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Melissa Meslo
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From: Public Comment
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2022 420 PM
To: Melissa Meslo
Subject: FW: Please read at 4/19/22 Council Meeting
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From: Sandy Myers <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2022 8:52 AM
To: Public Comment <[email protected]>
Subject: Please read at 4/19/22 Council Meeting
Comments to be read April 19, 2022 during Public Presentation of Employee Unit 6 Bargaining Group
Madam Mayor, City Council and Citizens of Santa Clara
My name is Sandy Myers and I am a 40- year resident of Santa Clara. I was also an employee of the City of Santa Clara for almost 20 years until I retired in 2007. I have to say that I think the behavior of the City has hit an all-time low. We had our problems when I worked here and some of them were pretty bad but nothing to compare with what is happening now.
The City is singling out and punishing the very workers who came to work every day during the pandemic to keep this City going by keeping the water flowing, unplugging the sewers, clearing downed trees, keeping our parks places of refuge, offering a resting place for our deceased, maintaining our streets and trees, servicing the City with the "Clean-up" campaign and distributing food to those in need. All the while exposing themselves to the possibility of contracting Covid.
W hen the rest of the United States celebrated their "Heros" for going above and beyond the call of duty during this uncertain and troubled time with "Hero Pay" provided by the federal government, what did Santa Clara do? Did they follow suit? No, they put the money in the general fund. And although they cried "Poor" they had enough money to finance a City Manger who couldn't be bothered to even show up at City Hall. Who ran down employee morale and finances with hiring her cronies from other cities and other atrocities. They also managed to give raises to management. If this wasn't enough the then mayor and city council recklessly spent money on frivolous lawsuits and ballot measures that had already been deemed illegal voter discrimination by the courts.
So now what are they doing? After over 6 months of negotiations where these workers have made many concessions to reach an agreement with the City, the City has not only has thrown these concessions in their face but has tried at the last moment to force them to permanently give up their lawful union right to strike.
am saddened and disgusted with the actions of our City towards our City employees, but I am also hopeful that this can be rectified before any more damage can be done to both employee morale and COST MEETING MATERIAL.
citizen services. I am hopeful that the City will reward these valuable employees with equitable and fair wages and treatment. I am hopeful that my pride in being a citizen of Santa Clara will be justified by City action.
Thank you for your time.