year are also available online at the city’s website.

As has been the practice, while the bills have a July 15 deadline for quarterly payments, the city has a grace period for payment until July 31, during which time no interest is charged,

Jones is happy with the new digs at Buttonwoods, noting that the move from Draper Avenue went smoothly and that after a weekend move was operational on Monday, June 17. She pointed out that the office has more counter space, which should make it easier for those wanting to pay in person. There is also a drop box at the entrance to the center for those seeking to avoid the line and preferring not to use the mail.

McPherson surely won’t be alone in learning that her taxes have increased by more than the 4 percent maximum allowable increase in the overall tax levy. The reason is the citywide revaluation of property as of Dec. 31, 2018, which was completed this past April.

A 13-year resident of Leigh Street, McPherson was surprised to find that her home had increased $70,000 in value. She questioned Vision Government Solutions, the contractor that performed the statistical revaluation, informing them that the house needed a new roof in addition to other renovations. Her valuation was dropped by $10,000, but she knew nonetheless that because of the overall growth in the valuation in similar properties, she would also get hit with higher taxes.

McPherson’s home was in the “sweet spot” of the hot real estate market of the past three years, where homes in the price range of $220,000 to $320,000 were in demand. Properties valued at $400,000 and higher were in less demand and therefore those valuations generally have not increased proportionately.

In his budget message, Mayor Joseph Solomon notes that as a result of the revaluation the budget results in a decrease in residential, commercial and personal property rates.

The residential rate dropped from $20,80 per $1,000 of valuation to $18.73; commercial went from $31.19 to $28.10 and personal property went from $41.59 to $37.46. As it is frozen by state law, the motor vehicle rate is unchanged at $34.60. Nonetheless, because of the phase-out of the motor vehicle tax, the motor vehicle exemption will increase and the valuation will drop for Warwick registrants.

Comments

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  • Reality

    Hey Nina

    You should have been screaming at the tax office. You taxes went up by 25% which is outrageous.

    So let me understand this. Your roads, schools and Warwick's fiscal health are in terrible shape but yet the city workers and retirees live large.

    Nina...the politicians will continue to cater to the unions unless taxpayers like yourself say enough is enough.

    Joe was going to be the solution but so far he is Scotty redux.

    Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    The city council and this mayor are circus act buffoons with no clue, no plan, and no balls. Its time to get rid of them all.

    Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Report this

  • patientman

    25% tax increase, WOW. Realtor.com has 536 properties listed. It will be interesting to see if that number jumps after the bills get delivered.

    Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Report this

  • FASTFREDWARD4

    R I living =====760 homes is on the market . Buy them all up.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • SaltyJake

    Pay up quick everyone. Little Joey and the "acting" fire chief need a new motor for that excellent condition used ladder truck they crowed about buying. I said bad decision then and now its costing MORE taxpayer money to fix something that should NEVER have been bought. Maybe the mayor and council should think about the safety of city residents for a change. The bad decisions keep coming.......

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • Reality

    SaltyJake

    Maybe the city could afford a new fire truck if the WFD wasn't ripping the taxpayers off. It s time to rip up the WFD contract and start over.`

    The WFD abuse of unused sick and vacation time is outrageous. Their compensation is over the top.

    My complaint with Solomon and new fire chief is that they are t continuing the status quo.

    Why can't the rescue squad be privatized ? Seventy percent of fire calls are rescue runs.

    It is time to downsize the WFD.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • mattss

    Warwick turned into a toilet bowl

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Same old same old (Stacia) the rescues generate almost 4 million for the city (that goes into the general fund). Plus you still need a fire department. You’d be an absolute moron to privatize it. But then again nothing you have ever said makes much sense. Good luck “Ripping” up that contract.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • Reality

    Jimmy

    It cost $260,000 this year for every fireman. This cost does not include the healthcare retirement cost of active firefighters.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Stacia, you know that number is completely incorrect. Please show the breakdown. I’m waiting.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    How come the Beacon hasn’t done a story about the FBI and the ONLY reason they were in the city was to investigate Merolla? Why did all that just go silent. Same with the Fire Sept Audit that was supposed to show all this wrongdoing. It’s all garbage this council is feeding you all. They are lying to your face.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • Reality

    Jimmy

    I have the data.....prove me wrong

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Show your data. Pretty simple

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    The word is that certain disgruntle members of the WFD sabotaged the truck to send a message. I would not put anything past them.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    WFD budget 21,000,000/188 firefighters = $111,700 per firefighter.

    Add in healthcare and pension I’ll give you another $35,000. ($146,000/per FF) Where in gods name do you get $260,000.

    Retiree costs have ZERO to do with the active cost of firefighters. We don’t negotiate for them we have no contact with them. So I’m confused by this trumped up

    Cushman number of $260,000.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Inside info (Stacia) that is 100% false. I did hear the FBI is investigating it though. Lol

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Inside info (Stacia) that is 100% false. It sad that you feel the need to major up this crap just to boost your own ego.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • Bob_Cushman

    I have to jump in since my analysis is being referenced.

    Of course retired firefighter expenses should be included in the overall analysis of the cost of fire services. That expense is attributed to pay for firefighter services that were performed in the past being paid for today.

    It’s still part of the annual taxpayer cost even though its for past employees and the services they performed. Attributing it as part of the active per firefighter annual cost is a tool to see how those cost are exploding in the city over the past 15 years and are increasing at an unsustainable rate.

    The future cost of active firefighter retirement healthcare should also be considered in the annual cost calculation.

    The problem is that the OPEB actuarial report list $25,000,000 annually that should be paid for police and fire active employee together and the report does not break that down by each unit. Breaking that down by each police and firefighter would add over $40,000 to the per firefighter cost putting each at $300k.

    Also shared services between all bargaining units is not included in the annual cost (FUCA for example) since there is no way using the budget documents to distribute that cost to each bargaining unit, adding still more to the cost.

    So the $260k actually is under reported.

    Here is a link to my analysis which results in the $260k per firefighter cost.

    https://1drv.ms/b/s!Alo1NxMhRCC6zTwW1IEtOjVhGayv

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • Reality

    Jimmy

    The taxpayers can NO LONGER AFFORD the WFD. Thanks Jimmy for making my point.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Bob,

    Saying that 1 firefighter costs the city $260,000 is the stupidest analysis you’ve done. Retiree cost have nothing to do with the daily budget for the fire department. You can twist it anyway you want but your comparing apples to moon rocks. The current union has no way of negotiating reformed member costs. The city can, the union can’t. Good day.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • Bob_Cushman

    Jimmy I have shown you my analysis (information taken from city documents).

    So prove me wrong! and include actual numbers similar to what I have in my analysis.

    Also Jimmy I want your analysis to go back to 2004 as mine did, so you can shown how much the cost of fire services have increased.

    I think its great that your bringing the cost of fire protection up because after the exorbitant tax increase its only fair citizens understand how much the Warwick fire department costs taxpayers each year.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Your gonna make your numbers look the way you want them to (yes I know you got them from the city). Still doesn’t make it right to compare them that way. It does not cost $260,000 to fund a firefighter position. End of my argument with you.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • patientman

    Bob, Any chance you have the #'s for Cranston FF's?

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • patientman

    Seems to me what it costs taxpayers every year for pensions & OPEB should be separated out of FF cost. Still have the total cost of fire department.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Bob and Jimmy,

    Lets not forget the 25,553 unused sick days that the WFD has "IN THE BANK" that has a liability of approx $12.4 million.

    That number grows each year. At the end of 2017 the number was 22,785 so it has grown by almost 3000 days. No where in the city budget is this liability taken into account. The only number considered is the "guestimate" (which is always wrong) of what will be expended annually in unused sick days. Even with men retiring, the bank of unused sick days grew over the last year. It simply is unsustainable.

    Not withstanding the new scheme that has developed. Since May of 2018 when the unused sick pay scheme of reallocating the residual .41 days to the bank was stopped, in June a revolving sick out began. With 11 less men there were an additional 238 sick days or 19.38% increase of sick time. Maybe there is an Ebola virus in the WFD. No other trade has that much sick time. Not nurses, doctors, crab fishermen, iron workers, welders, ship builders, etc..

    What is more disturbing as the documents show, is that the younger men that are not yet eligible for payment of unused sick time are the ones calling out sick and the call back is being covered by men that are eligible for the unused sick payments.

    So on face value and by the documents, it clearly shows that this scheme has been contrived in an effort to keep the gravy train rolling for the guys that were benefiting from the unused sick pay scheme.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • Reality

    Jimmy

    The taxpayers can't thank you enough. The fiscal abuses by the WFD are much worse than we ever thought.

    The WFD is leading the city into bankruptcy.

    Thanks Jimmy for helping expose this rip off of the taxpayers.

    Time to downsize the WFD.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Ok Stacia.... I’m shaking in my boots

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Rob, I couldn't help but notice a few letters missing from your 5+ paragraphs. Those letters? FBI. Any update to the allegations you've made against the WFD? Has their work concluded? Is there any investigation open at all?

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Scal, I just found out the ONLY reason they were sniffing around was because Merolla was being questioned. Word is a fellow council member told on him. It all has to do with the YJSM contract and his co workers getting the bid. Has nothing to do with the FD. All smoke and mirrors from Merolla. It would be great if the media followed up on that. But they won’t.

    Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Report this

  • Honestinfo

    Good news, Joe admits he and his people are idiots and hires a finance guy.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • PaulHuff

    I have to be honest......combining the costs attributed with retiree's to the costs of active FF's sounds a little (lot) disingenuous to me.

    Retiree's should have their own line item and be separate.

    Interesting to hear about the "FBI" investigation. What a crock

    And the allegation that the new (used) fire truck was sabotaged is a conspiracy theory of the highest order. Sorry but it doesn't pass the straight face test.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • Observant1

    Funny with the same few malcontents that keep posting under different names on here and the 100 plus people that showed up at the library, it would still show that more than 99% of the citizens of Warwick don’t believe that the FD is responsible for the city’s financial problems. I’d be much more concerned about the aging/failing apparatus which is a real problem. Merolla went on a rant about how the WFD “want for nothing “ equipment wise . Take a look around and see the borrowed trucks and the few antiques that are being used ,well minus that gem of a ladder truck. Someone had asked something about Cranston all their Ems billing goes right back to FD where it can be used to purchase new equipment where Warwicks goes to the General Fund??

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • Former User

    PaulHuff, glad I'm not the only one who sees the issue with Bob Cushman's analysis -- costs for active and retired firefighters are separate, and should be treated that way.

    Think of it this way: For the city to reduce retiree costs (like getting them on Medicare or lowering future COLAs), they need to negotiate with the retirees -- not active duty firefighters.

    I also think it's worth distinguishing between potential retiree costs (aren't "pension liabilities" mainly estimates of future costs?) and the actual annual costs for running the fire department.

    I agree with you, it's disingenuous to lump those two things together.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    I think we all know who those multiply screen names are. SHE had multiple names when SHE ran for mayor. Hillsgrove, ALL Warwick Fire retirees go into Medicare at age 65. There is a supplemental plan the city offers for extras. But they still go into Medicare. And yes we cannot negotiate for retirees.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • Reality

    Jimmy

    It is amazing how misinformed you are. The firemens' medicare and Blue Cross 65 is paid by the taxpayers.

    Jimmy stop your misinformation.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Everyone pays for Medicare. You pay for it through your entire career. It’s a STANDARD deduction. Stop with the the lying. Medicare is available to every person who pays taxes.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • Reality

    Jimmy

    It is amazing how much you don t know.

    Jimmy...Medicare costs the retiree money every month but our entitled city workers has it paid for by the taxpayers.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • Bob_Cushman

    If I was a firefighter in Warwick, I too would continue to obfuscate the unsustainable growth in the actual dollars paid out each year from the city budget for past and present firefighter expenses over the last 15 years.

    Who would want that kind of attention when high school sports are being eliminated and Korean War veterans and seniors on a fixed income and paying $600 to $1,000 a year more in property taxes to pay for extraordinary benefits for a few that they themselves will never receive?

    The fact is, in 2004 total dollars paid out of the city budget for past and present firefighter services was $27,202,137.

    In the 2020 proposed budget, that total is $50,171,971. That's a 187% increase in actual dollars paid. Today almost 1/3 of the city budget is consumed by past and present firefighter related expenses.

    People have trouble putting these million dollar figures into context. Using the per-firefighter annual cost puts into prospective how the cost has more than doubled from $127,710 in 2004 to $259,958 today.

    I totally understand why you do not want Warwick citizens expose to this kind of information. God for bid people wake up and demand concessions. I get it.

    Carry on with the spin. It's been very effective.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • Scal1024

    My definition of spin Mr Cushman would be a person speaking out as an advocate for the taxpayers, demanding big time concessions from unions and tougher stances from the City Council and our schools. All while ignoring the fact that said advocate sat on BOTH the City Council AND School Committee and yet these big concessions and tougher choices never seemed to be realized. So what gives? Clearly there is sone heavy lifting involved here.

    You can look under the comments when you first presented your plans to the Council and WFD a few years ago, I've been pretty consistent on this topic. We all want and can all talk about giant concessions. How do we get there? They can't be mandated unless the City wants to face a legal challenge. They'll have to be negotiated and those negotiations will require the City to give in on some issues too. That's just the reality of it. Any other talk about "demanding" concessions is not realistic in the present system we are in. It isn't today and it wasn't a years ago when I made the same point.

    The reason I bring up your record of public service Bob is because you are living proof that these concessions and major changes are much easier said than done. If it were easier to slash pensions and benefits it would've been done already. I don't doubt that you faced these same issues when you were on the Council and maybe you even spoke out about some of them back then, but if it wasn't easy then it's certainly not getting any easier now. Bob, what are some concessions you would like to see implemented that can actually drive costs down?

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • Scal1024

    I'd also like to say this apparatus conspiracy theory being peddled out there that the truck was intentionally sabatoged by WFD members is reckless and disgusting. I mean seriously stop for 30 seconds and think about what you're accusing these guys of. You are accusing them of putting lives in danger and risking public safety to prove the Mayor made a bad deal. This is a little different than accusing someone of time theft and it's certainly much different than accusing someone of shopping during work hours.

    When you suggest public safety is being compromised by our public servants you damn well better offer up more proof than "disgruntled" workers and an "Inside Info" screen name.

    As Jimmy correctly pointed out Stacia has used multiple names on this site since she ran for office. She used to pretend she had supporters by having full on conversations with herself between her own 2 (or more) screen names. So no, I don't think accusing her of having multiple screen names is a stretch. "Inside Info" would be a fitting name for a woman with no inside information, no sources and clearly no self awareness. If you think pensions are out of control or wages are too high, make that argument. But don't throw total bs out there with the hopes something will eventually stick. I thought that accusation was shameful and "Inside Info" needs to stop with the tin foil conspiracies!

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • Former User

    Scal1024, I think we have a good idea of what the city can't do, as far as negotiating with the fire department, based on recent events.

    For instance, Mayor Solomon can't announce a major agreement about the next contract without the union rank and file voting on it. (You'll recall that after he did that, the fire union rejected the deal.)

    The city also can't negotiate 3-percent raises with the police and municipal unions and then offer the firefighters less.

    The mayor can't say he's "saving money" by spending $250,000 to "study" the fire department's operations.

    And, as you explain, the city can't simply demand concessions from the firefighters' union without giving up something.

    Contract negotiations are more complicated than just yelling at the union.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    By the way who is disgruntled. Not one person. We are a little upset by the false FBI claims but no one is disgruntled at work. We all love this job.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • SaltyJake

    Same Old Same Old

    The purchase of that piece of fire apparatus was NOT in any part a decision of the firefighters. It was a decision by the "acting" fire chief and the mayor. Nothing you said will provide any relief to the unbelievably poor decision making that comes out of the mayors office. The "acting" fire chief, after working for Providence Fire, should have known better than anyone that blessing this purchase was a bad decision. He, of all involved, should have had the courage to tell the mayor it wasn't a good deal. This is plainly evident by pieces of the motor being spewed all over the street. But keep believing that load of bull you're being fed, its entertaining...........

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • patientman

    Jimmy, Paul & Hal,

    We can talk about how to account for the retired FF pension & OPEB. Separate it out if we want but it's still an obligation the city has. Or we could act like those obligations don't exist & tie the obligation to the current FF's. Because Jimmy's replacement is going to have the same argument retiree pension & OPEB costs can't be applied to them. The costs have to be tied to someone, pick one.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Patient Man,

    I agree 100% those are obligations that need to be paid (unless negotiated differently). I’m arguing with Cushmans theory that a firefighter position costs the city $260,000. There are retiree costs and active costs. They aren’t in the budget as a same line item then why is he saying it’s all one cost. Makes no sense.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • Former User

    Patient Man, no one is suggesting that we ignore retiree costs. As Jimmy said, the issue is with lumping active and retiree costs together.

    It's simply not accurate to throw all those figures together and come up with a per-person cost that's based on conflating two separate things.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • Bob_Cushman

    Scal back in 2007 & 2008 while I was on the council I saw this train wreck coming and proposed a "Taxpayer Protection Plan.

    The plan was made up of a series of Ordinances that would set future parameters in contract negotiations regarding benefits. I also proposed the city go to court and request a declaratory judgement because some were saving it could not be done.

    That plan went no where with the conflicted former mayor and many of the council members to afraid of the unions to implement it.

    fast forward to today. If you listened to Judge Flanders, the city and schools by declaring a fiscal emergency can unilaterally impose give backs such as COLA eliminations, increase healthcare cost sharing and many other needed give backs. A recent Supreme Court decision in Cranston's favor would serve as the president.

    Of course union would sue. Let them. With the millions of dollars in saving, use a small portion to fight them al the way to the RI Su[preme court if necessary. maybe the unions would even come to the table with real concessions if this happened.

    In the meantime, those millions of dollars can be reallocated back into programs and services in the city and school budget like school sports.

    By the time all the court filings and appeals are completed I could see years elapsing whereby at that point tens of millions of dollars would have been spent on services citizens demand instead of the black hole of free lifetime healthcare and other ridiculous un-affordable retiree benefits.

    And if by chance the city loses in court, the city would never be able to repay all those funds and can start to implement portions of the Fiscal Stability Act Judge Flanders so eloquently described to eliminate all those unsustainable provisions without any givebacks and new schemes that kick the can down the road, that you are advocating for.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Bob,

    Simply put you and that millionaire Flanders plan to perform a city Coupe D E Tat will never happen. Move on to something realistic. Real reform and changes that equal savings.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • patientman

    Jimmy, did you & your brothers & sisters support the taxpayer protections Bob advanced? It seems to me I heard about a lot of ff & dpw intimidation when he & Cote would testify about the coming storm.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    I can tell you this. Cushman claimed we (Fire Dept) yelled and harassed him at meetings. We have never done that. I can’t make the same claim about anyone other than my union. Yes there was a small vote (many people weren’t at the meeting) to boycott CVS. Not a great move but it happened. Again we, as a body never harassed him at any meetings. One of our guys has a video of one of the meetings in question. We are all seated and not one word is said.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    I can tell you this. Cushman claimed we (Fire Dept) yelled and harassed him at meetings. We have never done that. I can’t make the same claim about anyone other than my union. Yes there was a small vote (many people weren’t at the meeting) to boycott CVS. Not a great move but it happened. Again we, as a body never harassed him at any meetings. One of our guys has a video of one of the meetings in question. We are all seated and not one word is said.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    I personally won’t get into what I Support from him. I don’t like his views. I will say that you will see if/when our proposals come out that we are serious about long term fixes to many issues.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • Scal1024

    Jimmy, I'm glad you mentioned the CVS boycott. I found it to be unnecessary and I thought it undermined the debate at the time. Clearly alot of you disagree with Bob, I thought to myself at the time why not fight him on the issues? Like you said it happened and was unfortunate but in the past.

    You have also mentioned before that the WFD being serious about coming to the table with ideas. Is there any timeframe on when we can expect such a proposal? Will it be released to compare it to the plan previously proposed by the mayor? Or is it something that will only be proposed at the bargaining table? Not saying you have answers to all my questions. I'm just curious if you knew anything about it.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Scal,

    Negotiations are ongoing weekly as well as a arbitration ruling for last year that if we can’t find common ground will be imposed on both sides later in the Fall. Details can’t be released as it wouldn’t be helpful right now. Both sides have very meaningful proposals. The sky isn’t falling, that doesn’t mean we all don’t want to invest in both futures. I think Cushman does have value in the argument, he just needs to stop with the demand everything/give nothing jargon. It’s not helpful to either side.

    Thursday, July 11, 2019 Report this

  • Reality

    Jimmy

    Are you serious that the firefighters didn't berate Cushman when he spoke ? I was at the meeting and the WFD led by Bill Lloyd acted like a bunch of thugs.

    You girlfriend, Vella_wikinson, riled up the crowd by referring to Mr. Cushman as a hobbyist 15 times. Travis allowed Lloyd to stand within arms length during Mr. Cushman entire presentation. Never permitted before at a council meeting.

    At Bob's fundraiser a bunch of Warwick fire- fighters made lewd comments to the women who attended.

    Jimmy for you to portray the WFD as altar boys is as ridiculous as saying the WFD pay abuses isn't driving the city into bankruptcy.

    Friday, July 12, 2019 Report this

  • Bob_Cushman

    So let me get this straight, the anonymous WFF Jimmy, finally admits how the actions of a small number of firefighters to send an email to six CVS Executive Vice President’s threatening a state and national boycott of CVS store, unless they fire me, for exposing the pension and lifetime healthcare PONZI scheme, was wrong and never should have occurred. (BTW I did have a few interested folks come and visit me about that incident)

    Union President William Lloyd claims it was a unanimous vote by all fire fighters. Jimmy now admits that it was only a handful of firefighters taking the vote. Who do we believe?

    So Jimmy if we are to believe you, why didn’t you and the rest of the minions in the department ever publicly rebuke the embarrassing action of these few? Why didn't you get rid of that clown union president Lloyd? I guess because he was good at squeezing out more and more over the top benefits in contract negotiations that are bankrupting the city, by threatening the weak kneed politicians like the former mayor and city council members, whatever ridiculous things he did got a pass from your Good Old Boy Network.

    Its really is sad that a dope like Lloyd had the power to invoke any kind of action and you just follow like sheep?

    This must be how all these illegal backroom deals and sick pay schemes were implemented. And EVERYONE JUST KEEPS THEIR MOUTH SHUT AND GOES ALONG WITH IT?

    And now we are supposed to believe you Jimmy, when you state on this blog no FF harassed me at any meeting?

    Back in June I met with a member of the Warwick Fire Department face to face to discuss many of these financial issues. The firefighter could not have been move gracious and more importantly had the class to apologize on behalf of the entire department. We had a great respectful conversation.

    I’m hoping we could continue meeting and actually said that I was willing to meet with anyone to review my analysis.

    You see Jimmy, when I encounter people who have the courage and conviction not to hide behind fake screen names, and throw bombs on the Beacon blog, I too am willing to show them the same mutual respect.

    Friday, July 12, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    Bob,

    That’s great you got to connect with a member of the WFD. That being said. I was there for a few of your speeches. There were many unions represented. Our members were never out of line. I stand by that %1000. Were there some boos of course. And if you can’t handle that as a public figure than maybe you should try something else. I Don’t like you personally, I think your agenda speaks for itself. Do I blame you, absolutely not. Do I think you are a idiot, no. Do I think you are inflating an issue to get your name in the paper YES. I know how this will

    End, it’s not bankruptcy or receivership. It’s mutually agreeing on the future. Maybe that your plan all along, but to publicly say you want the city to sink itself makes me sick. That crap will never get you followers. Your group hasn’t figured that out yet. When you do and we can all work together it will be a great day for the city

    Friday, July 12, 2019 Report this

  • Reality

    Jimmy

    I never thought the greedy WFD would admit the their ponzi scheme is over. The taxpayers can't afford the WFD ridiculous pay and benefits.

    The taxpayers will never settle for a small cut in your benefits. Receivership is the only solution.

    The elimination of lifetime healthcare, establishment of 403b plans etc are the only answers.

    You only got your over the top perks because of corrupt union chiefs and politicians like Lloyd and Avedisian.

    I can't wait to see you beheading by the judge.

    Friday, July 12, 2019 Report this

  • SaltyJake

    Same Old Same Old

    I have gone back through article after article and all the associated comments and found the ONE common denominator in all of them-A small group of whiny residents have banded together to attempt (yes, attempt) to crucify the WFD for all the ills that have befallen the city. This reeks of vengeance and only highlights the narrowmindedness of said group. A contract is a legally binding document that cannot simply be torn up because a miniscule minority of residents object to it. I have yet to see any of you contract bashers go after any other city unions with the determination you show towards WFD. Again, proves this is a personal vedetta. Collective bargaining works. The same old same old continues with Same Old Same Old and the crew of cronies.......

    Saturday, July 13, 2019 Report this

  • Reality

    SaltyJake

    So if you question numerous abuses perpetuated by the WFD you have a vendetta. Really ???

    I don't recall the WPD or municipal workers creating a side deal that wasn't ratified by the council? I don't remember the WPD and municipal union abusing sick time and overtime.

    Let me know what other union sent a letter to Mr. Cushman's employer to get him fired because he had the audacity to say the city has an impending fiscal disaster.

    I don't remember other unions other than the WFD boycotting and screaming at a State Senator's fundraiser at Iggys recently because he dared to question a bill the firefighters disagreed with.

    Jimmy and yourself can try and present the WFD as a bunch of choir boys but those of us who has seen them in action know the act as bullies.

    Saturday, July 13, 2019 Report this

  • PaulHuff

    Same old same old....I’m pretty sure back around 2012 or so the Police , Fire, and Municipal unions came to a “side deal” agreement to allow “givebacks” to the city.

    These giveback side deals weren’t ratified by the council either.

    So yes....side deals have occurred in the past by the police and municipal that we’re not ratified.

    Sunday, July 14, 2019 Report this

  • SaltyJake

    Same Old Same Old

    Maybe if you and the rest of the angry bunch went after the city as a whole with the same vigor and vengeance as you do against WFD, there would be more support for the points you are trying to make. But 99% of the residents are tired of the same old same old rhetoric that has been spewing for so long. And, lastly, commenting back and forth with you is no fun anymore. It is like having a battle of wits with an unarmed person.......

    Monday, July 15, 2019 Report this

  • JamesBruder

    The whole “illegal side deal” claim I’d funny too because it’s not Illegal. The courts are looking into the validity which is they claim they are not valid, more of these deals were in the cities favor. Out of the cities own attorney side deals happen all the time. There is a question. Of whaT needs to go in front of the council. There is nothing nefarious or scam going on. 99% of the population gets it. These clowns get it but still

    Like to falsify crap like this.

    Monday, July 15, 2019 Report this

  • patientman

    There were 536 properties listed on realtor.com when this article was published on July 9th. Now on July 15th there are 552 listings. May be due to normal market fluctuations. I do know that 4 houses (out of about 60) that we're previously owner occupied are now rentals. Another house that my neighbor sold about a year ago is off the tax rolls. I went onto the database to see what they were able to get for it & it's not listed. I was curious to see what I could get for my house. I have no idea what program or scam the new owners are using, Maybe there's a legitimate reason. Maybe not.

    Monday, July 15, 2019 Report this