”
Here’s a question for the MH Times – is there a hotline we can
call to report wasteful city practices?
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“Here’s a question for the MH Times – is there a hotline we can call to report wasteful city practices?”
Dear Report It, several readers have made comments on our online section asking where they can report wasteful city practices.
And yes there is a place to report it. First, you should contact Red Phone, who can then call the department head responsible. You can also call City Hall at 779-7271.
Reader is a bit disgusted with previous Red Phone response
“I’m reading the Red Phone article and I’m kind of disgusted. The very first question the person was asking about was how to find out police and fire information shortly after it has happened and the comment by the Red Phone writer is basically we never really got an answer to that question. I mean, maybe the person could have just called the police department to find out. But instead, the reporter wrote, ‘Unfortunately, we are not staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We learned about the arrests when we got in Tuesday morning, and posted the story as soon as we had information.’ People know that the newspaper is not staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But the question never really was answered and that’s a very condescending way to speak to someone who’s seeking information. I just wanted to give my opinion.”
Dear Disgusted, the answer was in no way meant to be condescending, rather it was a response to the reader’s question. The way to get information about what happens in town is to go to www.morganhilltimes.com. The reader was asking how they could find out what happened that Sunday night, and really, the only way to find out is to go to our Web site. Police will not give out information to the public unless they are somehow involved in the incident.
And, Red Phone does not believe everyone in town knows how the paper is staffed. So again, if something happens at night or during a weekend, the story will be posted as soon as we can get information.
However, if the incident is serious enough, as the fires were one weekend last summer, all editors, reporters and photographers report to work to get information online as quickly as possible.
Good caller, hope that helps.
Paycuts vs. layoffs: What’s Red Phone’s opinion?
“Hey Red Phone, for weeks now I’ve been reading about the various ways city management is exploring to balance the budget. One of those methods is paycuts. What do you think about that. Just wondering.”
Dear Wondering, Red Phone thinks it’s better for the entire city to take an across-the-board pay cut rather than cut city services or lay people off.
Government employees have long enjoyed the job security that most in the private sector do not, and they enjoy relatively high pay and benefits as well.
It’s time for a reality check. Those at the top should take 10- to 15-percent pay cuts, with the next level of management taking 7- to 8-percent cuts and finally the rank and file taking 4- to 5-percent cuts.
Since about 80 percent of the city’s general fund goes toward salaries and benefits, that is the logical first place to cut.
Hope that helps good caller.
