I honestly don’t know where to post this.

JohnInCarolina

Legume

Is there a graph that shows %closeted by party?

Gulfcoastguy

Just to be clear about it , maybe they could break the poll down for each part of LGBTQ?

Legume

Gulfcoastguy said:

Just to be clear about it , maybe they could break the poll down for each part of LGBTQ?

Hmmm, I think it's pretty clear, they asked about L & G.

JohnInCarolina

Legume said:

Gulfcoastguy said:

Just to be clear about it , maybe they could break the poll down for each part of LGBTQ?

Hmmm, I think it's pretty clear, they asked about L & G.

Yep.  Sad to see an erosion there too, but without question it’s due to all the focus on trans youth.

Legume

@Gulfcoastguy, the poll was about same sex relations.  You can see below how many of these categories don't really fit the poll question.

“L” stands for lesbian

The term “lesbian” describes a woman who is physically, emotionally, or romantically attracted to other women.

“G” stands for gay

The term “gay” describes a person who is physically, emotionally, or romantically attracted to people within the same gender.

“B” stands for bisexual

The term “bisexual” describes a person who is physically, emotionally, or romantically attracted to people within more than one sex, gender, or gender identity.

“T” stands for transgender

The term “transgender” describes a person whose gender identity or expression is different than their sex assigned at birth. Transgendershould be used as an adjective — not as a noun or a verb. 

“Q” stands for Queer: an adjective used by some people whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual or straight. It’s an umbrella term that includes people who have non-binary or gender-fluid identities. 

• Non-binary describes a person whose gender identity falls outside of strictly male or strictly female. 

• Gender fluid describes a person whose gender identity or expression changes over time. 

• Genderqueer describes a person who does not follow static categories of gender, embracing a fluidity of gender identity and, oftentimes, sexual orientations. 

• Gender non-conforming describes a person who does not abide by traditional or cultural expectations — in regards to appearance or behavior — of their gender. 

“Q” can also stand for Questioning: When “Q” comes at the end of LGBTQ, it can also mean questioning. Questioning is a term used to describe a person who is exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“I” stands for intersex: a term used to describe a person who is born with differences in their sex traits or reproductive anatomy that don’t fit typical definitions of female or male. There may be differences in regards to genitalia, chromosomes, hormones, internal sex organs, and/or secondary sex characteristics (e.g., pubic hair, breasts, facial hair, etc.).

“A” stands for asexual: a term used to describe a person who lacks sexual attraction or desire for other people. It’s different from celibacy, in which people make a choice to abstain from sexual activity.

“+” stands for plus: The “+” sign is a symbol that represents members of the community who identify with a sexual orientation or gender identity that isn’t included within the LGBTQIA acronym. It’s an inclusive way of representing gender and sexual identities that letters and words cannot yet fully describe.

JohnInCarolina

http://twitter.com/abughazalehkat/status/1670393968704598027?s=20

JohnInCarolina

http://twitter.com/TheGoodLiars/status/1670546608159703040?s=20

Botch

fishlessman

my city is nutz

backtrack a few years for police captain pay increases that took years to fix.....

Arbitrator rejects contract that would have required Methuen to pay some police captains $500,000 a year

Union leader quietly slipped massive pay increases into the 2017 contract, arbitrator rules

By Andrea Estes Globe Staff,Updated January 10, 2022, 5:48 p.m.

136

Methuen's police station.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

An arbitrator ruled on Monday that Methuen city officials do not have to abide by a collective bargaining agreement that would have given some police captains base pay of more than $500,000 a year in 2020, making them perhaps the highest-paid law enforcement officials in the state.

The arbitrator, Loretta T. Attardo, wrote that officials had no idea when they signed the agreement in 2017 that the contract would have paid officers exorbitant salaries, salaries that the financially struggling city of 50,000 could not afford to pay.

The head of the superior officers union, Greg Gallant, added language to the contract that built in rapidly escalating pay increases for senior officers, without ever discussing the specifics with Mayor Steve Zanni before he signed it, the arbitrator found.

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“There is no evidence that these multiple layered additions to base pay were ever discussed in negotiations,” Attardo wrote. “Nor were they brought to the attention of either Mayor Zanni or the [City] Council after Captain Gallant added them to the final contract.”

Gallant discussed the additional language only with then-police chief Joseph Solomon, the arbitrator found. Solomon retired in 2021 after an uproar over his salary, which exceeded $300,000, making him one of the nation’s highest-paid police chiefs. Solomon’s own salary would have risen even more if the senior officers’ contract had not been invalidated.

Zanni and several former city councilors have told the Globe they had no idea what the contract would have paid the police. It wasn’t until former mayor James Jajuga was sworn in, in 2018, that he realized what the contracts would have paid. He refused to honor them and the union filed the grievance that ended up before the arbitrator. Police continue to be paid under a previous collective bargaining agreement.

Attardo said she found no evidence that the contract reflected a “mutual consensus on these very complicated wage terms.” Without a “meeting of the minds,” she added. the contract is unenforceable, she said.

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Methuen’s current mayor, Neil Perry, called the decision “Great news for the city!!!!

“I look forward to putting this behind us and working with City Council and the Superiors Union to create a fair and amenable agreement for all — as we have done in all our collective bargaining this year.”

Newly elected City Council chairman D.J. Beauregard called the decision “a great day for the taxpayers of Methuen, and a not-so-great day for the people who conspired to rob them.”

Solomon was first placed on administrative leave and then retired after Massachusetts Inspector General Glenn Cunha in December 2020 found that he and Gallant violated their duty to the public by secretly drafting contracts that paid him and other senior officers excessive salaries without the knowledge of city officials.

Gallant was placed on administrative leave at the same time. He is still on leave, city officials said, and receiving his regular pay.

“This total failure of leadership by Methuen’s former mayor and City Council allowed Chief Solomon and Captain Gallant to put their personal financial interests ahead of the interests of the citizens they swore an oath to protect and serve,” said Cunha in a December 2020 statement. “Everyone involved failed the people of Methuen.”

then this after mayor, council etc were replaced....

Methuen City Council: McCarty objects to salary for new police post

By Will Broaddus | wbroaddus@eagletribune.com Dec 28, 2022

Capt. Randy Haggar has been appointed Deputy Chief of the Methuen Police Department, but his proposed contract was subject to a charter objection by a member of the city council. Courtesy photo

METHUEN — The city council recently voted 8 to 1 to appoint four members of the Methuen Police Department to positions as deputy chief, captain, lieutenant and sergeant.

But when the council then turned to discussion of a contract for Randy Haggar, who is currently a captain and was appointed to the newly created position of deputy chief, councilor James McCarty used a charter objection to force his colleagues to postpone a vote until their meeting on Jan. 3.

“I think that we have to get a better deal for the city,” McCarty said.

Methuen’s Home Rule Charter states that a charter objection must be made the first time a measure is proposed for adoption by the council.

“If a single member objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the City Council, whether regular or special,” the document states.

Haggar, a Methuen native with 29 years of experience on the police force, rose from patrol officer to captain while handling a variety of responsibilities in the department.

The other appointments, which were contingent on the approval of Haggar, were for Lieutenant Eric Ferreira to Captain, Sergeant James Moore to Lieutenant, and Patrol Officer Chad Sirois to Sergeant.

Haggar’s proposed contract for fiscal year 2023 includes a base pay of $152,500 along with a $38,125 educational incentive that rewards Haggar’s masters degree, $10,264 in holiday pay and $16,012 for Haggar’s years of service longevity, for a total of $216,901.

With a cost of living increase of 2%, Haggar’s base pay in fiscal year 2024 would start at $155,550 and his income would total $221,240 when the other incentives were added. The contract also allows the deputy chief to earn income by working on police details.

Before lodging a charter objection concerning these and other terms of the contract, McCarty had been the only member of the council to vote against Haggar’s appointment.

McCarty said that he objected to the process by which the new position was created and filled, the fiscal impact that position would have and the “general structure” of the police department that would result, with two captains and one deputy chief.

It’s “almost like having two chiefs, and if we wanted to pay $400,000 a year for a chief, we could just go back to the one we had before,” McCarty said.

Mayor Neil Perry responded that the position of deputy chief and the terms of a contract for that job had been announced in the 2022 Methuen Police Department Reorganization Plan that was approved by the council when Chief Scott McNamara was hired.

“This is not new money,” Perry said.

He also said that the proposed contract for the deputy chief position would be a win financially for both the city and Haggar.

“This individual if he so chose could stay a captain and make more money,” Perry said.

But he said that the only part of McCarty’s position that bothered him was the reference it contained to exorbitant pay for Methuen’s previous police chief, Joseph Solomon.

“For God’s sake, let’s move on,” Perry said. “We’ve moved past that.”

now this years news, an additional $26000.00 +/- per captain, chief, lieutenants in raises.......

lousubcap

@fishlessman -  you've gotta enjoy incredible tax rates to fund the high-roller positions on your first responder staffs and all with a population of ~50K.  Ouch!

fishlessman

lousubcap said:

@fishlessman -  you've gotta enjoy incredible tax rates to fund the high-roller positions on your first responder staffs and all with a population of ~50K.  Ouch!

these salaries dont even include what we call duty time.....most states hire a 20 year old with a stop and go sign at construction sites, here we hire a cop and cruiser or better yet a cop with his own car. its an extra hazard pay of time and a half plus his wifes car gets a full tank on the town......i dont think theres a better paid place in the country to be on the police force

Legume

Are captains considered first responders?

fishlessman

Legume said:

Are captains considered first responders?

i dont know....one might have to ask the lawyers for the officers union

JohnInCarolina

http://twitter.com/Phil_Lewis_/status/1670867434868178966?s=20

Gulfcoastguy

fishlessman said:

lousubcap said:

@fishlessman -  you've gotta enjoy incredible tax rates to fund the high-roller positions on your first responder staffs and all with a population of ~50K.  Ouch!

these salaries dont even include what we call duty time.....most states hire a 20 year old with a stop and go sign at construction sites, here we hire a cop and cruiser or better yet a cop with his own car. its an extra hazard pay of time and a half plus his wifes car gets a full tank on the town......i dont think theres a better paid place in the country to be on the police force

I used to be in the road and bridge construction and maintenance business. You can have construction ahead signs for two miles in advanc including an illuminated message board. People will ignore them and swear that they weren’t there. The only thing that will make them pay attention is blue lights and law enforcement officers are the only people who can legally use blue lights. It is expensive but we got tired of burying our workers.

fishlessman

Gulfcoastguy said:

fishlessman said:

lousubcap said:

@fishlessman -  you've gotta enjoy incredible tax rates to fund the high-roller positions on your first responder staffs and all with a population of ~50K.  Ouch!

these salaries dont even include what we call duty time.....most states hire a 20 year old with a stop and go sign at construction sites, here we hire a cop and cruiser or better yet a cop with his own car. its an extra hazard pay of time and a half plus his wifes car gets a full tank on the town......i dont think theres a better paid place in the country to be on the police force

I used to be in the road and bridge construction and maintenance business. You can have construction ahead signs for two miles in advanc including an illuminated message board. People will ignore them and swear that they weren’t there. The only thing that will make them pay attention is blue lights and law enforcement officers are the only people who can legally use blue lights. It is expensive but we got tired of burying our workers.

Not talking highway speeds, 25mph settings and construction off road. They stopped this in these areas and the problem was the officers showing up to make the job in impossible. Oh and your wife's car doesn't have blue lights....It's normal in nearby states and it works on low speed roads, parking lots, areas on the other side of highway barriers...I get this, I need a fireman working in a school, I pay by the day for a fireman and twice as much for an upper officer. Then charge the school system 50percent more that comes from a different budget. It's wrong for the town to charge me more town work from a different budget

fishlessman

fishlessman said:

Gulfcoastguy said:

fishlessman said:

lousubcap said:

@fishlessman -  you've gotta enjoy incredible tax rates to fund the high-roller positions on your first responder staffs and all with a population of ~50K.  Ouch!

these salaries dont even include what we call duty time.....most states hire a 20 year old with a stop and go sign at construction sites, here we hire a cop and cruiser or better yet a cop with his own car. its an extra hazard pay of time and a half plus his wifes car gets a full tank on the town......i dont think theres a better paid place in the country to be on the police force

I used to be in the road and bridge construction and maintenance business. You can have construction ahead signs for two miles in advanc including an illuminated message board. People will ignore them and swear that they weren’t there. The only thing that will make them pay attention is blue lights and law enforcement officers are the only people who can legally use blue lights. It is expensive but we got tired of burying our workers.

Not talking highway speeds, 25mph settings and construction off road. They stopped this in these areas and the problem was the officers showing up to make the job in impossible. Oh and your wife's car doesn't have blue lights....It's normal in nearby states and it works on low speed roads, parking lots, areas on the other side of highway barriers...I get this, I need a fireman working in a school, I pay by the day for a fireman and twice as much for an upper officer. Then charge the school system 50percent more that comes from a different budget. It's wrong for the town to charge me more town work from a different budget

I kind of have to double down on this, the plann was $500,000 pay, and double it to sit in a car with blue lights with the ac on or bring the wife's car, kids car for full gas tanks on duties, no blue lights and double the yearly pay. Please google captains pay in america

HeavyG

fishlessman said:

fishlessman said:

Gulfcoastguy said:

fishlessman said:

lousubcap said:

@fishlessman -  you've gotta enjoy incredible tax rates to fund the high-roller positions on your first responder staffs and all with a population of ~50K.  Ouch!

these salaries dont even include what we call duty time.....most states hire a 20 year old with a stop and go sign at construction sites, here we hire a cop and cruiser or better yet a cop with his own car. its an extra hazard pay of time and a half plus his wifes car gets a full tank on the town......i dont think theres a better paid place in the country to be on the police force

I used to be in the road and bridge construction and maintenance business. You can have construction ahead signs for two miles in advanc including an illuminated message board. People will ignore them and swear that they weren’t there. The only thing that will make them pay attention is blue lights and law enforcement officers are the only people who can legally use blue lights. It is expensive but we got tired of burying our workers.

Not talking highway speeds, 25mph settings and construction off road. They stopped this in these areas and the problem was the officers showing up to make the job in impossible. Oh and your wife's car doesn't have blue lights....It's normal in nearby states and it works on low speed roads, parking lots, areas on the other side of highway barriers...I get this, I need a fireman working in a school, I pay by the day for a fireman and twice as much for an upper officer. Then charge the school system 50percent more that comes from a different budget. It's wrong for the town to charge me more town work from a different budget

I kind of have to double down on this, the plann was $500,000 pay, and double it to sit in a car with blue lights with the ac on or bring the wife's car, kids car for full gas tanks on duties, no blue lights and double the yearly pay. Please google captains pay in america

It's mind blowing to see what your city is paying those positions. My city has a population of about 450,000, is ranked as one of the safest cities in the US, is very well off financially, and this is the pay range for our police captains and chief...



It's more mind blowing that your citizens even tolerate that sort of pay.

Is there something weird in the water supply up there?

TheFishWhisperer

fishlessman said:

fishlessman said:

Gulfcoastguy said:

fishlessman said:

lousubcap said:

@fishlessman -  you've gotta enjoy incredible tax rates to fund the high-roller positions on your first responder staffs and all with a population of ~50K.  Ouch!

these salaries dont even include what we call duty time.....most states hire a 20 year old with a stop and go sign at construction sites, here we hire a cop and cruiser or better yet a cop with his own car. its an extra hazard pay of time and a half plus his wifes car gets a full tank on the town......i dont think theres a better paid place in the country to be on the police force

I used to be in the road and bridge construction and maintenance business. You can have construction ahead signs for two miles in advanc including an illuminated message board. People will ignore them and swear that they weren’t there. The only thing that will make them pay attention is blue lights and law enforcement officers are the only people who can legally use blue lights. It is expensive but we got tired of burying our workers.

Not talking highway speeds, 25mph settings and construction off road. They stopped this in these areas and the problem was the officers showing up to make the job in impossible. Oh and your wife's car doesn't have blue lights....It's normal in nearby states and it works on low speed roads, parking lots, areas on the other side of highway barriers...I get this, I need a fireman working in a school, I pay by the day for a fireman and twice as much for an upper officer. Then charge the school system 50percent more that comes from a different budget. It's wrong for the town to charge me more town work from a different budget

I kind of have to double down on this, the plann was $500,000 pay, and double it to sit in a car with blue lights with the ac on or bring the wife's car, kids car for full gas tanks on duties, no blue lights and double the yearly pay. Please google captains pay in america

DEFUND THE POLICE!

fishlessman

.

TheFishWhisperer said:

fishlessman said:

fishlessman said:

Gulfcoastguy said:

fishlessman said:

lousubcap said:

@fishlessman -  you've gotta enjoy incredible tax rates to fund the high-roller positions on your first responder staffs and all with a population of ~50K.  Ouch!

these salaries dont even include what we call duty time.....most states hire a 20 year old with a stop and go sign at construction sites, here we hire a cop and cruiser or better yet a cop with his own car. its an extra hazard pay of time and a half plus his wifes car gets a full tank on the town......i dont think theres a better paid place in the country to be on the police force

I used to be in the road and bridge construction and maintenance business. You can have construction ahead signs for two miles in advanc including an illuminated message board. People will ignore them and swear that they weren’t there. The only thing that will make them pay attention is blue lights and law enforcement officers are the only people who can legally use blue lights. It is expensive but we got tired of burying our workers.

Not talking highway speeds, 25mph settings and construction off road. They stopped this in these areas and the problem was the officers showing up to make the job in impossible. Oh and your wife's car doesn't have blue lights....It's normal in nearby states and it works on low speed roads, parking lots, areas on the other side of highway barriers...I get this, I need a fireman working in a school, I pay by the day for a fireman and twice as much for an upper officer. Then charge the school system 50percent more that comes from a different budget. It's wrong for the town to charge me more town work from a different budget

I kind of have to double down on this, the plann was $500,000 pay, and double it to sit in a car with blue lights with the ac on or bring the wife's car, kids car for full gas tanks on duties, no blue lights and double the yearly pay. Please google captains pay in america

DEFUND THE POLICE!

exactly what they are doing, less patrolmen equals higher pay for officers

dmchicago

JohnInCarolina

JohnInCarolina

dbCooper

JohnInCarolina

http://twitter.com/ashtonpittman/status/1672032763396993024?s=20

lousubcap

Can't fix stupid!  ^^^^^

HeavyG

Quintus : People should know when they are conquered. Maximus : Would you, Quintus? Would I?

The only Confederate flag worth remembering;

fishlessman

so biden sent 50 billion dollars to prigozhin to attack russia over the weekend and he split the money with putin..........they are laughing it up right now.......my lunch with two old retired vets........

JohnInCarolina

fishlessman said:

so biden sent 50 billion dollars to prigozhin to attack russia over the weekend 

First I have heard of this.  You sure about that one?