" Sounds like political spin to me. Typical union boss statement trying to justify higher taxes, to be used for increased pay for a bunch of high school educated employees who gave up a pay hike to get 3% per year retirement at 50. Which means we will be paying these high school graduateds 100% of their pay at retirement Pontecorvo, you are too Greedy and just another polical union boss out for its own benefits and to dam with the tax payer and the city budget-whcih you do not care about. Frankly you guys do a terrible job as seen in the Galieck mess. "

" The reason for the clarification regarding the statement has nothing to do with politics. I wanted you the citzen to have the correct facts, not some spin on a story. HPOA doesn't have the 3%@50 Retirement, which most of the agencies that HPD is compared with has. Under the PERS retirement system you don't get 100% of your pay. Your refrence to Galieck, He was convicted of murder 10 years ago! Not bad for a "bunch of High School educated employees". For your information most of our officers have college degrees. Regarding taxes, several cities like Visalia, Porterville, Dinuba, Merced, Tulare to name a few has used a 1/4 to 1/2 cent sale tax to help pay for public safety (Police and Fire). Think about it, I pay taxes too. Now on your commits that I'm "Greedy" a "Typical Union Boss", and I don't care about tax payers or the city budget, I will have to disagree with you, But feel free to call me anytime and I will be glad to talk to you and anwser all your questions. Richard Pontecorvo HPOA President "

" When senior staff leave any company the level of service to the customer goes down, that is just business 101. For an organization as important as the local police to lose senior staff because of something as easily correctable as competative pay is a sin. We as citizens complain about taxes and sure nobody wants to pay more taxes, but we have to decide what is more important to us our safety, or a couple of extra bucks a year. "

" When you guys endorsed Pointing for Sheriff I was told it was a done deal for the DSA because Pointing promised and would give the DSA everthing they wanted. That makes you a political organization and you have lost my trust. I always voted for the jai etc no more. You do not care about hanford or the county, you do nothing but politial organizing. Need to go back to being just a police association and stay out of politcis, it is a dirty game and the truth is not valued. "