[Clarification]

In regards to the "30 under 30" story that ran in the January 28-February 4 issue, Blue Label Bartending and Blue Label Bartending School are separate entities. The article stated that the school mainly focused on private parties and events; however, the bartending school trains for bars, restaurants, etc., while the service provides professional bartenders for private parties and events.

Stand Up Straight

Dear Editor:

Throughout the past few weeks, all I have heard is talks about layoffs, "bump downs," and pay cuts for City of Tulsa employees. The Mayors office has been very good about vocalizing the need for the unions to reduce their pay.

What really gigs me right now is that we, the citizenry of Tulsa, elected an individual who claimed that he wanted to be our Mayor for the next few years. This individual stated that he had the leadership skills to run the City of Tulsa.

Mayor Bartlett asked for recommendations from the police and fire chiefs. Mayor Bartlett received those reduction suggestions from the Fire and Police Chiefs. Mayor Bartlett was not happy with those proposals. They each were in line with the agreements between those unions and the City of Tulsa. Mayor Bartlett stated that he had his own plan on cost-saving measures.

Mayor Bartlett openly speaks to the firefighters local and the FOP. Mayor Bartlett speaks hoping not to be sued if his plans take effect. Mayor Bartlett says many things in each meeting. But Mayor Bartlett also stands silent on the solution to the problem.

I was shocked as I sat and listened to the Mayor speak. Mayor Bartlett came right out front and said that he had not read the collective bargaining unit agreement with the City of Tulsa and the FOP. Mayor Bartlett admitted that he had no idea what the document contained. Mayor Bartlett had very little knowledge of the Fire and Police Arbitration Act (FPAA). Mayor Bartlett spent a majority of the time speaking about what he did not know.

This is a man, who, while running for office, said he knew how to operate a business. But how can you operate an office if you do not understand the keystones of collective bargaining agreements?

Mayor Bartlett says he came up with a plan. It took months to develop that plan. And yet he was only willing to allow the fire fighters and FOP one week to consider the plan.

Mayor Bartlett now sits in the glass house and speaks about his plan. Mayor Bartlett speaks about how the brotherhood and sisterhood will save the city. Mayor Bartlett is pulling the strings of the citizens of Tulsa and the surrounding area. Mayor Bartlett is speaking to the people and saying that they can save themselves.

This is no more than Salem Witch trials. Take a woman who was accused of witchcraft. Tie her up. Add a few bricks and toss her in the water. A witch would be able to save themselves. How many times did the poor innocent people die? Are we willing to allow the poor and innocent die?

I am not sure about you, but this logic really pisses me off. When people voted for Mayor Bartlett, they wanted a leader. They looked at him and noticed that he was saying things like having the experience needed to run the city. Well, have you noticed that he is not running the city? Have you noticed that he is not accomplishing the task in which the majority voted?

I would hope that the Mayor of the City of Tulsa would be able to make decisions. Tough decisions are never easy. Mayor Bartlett was handed a large deficit and was told by the voters to fix it. After all, he stated that he had the knowledge and the business savvy to operate this city.

But where is Mayor Bartlett? Mayor Bartlett is hiding behind the sympathy of all the citizens who have been laid off. Mayor Bartlett is hiding behind all those citizens who have had a pay reduction. Mayor Bartlett is hiding behind the decision that he should be making.

Well, if Mayor Bartlett wants the fire fighters local and the FOP to make this important decision for him, I think that he should remove his Chief of Staff. Remove all those he hired to assist him in running the City of Tulsa. After all, it would be cheaper to go to the Fire Fighters Local and the FOP and ask for business advice. You won't have to pay them extra, they are already city employees.

If you are in the Mayor's office, move over, because the Mayor of the City of Tulsa has just asked the Fire Fighters Local and the FOP to run the city. These two groups had been asked to be a part of a very important decision and make a very significant contribution to the City of Tulsa. Apparently, they were asked because he couldn't make this important decision.

I have heard the citizens of Tulsa speak about how unions have destroyed the economy. I have heard them say that the unions are the ones breaking the systems. I have heard nothing but evil when it comes to unions.

Well, if the FOP is the Union, then this collective bargaining unit deserves praise. The men and women who have participated on the negotiations team should, without a doubt, receive a wonderful standing ovation from all the citizens of Tulsa.

Because the FOP has not just negotiated contract provisions for the employees, they have made the work of public safety a priority. This priority has provided provisions for equipment and other essentials systems within the contract. Many of these provisions have provided for safety for officers to patrol the streets. This priority has provided for tools that make working the streets safer. These tools are used to make Tulsa a great place to live and the FOP has made it happen on many occasions.

Many individuals may not know what it means to work under a contract, but there are many Tulsans who do understand this concept. We have contracts for everything. When you do not have a contract, you are often subject to many errors and mistakes that often become very expensive.

Providing for the safety of firemen and police officers is not an easy task. A contract often provides for provisions that require certain situations meet specific needs. These needs are for the firefighters and the officers. However, these needs roll right out to providing an environment that all citizens benefit.

It was the FOP who negotiated the protective vests (often called bullet proof vests). It was their negotiations that provide for vest replacements every five years (the life of that vest). It was based on this premise that replacing the vest would provide for a safer environment for the officers. These vests protect officers and protecting officers keep them on the streets working for the citizens. These vests are so important, that even a young girl decided that vests for K9s were just as important.

The basic question is, "So, if the Mayor of the City of Tulsa cannot make a decision, why is he Mayor?"

Oh yes, we are back to the shrinking behind sympathy. If a fireman or police officer were trying to hide, they would be a coward. Being a coward could get a coworker or citizen hurt or killed.

Come on Mayor Bartlett, make the decision that the Citizens of Tulsa wanted you to make. Run this city like you said you would in your campaign speeches.

Oh, by the way, the FOP offered to save some cash. By working on Compensatory Time only, the city could have a short-term fix of half the money the city is needing to save. It was offered under the last mayor. It should be a consideration for you, too. Because even when you look at us and say this is a short-term fix and I don't like that proposal, wake up. Your idea to save money is also a short-term fix. So, what is the difference between the two? Oh right, you did not have anything to do with coming up with short-term fix the FOP presented.

Mayor Bartlett, if you are afraid of scare tactics, then you might actually be afraid of the criminals who are going to take on this city. They are going to make it their employment grounds, a place of opportunity for gain (money, drugs, etc).

-Robert Fallis