Pension officials and investment managers from Contra Costa County and other counties spent retirement-plan funds for a trip to Hawaii, The New York Times, reported on Nov. 21, 2010.The purpose of the trip, which took place last week, was to review aspects of retirement plans for county workers.
According to the Times, “About 4,500 investment managers, public pension trustees and administrators attended the event at the Hawaii Convention Center.”
The Times said among those attending the Hawaii event were ” . . . some trustees and a top administrator who oversee multi-billion dollar retirement funds for Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco Counties.”
The Times said: “Contra Costa trustees have no overall cap [on travel expenses].”
According to the Times, “John Gioia, a Contra Costa pension trustee and chairman of the county’s Board of Supervisors, agreed that ‘there are clearly some conferences that add value.’ “
Bill Gram-Reefer is Editor & Publisher of Halfway To Concord, founded in 2004. Halfway To Concord is the leading online source for community-driven political news, events, and opinion for Contra Costa County and the San Francisco East Bay.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
John Gioia:
The issue is not how much was spent, the issue is that anything was spent.
This line is pointless as CCCERA is not a public agency. The only people who have legal standing to complain are the rank and file union members. But they don’t give a shit as long as CCCERA board members deliver exorbitant benefits that someone else has to pay for.
Check out the hotel charges on some of these fools:
Most $400/night. Remick a 5 day stay in Beverly Hills at almost $600/night.
Crazy stuff. How do these guys sleep at night?
Is it any wonder that the public doesn’t trust elected officials and public employees? Time and again voters are assured by public officials that “we’ve got a handle on things, nothing’s as bad as it sounds in the media, etc.” — only to later learn that public spending and deficits are completely out of control and nobody in government has a handle on anything . . . except their own goodies, power, cushy lifestyle, whatever.
You know, it would be one thing if CCCERA were well-run — but it’s a financial shambles! Obviously all of those “valuable” conferences in delightful locales haven’t led to good decisionmaking. So ‘fess up — admit that these junkets are all a ripoff and be done with it.
This is just one example of the types of things that create a jaded and cynical electorate, erode the people’s faith in public institutions and make it increasingly difficult to attract talented leadership to elected office and government employment.
The City of Bell was just scratching the surface — sloppy staff work, knuckleheaded decisionmaking and unnecessary public spending abound wherever one looks. Voter outrage is a rational response to the reality of wasteful spending by local, state and federal government agencies. No one should be surprised by the taxpayer revolt that has emerged . . . it’s the logical result of the failure of public institutions.
Aloha, indeed. Pass the mai tais.
The only folks getting bent over by CCCERA are the taxpayers. CCCERA may not be a public entity but its decisions impact the County everytime they say NO to stopping PENSION SPIKING and ABUSIVE practices and YES to screwy estimates knowing the public has to pick up the difference. Gutless pigs.
Perception is everything. CCCERA had two members attend this event (a third dropped out) in Hawaii. I brought it up at the CCCERA meeting this morning. The President tells corporations not to go to conventions in Las Vegas, but the government sector finds Hawaii a lovely venue for meetings. Hmmmmmmmm.
It’s their right to spend our money, Kris. They hob nob with the other wizards of deficit spending to learn how they can dump even more public employee benefit and retiree costs on taxpayers. The old fat union bosses think they are entitled to these trips and the perqs, especially the ones name Sasha. They’ll even have tents set up outside the convention center, you watch.
Perfect timing. The rest of the Lib-Dem super state establishment that depends on mindless union voting blocs is there as well.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_16661006
Certainly not a coincidence. Sounds like the liberal establishment is just trying to get its story straight.
Hand in those form 700s boys. Wait, except for Gioia they don’t need to do they because CCCERA is not a County agency but a private trust!
Party on and don’t forget to tip the Russian hookers. Happy Thanksgiving!
Bill, Names of those who went from our area? ( hookers excluded ) + Have a good Thanksgiving! Again, sorry about Patches……… Craig
CCCERA Board members who went to Hawaii were Sup. John Gioia and AFSCME Labor leader, Richard Cabral
Board members Jerry Holcomb, Dave Gaynor and Bill Pollacek voted against sending any Board members to the conference that is primarily geared to Taft-Harley (private sector union retirement systems) with an emphasis based on health care . . . . the public employee union bosses are of course entitled to tag alone because of the great site locations. . .Hawaii this year . . . New Orleans next year.
This must be what Gioia meant when he said “some conferences are worth it”
AS THE PENSION TRUSTEE THAT SPENDS THE LEAST ON TRAVEL, you failed to note that from Jan. 1, 2008 thru June 30, 2010, I spent $1114.72 on travel while Pollacek spent $15,822.03, Holcombe $11,937.77, Gaynor $14,668.48 and the top spender Jim Remick spent approximately $53,000. I will be proposing a cap on travel. Full disclosure is always important.
John -
You spent $1114.72 of public funds more than I did during the same time. I am a teacher, and, although I have attended conferences in such places as Seattle and Chicago, I HAVE PAID MY OWN EXPENSES out of my own pocket. You and everyone else need to stop spending our tax money on travel to Hawaii and other exotic conference sites. Pay for it yourself!
{ 2 trackbacks }