Not the job of voters
I was disappointed, although not surprised, by the action of the Bakersfield City Council as reported in the Jan. 31 article "Issue may go to voters," whereby the council (at least David Couch and Zack Scrivner) want the voters to now take the responsibility to reduce pension benefits for new city employees.
As I said, I was not surprised, as both are running for higher office and obviously fear the reaction of employee unions at the ballot box should the council try to clean up the problem it has created.
Whatever became of political responsibility, accountability and integrity? Now that the city can no longer afford to give these generous benefits, the council is looking for some means to avoid responsibility for the financial problem it has created. Sounds like just the kind of representatives we need on the Board of Supervisors and in the Assembly!
Don't push this problem off onto the backs of voters. The council was elected to make the hard decisions, as they frequently remind us. I guess it just doesn't apply when higher office is at stake.
MICHAEL ALLFORD
Bakersfield
