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Would-be Charlestown city councilor would eliminate Charlestown-based holiday
By adamg on Fri, 06/12/2009 - 5:02pm
Chris Kulikoski, running against incumbent Sal LaMattina in district 1 (North End, East Boston and Charlestown) says he would work to eliminate Bunker Hill Day and Evacuation Day as paid city holidays:
Boston has a proud history and Bunker Hill Day and Evacuation Day are certainly part of that history. However, when the city, the state and the country are in a financial crisis, now is the time to look at saving taxpayer money and to phase out these holidays for city workers. When we are potentially laying off school teachers, police and firefighters, it is irresponsible to defend these benefits that ordinary taxpayers don’t enjoy. We all love holidays, but I would suggest that if city councilors and city workers want those days off, they take a personal day - like the rest of us have to.
The city council this week passed a resolution - sponsored by LaMattina - to oppose efforts in the state legislature to eliminate the two holidays, on which city and state workers, and public-school students, in Suffolk County get paid days off.
Bunker Hill Day is this Wednesday.
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Comments
Hahahahahaha good luck to
Hahahahahaha good luck to him
Hey guys there is a holiday dedicated to the landmark in your part of town, Im gonna take that holiday away!
See how far that gets him, I say ten paces in cement shoes over the Zakim bridge.
Still a Holiday
He isn't taking any holiday away - just stopping city workers from getting paid for it. They can still celebrate it, like the people who have a real job! After all these city workers have personal days that they can use if they care that much about these holidays.
Bunker Hill Day
This guy sounds like a 'Toonie' not a 'Townie'.
Link?
Link?
Not yet
His Web site is still under construction. But since you asked, here's the complete e-mail I got:
PRESS RELEASE
June 11th, 2009
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KULIKOSKI CALLS FOR ELIMINATION OF EVACUATION DAY & BUNKER HILL DAY PAID HOLIDAYS
District 1 City Council candidate Chris Kulikoski today called for the elimination of the paid holidays for Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day.
"Boston has a proud history and Bunker Hill Day and Evacuation Day are certainly part of that history. However, when the city, the state and the country are in a financial crisis, now is the time to look at saving taxpayer money and to phase out these holidays for city workers."
Kulikoski spoke following a Boston City Council resolution affirming that city workers should continue to get the two holidays off - fully paid. District 1 City Councilor, Sal LaMattina, introduced the resolution - which passed 11-2 - this week.
"When we are potentially laying off school teachers, police and firefighters, it is irresponsible to defend these benefits that ordinary taxpayers don't enjoy. We all love holidays, but I would suggest that if city councilors and city workers want those days off, they take a personal day - like the rest of us have to."
Kulikoski, a veteran who served in Kuwait, noted that many people working in the private sector don't get Veteran's Day as a paid holiday - but many choose to take it as a personal day.
"If the regular folk of Boston need to use a personal day to honor our veterans, I don't think that it is too much to ask that people lucky enough to have a good job with the city, use a personal day to celebrate Evacuation Day or Bunker Hill Day."
"If we want to move our city forward, we need to focus on spending our resources wisely and effectively. Paid holidays - exclusively for city workers - is not just disrepectful to taxpayers…it is irresponsible management of taxpayer's money." Reports have suggested that eliminating the paid holidays could save as much as $5 million a year.
#30
I totally agree. If our own
I totally agree. If our own veterans who risk their lives don't receive paid time off for Veterans ' Day, then how can we justify these "hack holidays" with a weak economy. I love Bunker Hill Day as much as the next guy, but I certainly don't get it off. Save some tax dollars...sounds like a great idea.
How does this save the city
How does this save the city money?
Many places are CLOSING office space more, thereby SAVING money by not having to provide resources for those workers for that day.
I think this will COST the city money.
The difference is that a lot
The difference is that a lot of times, those are unpaid furlough days. Sure, you save some money by not having the building open for a day. But you save far more money by not paying the workers.
Here, this would make sure workers are working on days they get paid for when these days are a cultural quirk of some geographical areas of the state. The traditionalist in me is appalled; the tightwad in me is pleased.
Adam Announces a Third Suffolk Holiday
The Adam Gaffin Bunker Hill Day Holiday for Suffolk County Employees is this coming Monday.
Will I be celebrating it on Monday? Nope. I'll instead have to take a day off work on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 in order to watch the young-one who's got that day off -- Bunker Hill Day itself -- from school in the Boston Public Schools.
How about you? Which day next week are you going to celebrate Bunker Hill Day? Discuss.
Yes
Yes - I will be celebrating Bunker Hill Day tomorrow - because it is a Sunday and I will be off work. My corporate masters refuse to give me Bunker Hill Day off at full pay! Unbelievable! I think I should go on strike!