City Employees: Who They Are, What They Make
In January’s State of the City Speech, Mayor Byron Brown said that he intended to post online a complete list of city employees, by name, title, and salary. He hasn’t done that yet, so we thought we’d help. Here it is. It’s a bit out of date—if I recall correctly, this is from 2007.
Brown’s promise to post this list (presumably an up-to-date version) seemed like a rather lame nod toward transparency anyway. Thanks, but I’d rather have a complete record of all bids and contracts for government work.
In any case, the Brown administration was not so committed to transparency a year and a half ago. We had to invoke Freedom of Information Law to get it, and even then we were made to wait.
It’s not really interesting reading in itself—I mean, who cares how much your neighbor the plow driver makes? But combine the list with campaign finance reports, and suddenly it’s big fun. That’s why we requested the list in the first place, and it continues to be helpful
Potentially related posts (automatically generated):
Thanks to you printing this information all a burglar has to do is look up a city employees name in the phone book and he now has all the information needed to know when their house is empty. You have opened yourselves to possible lawsuits from any city employee who’s home is burglarized during working hours.
Comment by Cynthia K — March 12, 2009 @ 10:49 am
No, we haven’t, and what you’re saying makes no sense at all. Nonetheless, thanks for reading from your office in City Hall.
Comment by Geoff Kelly — March 12, 2009 @ 11:12 am
What you need to see, in addition to this list, is the stats from COB agencies! Look at BURA, in fact, and see a listing of political operatives who’s sole purpose is to get their boss re-elected! Do you think they are really doing the peoples work- or qualified for their positions. Non-competitive titles like these are merely political appointments! Yes, and match the employees and campaign finance reports and you’ll see “pay for pay!”
Comment by Rasputin — March 12, 2009 @ 11:18 am
To gain records like these, the necessary paperwork must be filled out by the seeker. That is how the Freedom of Information Law works. For you to post this information for everyone might be considered illegal. It’s also funny how you wanted to post this hastily, but it’s so out of date that Brian Reilly isn’t even on there. I wonder if Steve Casey is behind any of this…
Comment by Matt — March 12, 2009 @ 11:39 am
Hi, Matt, who is also reading this from City Hall, you’re completely wrong about the way Freedom of Information Law works. Once something is deemed a public document, it’s out in the open. Also, I did not want to (nor did I) post this list hastily. As written in clear English, I’ve had this for nearly two years. I posted it because the mayor promised he was going to and hasn’t yet.
Thanks for reading.
Comment by Geoff Kelly — March 12, 2009 @ 11:53 am
Thanks for posting this! Transparency at all levels of government should not be optional.
Comment by Ann — March 12, 2009 @ 2:12 pm
Geoff,
What about the Board of Education?
Comment by Eileen — March 12, 2009 @ 2:22 pm
Cynthia and Matt —
What are you two talking about?
The city employee list Geoff posted does not contain home addresses. The campaign donation list he linked to does conatin home addresses, but that’s already publicly posted on the Board of Elections web site. All Geoff did for that was post a web link to it.
Comment by huh? — March 12, 2009 @ 4:32 pm
The recent “Artvoice” article listing the names and salaries of Buffalo city employees’ has sunk the publication to an all-time low with its “National Enquirer” style of gossip journalism. Presenting such a listing at least two years old including people no longer employed by the city is yesterday’s news, if it was news at all.
Is “Artvoice” doing justice to those members of our community? Does every Buffalonian need to know how much their neighbor, a municipal employee, earns on an annual basis? Would an employee in the private sector want for his neighbor the municipal worker to know his yearly income? Would you want to be discriminated against in the same fashion as this discriminatory article against public employees?
This article is antagonizing gossip thinly disguised as a “governmental transparency” piece by a source that does not hold the ethical authority to distribute such material. “Artvoice” has created a tension and sense of mistrust in the City of Good Neighbors with this journalism more appropriate in the rags on the check-out counter rack.
This is not an article in the interest of the community, but rather a piece of out-of-date George W. Bush-era propaganda to stir up distrust among neighbors and workers.
Also, why do you not publish the computer addresses of all blog posters?
Thanks for your ignorance, insensitivity and lack of creative content.
Michael Hoffert
Vice President
AFSCME Local 650, AFL-CIO
Comment by Michael Hoffert — March 13, 2009 @ 12:47 am
Michael, It’s our tax money paying the salaries, so of course the data should be public. It’s already been public for NY state employees on the web. How else could the voting public become aware of corrupt “friends and family” situations? Also, it helps raise awareness of how much salary is paid by the city for various jobs. Some might think it’s too much, others might think not enough, but the public has the right to know.
Comment by Overtaxed — March 13, 2009 @ 1:22 am
To answer Michael’s final question, I listed the IP addresses of the commenters from City Hall for two reasons: 1) I could tell where they were posting from, which is not always the case; 2) it’s germane to this particular discussion. You had the good grace to identify yourself (for which I sincerely respect you), so we know where you stand on the issue.
To answer another one of your questions, Michael, I believe all of us ought to be telling each other exactly how much we make. Because — despite the extraordinary (to anyone on the Right) accusation that Artvoice might be guilty of pushing Bush-era agendas — I think the fact that we don’t talk about money, that we are told money is a private affair, that it is indiscreet to discuss what our bosses pay us, is a means of inhibiting the organization of workers (all workers).
By the way, in this country there is no measure of “ethical authority” required to publish a public document. I don’t know what you mean by that. I don’t know why you’re bothering to respond in the manner you have. If you represented me, I’d rather you spent your time doing something to curtail the age-old practice of compulsory donations to political campaigns.
After all, that’s why I requested this document a year and a half ago. That’s what this post was about. You make no mention of that in your response. Did you miss that point? Do you think that practice is acceptable?
Usually I don’t reply to comments on what I post, figuring I’ve had my turn at the start, but I felt compelled today for some reason. I’m done now. Have at it (or at me). Thanks for reading, Michael, and please continue: If you do, you might find we land more often on the side of the employees you represent than against.
Comment by Geoff Kelly — March 13, 2009 @ 1:27 am
My father fought side by side with Hoffa in Detroit a half century ago. My father was from Buffalo; Local 375 – Mushroom Transportation on Ensminger Road in Tonawanda(375 is now Roadway). If they had this kind of information available to them back then; the general public would have backed them sooner.
When the Local Unions read this they’ll also want a fair pay for their hard work.
Thanks Artvoice!
Comment by Lancey Howard — March 13, 2009 @ 2:43 am
So how much do you make at Artvoice Geoff Kelly? Just curious.
Rasputin is absolutely right. Instead of worrying how much a clerk or receptionist makes, look at the appointed positions like in BURA or BERC.
Comment by Thomas — March 13, 2009 @ 9:07 am
I’d be happy to tell you, Thomas, but only if you’ll tell me who you are. Anonymity won’t do. In any case, I promise that you wouldn’t be impressed.
I agree about the appointed positions, and somt of them are on that list. I’m working on getting more.
And again, I’m not especially worried about how much anyone makes. I tend to think teachers, firefighters, police, and streets people, for example, are more frequently underpaid than overpaid.
I’m concerned about people being forced to contribute to campaigns. For example, go through the list and look at the seasonal sanitation workers making $17k a year, and then check out campaign contributions to, for example, Brown for Buffalo, and see how many of them gave $100, $200, $250 over the past six months…that’s a lot of money for someone not making very much. And why do they do it? In the hope that they’ll get moved off the seasonal list.
Does that seem fair?
Comment by Geoff Kelly — March 13, 2009 @ 10:18 am
Sorry. Now I’m really done.
Comment by Geoff Kelly — March 13, 2009 @ 10:19 am
Geoff,
I am having some technical problems. Does your research include addresses? I know it is not politically correct, but it still bugs me when City of Buffalo employees live outside the City! Talk about gall, and some act as if they are entitled to City of Buffalo Jobs and the residency rules do not apply to them. Go figure…or better yet, list those making a good “buck” working for the City and living in the “”Burbs”". A tip line or complaint line might be just the thing for depressed residents to call and vent about the liars taking City jobs from the residents. I am not talking about the seasonal jobs or temporary housing, I am talking about teachers, cops, firefighters, and the top secret world of “”BURA”", the Control board, Niagara Partnership, etc…
That is probably 3,000 tax paying homeowners. For those who think that they are irreplaceable, think again; I know lots of qualified unemployed or underemployed City of Buffalo residents that would do a bang-up job in any and every field.
Some will automatically parrot the free country mantra and no one can tell me where to live, blah, blah, blah.
I say right on, dig it, you go girl – Go and get a job in the “Burbs” where you live! You do not want to raise a family in the City. You do not want your “kids” under-educated and your property less safe in Buffalo.
It is well past the time to have a referendum vote to require all City of Buffalo employees to live in the City and enforce the residency rule as if your job depends on it! I would rather see people move back into the City instead of them losing their job(s). i would not even mind using the Bass-Pro handout and other corporate welfare plans to build affordable housing on the waterfront. Most of the young people are moving or have moved out of Buffalo, so we can certainly use modern housing for an aging population.
I would guess that many of the residency dodgers would rather retire than move into Buffalo, so that might give life long residents a chance to see their kids become teachers, firefighters, cops, etc… The biggest plus would be having people who actually care about the City of Buffalo work for the city of Buffalo.
The same concept can be applied to waterfront development. What is Buffalo known for besides snow? Food!
Look at the “Taste of Buffalo”. Buffalo has some of the best food in the world. fish frys, chicken wings, beef on weck, Polish sausage, Italian sausage, Lee’s ribs are super. Give the 20,30,50 year establishments incentives to open a place on or near the waterfront. What would you rather do? Meet some friends for drinks and food at the waterfront or meet at Bass-pro to look at bait and sinkers? Maybe a nice bright orange hunting vest would be a great time and memory, I can’t wait for this latest mistake.
We are damn fools and just might deserve the ice-boom and highest electric bills in the Country. If you wrote a book featuring the “Skyway”, Dome Stadium not built, the University of Buffalo expanding in Amherst, the rapid transit that goes to and from no-where, the new peace bridge on hold because some mice with wings might fly into the cables, a beautiful hockey arena that smells like manure most of the year; said book would have to be fiction/comedy.
Comment by Guessing — March 13, 2009 @ 10:33 pm
Guessing -
You might get your wish. I think if the population of the City of Buffalo drops below 250,000 (which is quite likely to be the case after the 2010 census) then the exception for police and perhaps firefighters and teachers goes away, and they have to live in the city.
Comment by Rebecca — March 14, 2009 @ 1:14 pm
Hi ! ^_^
I am Piter Kokoniz. oOnly want to tell, that I like your blog very much!
And want to ask you: what was the reasson for you to start this blog?
Sorry for my bad english:)
Thank you!
Your Piter Kokoniz, from Latvia
Comment by PiterKokoniz — April 7, 2009 @ 7:35 pm