Community Commentary:

Although I agreed with some issues raised by Michael Teahan when he ran for City Council, I disagree with much of his recent Community Commentary (“Could our gadflies please buzz off?” July 11).

Teahan wrote that he was tired of reading rants from the same people, and he suggests the Glendale News-Press should run a “nice story about cats.” Of course more citizens should speak out, but democracy is not served by running stories about cats. Democracy works only when citizens remain fully informed about the government institutions they have created. Unfortunately, print journalism — a cornerstone to democracy — is shrinking.

Glendale has plenty of issues to speak out about. But during the last election I found that a small group of vocal citizens was unfairly labeled “gadflies” by powerful forces and their surrogates who seemed bent on marginalizing these critics.

I found the so-called gadflies to be very knowledgeable and their issues valid. Near the top of their list was a complaint about exorbitant wages and benefits for some job classifications. Unfortunately, Teahan’s article produces more heat than light.

Teahan admits the need to “look at” Glendale’s wage and benefit structure, but instead of calling for action in the form of a citizen commission or an independent study, he attacks the few people who have tried to keep the issue on the radar screen. Then Teahan whined that the gadflies have “made constructive debate impossible.” I disagree. Constructive debate may be uncomfortable, but it is always possible and essential.

I found strong evidence to support the critics’ claim about a runaway wage and benefit problem. Glendale’s labor agreements seem to be lavish, even when compared with other government jurisdictions. Glendale has enacted some of the highest electricity rates around. In fiscal year 2008, some $25 million from those utilities went to the general fund — in effect a hidden tax on our utility bills, but one authorized under the Charter. I don’t believe Glendale citizens would have approved this Charter amendment if they had known it was going to be used to prop up a bloated wage structure. Why don’t we have the funds to replace those recently demolished tennis courts? Why did the city have to consider hiking fees last year for youth athletic teams to use city recreational facilities?

Citizens expect that higher utility bills will translate into things like having their library doors open longer, seeing more aging infrastructure repaired, and receiving a variety of other services and improvements.

I’d say Teahan’s call for a “look at” Glendale’s wage and benefit structure is long overdue.

 RICHARD DICKINSON is a Glendale resident.