Tag Archives: Kevin Kennedy

The new new thing in pensions

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Robert Sullwold

Ever since we can remember (in our case, that’s 2012), the City has been struggling to find ways to ensure that it will be able to pay its retired employees the pensions it promised them. The problem is simple: As … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Pensions | Tagged Eric Levitt, John Knox White, Kevin Kearney, Kevin Kennedy, Normal cost, Pension Obligation Bonds, UAL, Unfunded accrued liabilities | 5 Comments

Not enough to go around

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Robert Sullwold

So do you want the good news or the bad news first? That’s what we thought. The good news is that, thanks primarily to the sale of three apartment buildings, the General Fund will receive about $4.7 million more in … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged Budget, CalPERS, Dennis Popalardo, Frank Matarrese, General Fund, Jeff DelBono, Jim Oddie, John Russo, Kevin Kennedy, Liz Warmerdam, Malia Vella, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Nancy Bronstein, Susan Mayer, Trish Spencer | 15 Comments

Spend away!

Posted on June 4, 2017 by Robert Sullwold

Three weeks ago, the Merry-Go-Round reported on City Finance Director Elena Adair’s forecast that, if all of the additional spending proposed for the next two fiscal years were to take place, the “available balance” in the General Fund would drop … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged CalPERS, Carolyn Hogg, Elena Adair, Jill Keimach, Jim Oddie, Kevin Kearney, Kevin Kennedy, Liam Garland, Malia Vella, OPEB, Trish Spencer | 3 Comments

United they stand

Posted on August 28, 2016 by Robert Sullwold

Some time very soon – we predict – a flyer will arrive on Alamedans’ doorsteps or in their mailboxes endorsing candidates for Council, Auditor, Treasurer, and School Board. It will be printed on glossy paper. It will be well-designed and … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged Alamedans United, Ann Marie Gallant, Ann McKereghan, Ben Kim, Benjamin Villegas, Bob Haun, Gray Harris, IAFF Local 689, Jeff Bratzler, Jeff DelBono, Jim Oddie, Kevin Kearney, Kevin Kennedy, Lena Tam, Maria Vella, Marie Gilmore, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Matt Hettich, Mike Henneberry, Mike McMahon, Niel Tam, UCFW Local 5 | 31 Comments

Let the campaign begin!

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Robert Sullwold

The campaign season is now officially open in Alameda, and the Merry-Go-Round is ready to rumble.

Posted in City Hall, Firefighters | Tagged Gray Harris, IAFF Local 689, Janet Kern, Jeff DelBono, Jim Oddie, John Knox White, John Russo, Josie Camacho, Kevin Kearney, Kevin Kennedy, Lena Tam, Malia Vella, Marie Gilmore, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, Trish Spencer | 7 Comments

No wage stagnation to worry about here, Bernie (plus: Muzzle off!)

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Robert Sullwold

“Stagnant wages.” If you’ve been listening to Bernie Sanders’s campaign speeches – any of them – you’ve heard the phrase. According to the Senator, it is “profoundly wrong” that, even as the “billionaire class” rakes in the dough, wages for … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters | Tagged 2013-17 IAFF MOU, 2015-21 IAFF MOU, ACEA, IAFF Local 689, Jim Oddie, John Russo, Kevin Kennedy, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, MCEA, Mike Henneberry, Solana Henneberry, Trish Spencer, Wages | 6 Comments

Putting our money where their mouths are

Posted on September 13, 2015 by Robert Sullwold

Back in June, gloating over a projected $30.8 million balance in the General Fund as of the end of this fiscal year, Council instructed staff to come up with a list of recommendations about how to “allocate” – i.e., spend … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Pensions | Tagged Amy Wooldridge, Bob Haun, CalPERS, Elena Adair, EOC, Estuary Park, Fire station, Frank Matarrese, John Russo, Kevin Kearney, Kevin Kennedy, Liz Warmerdam, OPEB, Trish Spencer, Unfunded liability | 3 Comments

A few words about the budget

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Robert Sullwold

The Merry-Go-Round is willing to wager that Council will not tarry long before approving the two-year General Fund budget to be presented Tuesday. And why should it? Those on the dais will be told that the budget projects a $1.2 … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall | Tagged Elena Adair, Frank Matarrese, General Fund, John Russo, Kevin Kennedy, Liz Warmerdam, Paul Rolleri | Leave a comment

Whom do you trust?

Posted on May 3, 2015 by Robert Sullwold

All right, dear readers, the Merry-Go-Round has a question for you: Suppose you wanted an authoritative evaluation of the impact on the City’s financial condition of a proposed deal between the City and its public safety unions that establishes a … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged Fiscal Sustainability Committee, Frank Matarrese, IAFF Local 689, John Russo, Kevin Kearney, Kevin Kennedy, Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, OPEB, Other postemployment benefits, Pension/OPEB Task Force, Tony Daysog, Trish Spencer | 11 Comments

The proposed public safety union contracts

Posted on April 19, 2015 by Robert Sullwold

We’re sure that, if anyone heeded the exhortation by Vice Mayor Frank Matarrese to begin studying the proposed new public safety union contracts as soon as they were posted Tuesday afternoon, it was readers of the Merry-Go-Round. After all, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Firefighters, Pensions | Tagged 2013-17 IAFF MOU, 2015-21 IAFF MOU, Bartel and Associates, CalPERS, Frank Matarrese, IAFF Local 689, John Russo, Kevin Kennedy, OPEB, Other postemployment benefits, Retiree health insurance | 5 Comments

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