I was a Hereford zone kid. Oh the good ol’ days.

I don’t disagree with your point. It is valid. But business owners would have a vested interest in reducing crime in the city and making it more appealing for visitors with money to visit the city. Not saying they also wouldn’t do shady things for their own benefit. It’s really a challenge to get decent people and give them the support to make change.

Maybe I am misinformed, but I know someone who works for the city and is part of a union. He gets a pension, but told me that new hires no longer have the option. They have 401k only.

Thank you for clarifying that question. Now that it is clarified (not full or immediate), I agree it’s inconsequential now, but what about in 20 years? When dozens could have worked 8 years, turned 65, and now collect? Is that sustainable for Baltimore city government? Honestly interested in your opinion.

And is this situation uniquely American? If so, why does the monarchy exist? Why does the caste system still exist (even if legally it doesn’t)? What you have said sounds good, but given your lack of response to how to put anything in action, the responses seem to simply parrot popular views, but lack substance.

I plan on researching organizations with successful ballot changes. Maybe I can volunteer and be part of a group to make change. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and experience.

So not significantly more than all police? And then if you factor in full time vs part time work?

Are you sure? From what I see a baltimore city police officer makes $60-105k at a full time position. A council member makes $76-135k and many of those positions are considered part time.

Good idea. How do we do that?

Thank you! This is the type of response I was hoping for. How individuals can realistically take action. Thanks again.

Do the jobs that give partial pensions after 3 years start paying that pension immediately or only after the person turns 65?

In the case of the council members, do their pension payments start after 8 years or after they turn 65? That makes a difference for sustainability in the long term.

For example, the police are vested after 10 years. If they leave after 10 years, they will get a small pension after turning 65 years old. They are fully vested after 25 years. That means that after 25 years of service they get pension payments regardless of their age. Someone correct me if I’m wrong please.

How do I, a voter, ask something of my elected officials and actually be heard?

How does an individual go about lobbying?

How does one go about doing this?

And from my understanding some city positions no longer have a pension option at all anymore for new hires.

You have a lot of good responses. You have suggested that city residents can create legislation to try and overturn the pension ruling or lobby for workers rights, but haven’t said how. How, do I, a single person, go about lobbying? How do I start legislation? I’m not being sarcastic. I’m honestly asking to be educated. What is my starting point to act rather than just talk? For example, the person who responded to email the mayor and provided a link. That is actionable. That is an example of what I’m hoping to learn.

No one gets their full salary as their pension, but do they get this pension immediately after 8 years or after turning 65? That does make a difference for sustainability.

Aren’t our elected officials supposed to do this for us too? But as demonstrated here, they vote that police should work 5 years longer to qualify for pension and they should work 4 years less. I agree, corporate America has issues. That is why we need elected officials who give a crap about us and not just themselves.

I’m glad we’re having this conversation. I took it to mean 8 years full pension because when the police pension was revised, they said it changed from 20 to 25 years. That is for the full pension. Nobody talked about their partial pension after 10 years. We definitely need clarification of this point.

Are you really Nick Mosby? This sounds like how he would respond.

That’s a fair point, but correct me if I’m wrong, if you leave after 10 years you are vested and will receive a small pension, but won’t get paid that pension until you’re 65. To receive a full pension, with immediate payments, you may have to work 30 years. Whereas, in the instance of city council members, they are going to receive their full pension after 8 years of service and will receive it immediately, rather than only after turning 65 years old. That equates to decades more of payout to these council members when compared to other government employees. It doesn’t seem sustainable.

I will email the Mayor. Thank you.

I might try to be a Robert Stokes. 8 years to work part time while making 70k+ / year and then get a pension? Seems better then the 40+ years I will spend working full time while contributing to my 401k with no guarantees.

city councilmember salary / perks

Is there any other job you can do for 8 or 12 years and have a pension for life? If these positions don’t offer such a compelling financial benefit then maybe self-serving individuals wouldn’t be interested and people who want to better their community would be in these positions instead.