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The Postman Always Rings Twice March/April 2008 They say “the postman always rings twice.” I’m not exactly the postman, but I’m back anyway, “ringing” again. Some of you who have been around a while will remember that I had the honor of serving you as OCEA President from 1993 through the year 2000—from before the County’s 1994 bankruptcy and extending several years after that. And now, here I am again! I want to begin by saying “thank you” to our Board of Directors, which has skillfully guided us through difficult times over the past few years, for their commitment and for the sacrifices they have made for the good of our OCEA membership. I especially want to single-out Sara Ruckle-Harms for her friendship and leadership during the past year, during which she served as OCEA President. Sara is planning to retire this summer, and it will be difficult to say goodbye to her! It has now been a little over fifteen years since I wrote my first OCEA President’s message, in January 1993. Looking at it again now, I see that the big picture hasn’t changed much. At that time, I wrote: “Lastly, in looking to the New Year ahead, it’s no secret that this will be the most challenging year for OCEA in a long time.” But then, as now, I expressed optimism that our team would get through it all—as, of course, we did. I little suspected at the beginning of 1993 that less than two years later the County would be filing for bankruptcy. But we got through that, too, and those of you who were members then will remember that OCEA played a key role in opposing layoffs, and in getting us all through the bankruptcy and its aftermath. In any event, this year the challenges we face are clear cut. We are continuing to withstand attacks on our pensions and medical benefits, and we are striking back at those people who want to balance state and local budgets on the backs of our members. In coming months, you’ll be hearing more and more from OCEA about the diminishing (and disappearing) middle class, and about OCEA’s role in helping to preserve the middle class. We talk about the disappearing middle class, but does that apply to us in “affluent” Orange County? You better believe it! Consider the following, from a 2006 article in the Orange County Register: Victor Becerra, director of UCI’s Community Outreach Partnership Center, said the latest data on incomes “exacerbates the claim by many, which I think is true, that Orange County is economically bifurcated. You have the wealthy and then you have the poor. And increasingly shrinking, very rapidly, is the middle class. “The long-term implications in terms of a bifurcation can’t be healthy,” and will hurt the county’s image with people who might otherwise want to move or travel here, Becerra said. Overall, people in Orange County tend to earn more money than elsewhere (even though we have a poverty level of around 9%). But in spite of these higher earnings, it is hard for many of us—perhaps most of us—to make ends meet. Car expenses, including gasoline, are a nightmare in our car-based culture. How about housing? If you are renting, forget it! You are paying sky-high rents and there is little room for any tax-deductions to decrease that burden. It’s even harder for those of us with children. A lot of us have childcare or preschool expenses that can easily run $4,000 per year—for one child. Typical childcare expenses in families with two children are often in the $12,000 range, depending largely on the ages of the children. If you are choosy about which schools your kids are going to attend—well, so is everybody else! The result is even higher housing costs. So, our work is cut out for us. Let’s keep informed, and let’s stay focused on our goals as OCEA members during the coming year. In conclusion, remember: I’m “ringing twice.” And if you’ll give me the same kind of support which you offered the fist time I rang, we’ll do fine. Here’s to a great 2008! —Frank Eley |