Comments on: Petersens are uninformed

By: J Miller

J Miller — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:47:59 +0000

Im voting for the Petersen’s and hope anyone that reads Mr. Anselmo’s letter will realize that our firefighter’s have less actual structure fires than Folsom and yet receive more total compensation in $$ and benefits! I agree that they are nice guys but compensated and need a board that isn’t in their pocket!

By: Dick Callahan

Dick Callahan — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 00:14:41 +0000

Tom and all EDH Firefighters: our primary concern is all about our Pension and Health liabilities. The number is at least $13 million which is the number for the year before CalPERS released this past years performance of a 1% return versus a projected 7.5% – that means the liability will go higher. Stockton and CalPERS are being sued in an effort to reduce pensions. What we do not want to happen is a situation where we cannot pay off our liabilities with our reserves – that would mean your pensions are at risk. I have heard someone say that CalPERS will never go bankrupt. Of course that is true – that would be like saying GM, American Airlines, United Airlines, Kodak, AIG, Lehman Brothers, and so on will never go bankrupt and reduce pensions. Oh wait, they all went bankrupt and reduced pensions. Well, lets just ignore the problem, not put the pension and health risk on the balance sheet like every private company is required to do so that their employees can pressure companies to ensure they have sufficient funds to cover their liabilities. I am sure the State’s taxpayer’s will agree to pay the $400 million that CalPERS and CalSTRS are short – why, that is only 4 times the State’s annual budget. Somehow, the problem will solve itself……

By: Pete Voy

Pete Voy — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:35:42 +0000

Dear Captain Anselmo,

Your letter to the editor of October 11 accused Sherry Petersen and Craig PetersEn who are running against the incumbent board members (endorsed by the your union/association) as being uninformed. Please go to your El Dorado Hills Fire Department web site and click on operations/apparatus drop downs Listed are 14 response units (trucks, medics, air units, etc.. Craig and Sherry Petersen are very well informed. They got their information off your department web site! They realize these are “back up units”. The real question is why do you have all this equipment when your department has over $13 MILLION in unfunded pension and health care liabilities. I have attended board meetings and listened as you stood up to speak on behalf of the union. What concerns so many taxpayers and should concern your brothers in the service is what will we do after we exhaust our surplus as we spend millions more than our revenue and we have to cut pensions, wages, firefighters, and the level of service. I notice you live in Cameron Park so you cannot vote for Craig and Sherry PetersEn. But you may want to tell the union that a vote for the PetersEns may protect their jobs and our service levels in the long run, since your department’s budget released on September 30, 2012 calls for the purchase of two more units totaling $1.7 MILLION! The firefighters are a great part of our community, we are lucky to have you…we want to keep you. A vote for Sherry and Craig PetersEn may be in your best interest. And thanks for all you do.

By: Joanne Bigsbie

Joanne Bigsbie — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 00:23:42 +0000

Mr. Peterson,

I don’t believe Mr. Anselmo’s comments are negative in any manner, he is just stating some facts trying to clear up some misinformed citizens. I appreciate the fact that Mr. Anselmo is standing up for his fire department. And last I checked, there is a thing called freedom of speech. Your comment to Mr. Anselmo in reference to “please knock it off’” is uncalled for.

Thanks for your time.

By: John Peterson

John Peterson — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 22:45:27 +0000

Tom,
The Petersen’s have many valid points, but most importantly, they care very much for their community. They are trying their best to make a contribution to their home town of 30 years. So rather than criticize their efforts, calm down, show some class, and try to represent yourself in a more professional manner. As a former Firefighter myself, I respect anyone like the Petersen’s who care enough to do something that they believe will help their community.

Finally Tom, I appreciate that you want to help your brother Firefighters, but these types of bad-natured statements make you and all of us look bad. Please knock it off.