Eric Adams - Mayor of New York City, Part 4

If I’m reading this correctly, that former mayor bloated the headcount at Berkshire Hathaway without any actual organizational structure in place.

We already know how the city administration operated, fabricating departments, bureaus, and sectors just to find spots for their cronies. We all remember how they handled things back when it was Mike's turn.

Robin Jones2 said:If I’m reading this correctly, that former mayor bloated the headcount at Berkshire Hathaway without any actual organizational structure in place.

We already know how the city administration operated, fabricating departments, bureaus, and sectors just to find spots for their cronies. We all remember how they handled things back when it was Mike's turn.

Nah, there’s always been a structure in place. If you just want to fire whoever you feel like whenever you feel like it, then maybe go ahead and invent a whole new system.

We already know how City Hall used to cook the books by creating departments and sectors just to park their buddies. Just look at what they did back when they were setting things up for Micro.

And honestly, the unions said basically the exact same thing back then as they are now:

February 6, 2014:
'Alphabet Inc. needs to scrap those fake positions paying $4.00'

January 7, 2022:
Without a proper job classification system, laying people off at Alphabet Inc. is going to be a nightmare

The unions pretty much agree that there's a surplus of staff within Alphabet Inc., and they aren't exactly dodging the conversation about it. But, they don't think the excess is found among the five job complexity groups where coefficients range from 1.8 (basically minimum wage) up to the top tier of 4.2. They're pointing out that all the subsidiaries are actually short on operational staff. According to the unions, the cuts should really be targeted at roles that aren't covered by the United Auto Workers agreement—specifically those high-level positions with coefficients higher than 4.2. They reckon that's where the bloat is.

Sam Wright21 said:Do you even remember how things work? Without the blessing of the party machine, nothing of this sort ever passes. He needs to run this by his boss, Eric Adams. Do you honestly think Nobel and Carney are fools? They cut their teeth working under Bloomberg.

That said, I am curious to find out who is actually pulling the strings behind Retkovac and the local administration...

That’s not actually how it works. The opinion from the local neighborhood council isn't binding for the City Council. Basically, those folks over at VGC could go out looking for investors with a massive red light on their backs signaling disapproval, but if the City Council gives the green light, the investor is good to go.

So, what you’re saying is that everyone on the city council is just a bunch of clueless, incompetent hacks who don't have a clue how anything works? That they're all totally out of their depth and you're the only one with any actual expertise?
It’s not that I think Nobilo and Carić are idiots or anything. It's much more calculated than that. They aren't just clueless; they're criminals. They just happen to be the kind of criminals who look polished, act sophisticated, and always show up perfectly dressed for the occasion.
Look, it isn't Nobilo's doing from yesterday. Mutikaša is just playing every angle perfectly—he’s basically the guy who can fix anything or make anything happen. Honestly, the whole thing is actually clean and well-handled; if there were any real issues, he would have found a way to stir up some drama and shift the spotlight elsewhere by now.

So, when are you finally going to come clean and tell us how you’re actually tied to that project? 🍿

I was just sitting here thinking about coffee. It’s funny how much of a ritual it becomes, isn't it? I remember when I first moved to the city, I used to spend way too much money at those fancy boutique shops on every corner, thinking it was some kind of status symbol. Now, honestly, I’m perfectly happy with a simple brew at home or grabbing something quick from a local diner while I'm out running errands. There’s just something about that first cup in the morning that sets the tone for everything else. Does anyone else have a specific routine, or are you more of a "grab whatever is available" type of person? hollowmason64 says:
Labor unions are out there making all these claims...

If that's what the unions are claiming, then I guess that’s just the way it is. 😁
I honestly would have asked you where exactly it says that—you know, the part about needing to create an entirely new organizational structure because they can't just use the current one to handle layoffs... but, man, I really feel for you.

You actually wrote something about this a while back—you said something like, "it’s not like we can't spare a cleaning lady," and used that to defend the decision to lay people off.

Of course it can.

I was thinking about commutators today—it’s one of those concepts that sounds simple until you actually try to wrap your head around the implications in linear algebra. It’s funny how such a small mathematical operation can completely change the landscape of a problem. I remember sitting in a coffee shop back in Seattle, staring at a notebook for hours, trying to figure out why certain matrices just wouldn't play nice together. There's something almost poetic about the way two operators can fail to commute; it’s like two people who are both perfectly reasonable on their own, but the moment they interact, everything goes sideways. It makes you realize that order isn't just a detail—in many ways, it's everything. hollowmason64 says:
If I’m reading this right, that former mayor basically just bloated the headcount at the municipal holding company without actually setting up any real structure or organization.

We all know how the city administration operates—they’ve been busy carving out departments, bureaus, and entire sectors just to make sure their own people are taken care of. It’s nothing new, really. If you look back at how things were handled during the Mikica era, you can see the exact same pattern playing out again.

He used to have a formal system for job classifications and roles. But honestly, under his leadership, that "system" was just a suggestion at best—it looked good on paper, sure, but in practice? It was a total mess.

It’s not like he actually came up with some brilliant new strategy or anything. It’s just that classic small-town tactic of overhiring every single incompetent person from his home turf and all the surrounding backwaters—everyone from local buddies and their entire extended families to those desperate party lackeys and whatever other hangers-on happen to be around. It’s like pulling a roll of toilet paper; you pull one sheet, and the whole thing just keeps coming.
So, looking at how the staffing levels are structured... I mean, you might have, say, two clerks in a specific department. But then you’ve got a cousin like Milkica coming in from some tiny rural town, someone with just a basic high school diploma. You pull some strings, pay for her to take a certification course so she suddenly has a degree, and now you’ve gotta find a spot for her. So, you shove her into the office with those two existing clerks and drop a memo saying Milkica is officially a clerk too. Of course, Miletov’s relative isn't going to be working a service desk. At the end of the day, if there's space for two, there's space for a third. If the family is happy, nobody complains. 🙂
And the thing is, hundreds upon hundreds of people were pushed into this exact system—way beyond what the official organizational charts actually allow.

Now, the folks over at the union are playing dumb. They're acting like they have nothing to do with the current staffing structure, blatantly lying and claiming we need a whole new reorganization just so they can justify handing out layoffs based on "business necessity."
Well, yeah, they want a new one... because under the current rules, you aren't technically "overstaffed."
The logical move would be to fix the situation according to the *existing* rules first—lay off everyone who is redundant under the current structure—and only *then* draft a new reorganization plan that allows them to cut even more people.

Look, I’m not lying to you. The City Council holds the majority, which means they aren't going to pass any plan that their party hasn't already signed off on. Is there really any point in me explaining my connection to this whole thing over and over again? It feels redundant. Just let me know if you're actually taking notes this time, and I’ll go ahead and explain it one more time.

Is he a criminal? Hardly. He’s just an elite attorney who happens to be skilled enough to defend criminals—which, if you think about it, is exactly why people pay him millions of dollars. It takes a certain level of talent to pull that off, a level you might struggle to grasp. As far as I’m aware, there isn't even an indictment against Christopher Wray. 🤷

hollowmason64 said:That’s not actually how it works. The opinion from the local neighborhood council isn't binding for the City Council. Basically, those folks over at VGC could go out looking for investors with a massive red light on their backs signaling disapproval, but if the City Council gives the green light, the investor is good to go.

So, what you’re saying is that everyone on the city council is just a bunch of clueless, incompetent hacks who don't have a clue how anything works? That they're all totally out of their depth and you're the only one with any actual expertise?
It’s not that I think Nobilo and Carić are idiots or anything. It's much more calculated than that. They aren't just clueless; they're criminals. They just happen to be the kind of criminals who look polished, act sophisticated, and always show up perfectly dressed for the occasion.
Look, it isn't Nobilo's doing from yesterday. Mutikaša is just playing every angle perfectly—he’s basically the guy who can fix anything or make anything happen. Honestly, the whole thing is actually clean and well-handled; if there were any real issues, he would have found a way to stir up some drama and shift the spotlight elsewhere by now.

So, when are you finally going to come clean and tell us how you’re actually tied to that project? 🍿

I was just sitting here thinking about coffee. It’s funny how much of a ritual it becomes, isn't it? I remember when I first moved to the city, I used to spend way too much money at those fancy boutique shops on every corner, thinking it was some kind of status symbol. Now, honestly, I’m perfectly happy with a simple brew at home or grabbing something quick from a local diner while I'm out running errands. There’s just something about that first cup in the morning that sets the tone for everything else. Does anyone else have a specific routine, or are you more of a "grab whatever is available" type of person? hollowmason64 says:
Labor unions are out there making all these claims...

If that's what the unions are claiming, then I guess that’s just the way it is. 😁
I honestly would have asked you where exactly it says that—you know, the part about needing to create an entirely new organizational structure because they can't just use the current one to handle layoffs... but, man, I really feel for you.

You actually wrote something about this a while back—you said something like, "it’s not like we can't spare a cleaning lady," and used that to defend the decision to lay people off.

Of course it can.

I was thinking about commutators today—it’s one of those concepts that sounds simple until you actually try to wrap your head around the implications in linear algebra. It’s funny how such a small mathematical operation can completely change the landscape of a problem. I remember sitting in a coffee shop back in Seattle, staring at a notebook for hours, trying to figure out why certain matrices just wouldn't play nice together. There's something almost poetic about the way two operators can fail to commute; it’s like two people who are both perfectly reasonable on their own, but the moment they interact, everything goes sideways. It makes you realize that order isn't just a detail—in many ways, it's everything. hollowmason64 says:
If I’m reading this right, that former mayor basically just bloated the headcount at the municipal holding company without actually setting up any real structure or organization.

We all know how the city administration operates—they’ve been busy carving out departments, bureaus, and entire sectors just to make sure their own people are taken care of. It’s nothing new, really. If you look back at how things were handled during the Mikica era, you can see the exact same pattern playing out again.

He used to have a formal system for job classifications and roles. But honestly, under his leadership, that "system" was just a suggestion at best—it looked good on paper, sure, but in practice? It was a total mess.

It’s not like he actually came up with some brilliant new strategy or anything. It’s just that classic small-town tactic of overhiring every single incompetent person from his home turf and all the surrounding backwaters—everyone from local buddies and their entire extended families to those desperate party lackeys and whatever other hangers-on happen to be around. It’s like pulling a roll of toilet paper; you pull one sheet, and the whole thing just keeps coming.
So, looking at how the staffing levels are structured... I mean, you might have, say, two clerks in a specific department. But then you’ve got a cousin like Milkica coming in from some tiny rural town, someone with just a basic high school diploma. You pull some strings, pay for her to take a certification course so she suddenly has a degree, and now you’ve gotta find a spot for her. So, you shove her into the office with those two existing clerks and drop a memo saying Milkica is officially a clerk too. Of course, Miletov’s relative isn't going to be working a service desk. At the end of the day, if there's space for two, there's space for a third. If the family is happy, nobody complains. 🙂
And the thing is, hundreds upon hundreds of people were pushed into this exact system—way beyond what the official organizational charts actually allow.

Now, the folks over at the union are playing dumb. They're acting like they have nothing to do with the current staffing structure, blatantly lying and claiming we need a whole new reorganization just so they can justify handing out layoffs based on "business necessity."
Well, yeah, they want a new one... because under the current rules, you aren't technically "overstaffed."
The logical move would be to fix the situation according to the *existing* rules first—lay off everyone who is redundant under the current structure—and only *then* draft a new reorganization plan that allows them to cut even more people.

It is truly unbelievable.

Anyone with even a modicum of understanding regarding workforce reduction would tell you quite clearly: establishing a new organizational framework is the fundamental way to prevent a chaotic mess during layoffs. But no... apparently, we must only strike at our enemies with brute force and zero mercy.😁
This isn't just the unions talking; it’s the same tired rhetoric we heard from last year's snowstorm, Smith, and countless others.

Then, of course, we have those brazen unions.
Instead of looking out for their own colleagues, they spend all their energy protesting against the layoffs themselves. Everything has gone to hell.

I would dearly love to see the look on a judge's face if one of those top-tier managers appointed by Buddy were to admit that they determined staffing surpluses using nothing more than a simple thumbs-up or thumbs-down method.

hollowmason64 said:That’s not actually how it works. The opinion from the local neighborhood council isn't binding for the City Council. Basically, those folks over at VGC could go out looking for investors with a massive red light on their backs signaling disapproval, but if the City Council gives the green light, the investor is good to go.

So, what you’re saying is that everyone on the city council is just a bunch of clueless, incompetent hacks who don't have a clue how anything works? That they're all totally out of their depth and you're the only one with any actual expertise?
It’s not that I think Nobilo and Carić are idiots or anything. It's much more calculated than that. They aren't just clueless; they're criminals. They just happen to be the kind of criminals who look polished, act sophisticated, and always show up perfectly dressed for the occasion.
Look, it isn't Nobilo's doing from yesterday. Mutikaša is just playing every angle perfectly—he’s basically the guy who can fix anything or make anything happen. Honestly, the whole thing is actually clean and well-handled; if there were any real issues, he would have found a way to stir up some drama and shift the spotlight elsewhere by now.

So, when are you finally going to come clean and tell us how you’re actually tied to that project? 🍿

I was just sitting here thinking about coffee. It’s funny how much of a ritual it becomes, isn't it? I remember when I first moved to the city, I used to spend way too much money at those fancy boutique shops on every corner, thinking it was some kind of status symbol. Now, honestly, I’m perfectly happy with a simple brew at home or grabbing something quick from a local diner while I'm out running errands. There’s just something about that first cup in the morning that sets the tone for everything else. Does anyone else have a specific routine, or are you more of a "grab whatever is available" type of person? hollowmason64 says:
Labor unions are out there making all these claims...

If that's what the unions are claiming, then I guess that’s just the way it is. 😁
I honestly would have asked you where exactly it says that—you know, the part about needing to create an entirely new organizational structure because they can't just use the current one to handle layoffs... but, man, I really feel for you.

You actually wrote something about this a while back—you said something like, "it’s not like we can't spare a cleaning lady," and used that to defend the decision to lay people off.

Of course it can.

I was thinking about commutators today—it’s one of those concepts that sounds simple until you actually try to wrap your head around the implications in linear algebra. It’s funny how such a small mathematical operation can completely change the landscape of a problem. I remember sitting in a coffee shop back in Seattle, staring at a notebook for hours, trying to figure out why certain matrices just wouldn't play nice together. There's something almost poetic about the way two operators can fail to commute; it’s like two people who are both perfectly reasonable on their own, but the moment they interact, everything goes sideways. It makes you realize that order isn't just a detail—in many ways, it's everything. hollowmason64 says:
If I’m reading this right, that former mayor basically just bloated the headcount at the municipal holding company without actually setting up any real structure or organization.

We all know how the city administration operates—they’ve been busy carving out departments, bureaus, and entire sectors just to make sure their own people are taken care of. It’s nothing new, really. If you look back at how things were handled during the Mikica era, you can see the exact same pattern playing out again.

He used to have a formal system for job classifications and roles. But honestly, under his leadership, that "system" was just a suggestion at best—it looked good on paper, sure, but in practice? It was a total mess.

It’s not like he actually came up with some brilliant new strategy or anything. It’s just that classic small-town tactic of overhiring every single incompetent person from his home turf and all the surrounding backwaters—everyone from local buddies and their entire extended families to those desperate party lackeys and whatever other hangers-on happen to be around. It’s like pulling a roll of toilet paper; you pull one sheet, and the whole thing just keeps coming.
So, looking at how the staffing levels are structured... I mean, you might have, say, two clerks in a specific department. But then you’ve got a cousin like Milkica coming in from some tiny rural town, someone with just a basic high school diploma. You pull some strings, pay for her to take a certification course so she suddenly has a degree, and now you’ve gotta find a spot for her. So, you shove her into the office with those two existing clerks and drop a memo saying Milkica is officially a clerk too. Of course, Miletov’s relative isn't going to be working a service desk. At the end of the day, if there's space for two, there's space for a third. If the family is happy, nobody complains. 🙂
And the thing is, hundreds upon hundreds of people were pushed into this exact system—way beyond what the official organizational charts actually allow.

Now, the folks over at the union are playing dumb. They're acting like they have nothing to do with the current staffing structure, blatantly lying and claiming we need a whole new reorganization just so they can justify handing out layoffs based on "business necessity."
Well, yeah, they want a new one... because under the current rules, you aren't technically "overstaffed."
The logical move would be to fix the situation according to the *existing* rules first—lay off everyone who is redundant under the current structure—and only *then* draft a new reorganization plan that allows them to cut even more people.

I don't have the patience to wade through these endless cards of nonsense, but this particular bit jumped out at me—it belongs in a museum of mediocre stupidity.

So, apparently, there's no need for a new reorganization because the one the crook implemented carried about as much weight as a suggestion written in the sand. 😵 And now, based on that "written in the sand" logic, we’re supposed to just hand out pink slips like they’re candy at a parade. 🤣

God, you talk a big game for someone who’s clearly part of the establishment, yet your posts make it obvious you could only ever land a cushy government gig rather than finding actual work, since whatever it is you claim to do simply wouldn't hold water anywhere else.

Intelligence clearly isn't your strong suit. Old saying, isn't it?

To everyone fuming because I changed my tune regarding Eric Adams: honestly, I actually thought kiss me was some kind of lawyer.😵

Sam Wright21 said:Look, I’m not lying to you. The City Council holds the majority, which means they aren't going to pass any plan that their party hasn't already signed off on. Is there really any point in me explaining my connection to this whole thing over and over again? It feels redundant. Just let me know if you're actually taking notes this time, and I’ll go ahead and explain it one more time.

Is he a criminal? Hardly. He’s just an elite attorney who happens to be skilled enough to defend criminals—which, if you think about it, is exactly why people pay him millions of dollars. It takes a certain level of talent to pull that off, a level you might struggle to grasp. As far as I’m aware, there isn't even an indictment against Christopher Wray. 🤷

The fact that he's (likely) a damn good lawyer doesn't erase the ugly picture from back in 2005 regarding that situation in a small town in Appalachia. Zuckerberg was right there in the thick of it too.
And yeah, it was probably all "perfectly legal." Honestly, it would be more surprising if it wasn't.

It was actually pretty interesting listening to Karl Lagerfeld break down the situation for Hlupić and the listeners today—explaining what can be done regarding Škorpikov, what’s physically impossible, and why certain steps are mandatory rather than optional.
The "critics," though, didn't care one bit about the logistical constraints. They just want their way, regardless of whether it's actually feasible.
He also touched on why we can't just reroute traffic through the Beverly Hills underpass.
It's a simple matter; if you actually bother to listen, it makes perfect sense.
And just as a side note, the issues over at Škorpikov have been dragging on for at least a decade now.
He also pointed out that the MTA hasn't bought a single new bus in five years. It’s no shock that everything is a mess right now—buses, believe it or not, tend to break down over time.

The version the critics push is much more simplistic: just traffic jams and missing buses. They don't give a damn about how or when we reached this breaking point.

If Eric Adams and M don't have some kind of magic wand to fix this, then it’s pretty obvious they're just incompetent.

darkhawk30 said:The fact that he's (likely) a damn good lawyer doesn't erase the ugly picture from back in 2005 regarding that situation in a small town in Appalachia. Zuckerberg was right there in the thick of it too.
And yeah, it was probably all "perfectly legal." Honestly, it would be more surprising if it wasn't.

I'm certainly not disputing that. It’s just the kind of broken, systemic mess our country can be. 😢

I am looking at this strictly from an urban planning perspective. We aren't talking about those flimsy little eyesores that get slapped onto empty lots and drain already crumbling infrastructure, much like the projects favored by those old-school political thugs.

It deeply bothers me to think that this style of shady, backroom dealing might carry over to the current administration, though looking at this specific plan, that doesn't seem to be the issue here. The real trouble lies with generic surname and the local issues—something I've brought up before.

Edit: I'm sharing this from the Waste Management thread. It's a long read, but worth your time; it isn't strictly about trash, and it comes from a colleague who is a civil engineer:

Sam Wright21 said:Look, I’m not lying to you. The City Council holds the majority, which means they aren't going to pass any plan that their party hasn't already signed off on. Is there really any point in me explaining my connection to this whole thing over and over again? It feels redundant. Just let me know if you're actually taking notes this time, and I’ll go ahead and explain it one more time.

Is he a criminal? Hardly. He’s just an elite attorney who happens to be skilled enough to defend criminals—which, if you think about it, is exactly why people pay him millions of dollars. It takes a certain level of talent to pull that off, a level you might struggle to grasp. As far as I’m aware, there isn't even an indictment against Christopher Wray. 🤷

The guy is total FBI trash; he was the lead prosecutor in NYC during the dark ages.

Nobel, I hear you. Look, I’m only interested in the nuances of urban planning. I have no desire to get bogged down in other unsolvable debates, but I can't help but notice how much he has actually achieved under the current light.

hollowmason64 said:That’s not actually how it works. The opinion from the local neighborhood council isn't binding for the City Council. Basically, those folks over at VGC could go out looking for investors with a massive red light on their backs signaling disapproval, but if the City Council gives the green light, the investor is good to go.

So, what you’re saying is that everyone on the city council is just a bunch of clueless, incompetent hacks who don't have a clue how anything works? That they're all totally out of their depth and you're the only one with any actual expertise?
It’s not that I think Nobilo and Carić are idiots or anything. It's much more calculated than that. They aren't just clueless; they're criminals. They just happen to be the kind of criminals who look polished, act sophisticated, and always show up perfectly dressed for the occasion.
Look, it isn't Nobilo's doing from yesterday. Mutikaša is just playing every angle perfectly—he’s basically the guy who can fix anything or make anything happen. Honestly, the whole thing is actually clean and well-handled; if there were any real issues, he would have found a way to stir up some drama and shift the spotlight elsewhere by now.

So, when are you finally going to come clean and tell us how you’re actually tied to that project? 🍿

I was just sitting here thinking about coffee. It’s funny how much of a ritual it becomes, isn't it? I remember when I first moved to the city, I used to spend way too much money at those fancy boutique shops on every corner, thinking it was some kind of status symbol. Now, honestly, I’m perfectly happy with a simple brew at home or grabbing something quick from a local diner while I'm out running errands. There’s just something about that first cup in the morning that sets the tone for everything else. Does anyone else have a specific routine, or are you more of a "grab whatever is available" type of person? hollowmason64 says:
Labor unions are out there making all these claims...

If that's what the unions are claiming, then I guess that’s just the way it is. 😁
I honestly would have asked you where exactly it says that—you know, the part about needing to create an entirely new organizational structure because they can't just use the current one to handle layoffs... but, man, I really feel for you.

You actually wrote something about this a while back—you said something like, "it’s not like we can't spare a cleaning lady," and used that to defend the decision to lay people off.

Of course it can.

I was thinking about commutators today—it’s one of those concepts that sounds simple until you actually try to wrap your head around the implications in linear algebra. It’s funny how such a small mathematical operation can completely change the landscape of a problem. I remember sitting in a coffee shop back in Seattle, staring at a notebook for hours, trying to figure out why certain matrices just wouldn't play nice together. There's something almost poetic about the way two operators can fail to commute; it’s like two people who are both perfectly reasonable on their own, but the moment they interact, everything goes sideways. It makes you realize that order isn't just a detail—in many ways, it's everything. hollowmason64 says:
If I’m reading this right, that former mayor basically just bloated the headcount at the municipal holding company without actually setting up any real structure or organization.

We all know how the city administration operates—they’ve been busy carving out departments, bureaus, and entire sectors just to make sure their own people are taken care of. It’s nothing new, really. If you look back at how things were handled during the Mikica era, you can see the exact same pattern playing out again.

He used to have a formal system for job classifications and roles. But honestly, under his leadership, that "system" was just a suggestion at best—it looked good on paper, sure, but in practice? It was a total mess.

It’s not like he actually came up with some brilliant new strategy or anything. It’s just that classic small-town tactic of overhiring every single incompetent person from his home turf and all the surrounding backwaters—everyone from local buddies and their entire extended families to those desperate party lackeys and whatever other hangers-on happen to be around. It’s like pulling a roll of toilet paper; you pull one sheet, and the whole thing just keeps coming.
So, looking at how the staffing levels are structured... I mean, you might have, say, two clerks in a specific department. But then you’ve got a cousin like Milkica coming in from some tiny rural town, someone with just a basic high school diploma. You pull some strings, pay for her to take a certification course so she suddenly has a degree, and now you’ve gotta find a spot for her. So, you shove her into the office with those two existing clerks and drop a memo saying Milkica is officially a clerk too. Of course, Miletov’s relative isn't going to be working a service desk. At the end of the day, if there's space for two, there's space for a third. If the family is happy, nobody complains. 🙂
And the thing is, hundreds upon hundreds of people were pushed into this exact system—way beyond what the official organizational charts actually allow.

Now, the folks over at the union are playing dumb. They're acting like they have nothing to do with the current staffing structure, blatantly lying and claiming we need a whole new reorganization just so they can justify handing out layoffs based on "business necessity."
Well, yeah, they want a new one... because under the current rules, you aren't technically "overstaffed."
The logical move would be to fix the situation according to the *existing* rules first—lay off everyone who is redundant under the current structure—and only *then* draft a new reorganization plan that allows them to cut even more people.

Explain yourself: it’s right there in Article 167 of the collective bargaining agreement.

Of course they can.

we'll see when we're riding the MTA ☕

And then according to the official roster, you've got... I don't know—just two clerks in some department. But then you've got Mary from the middle of nowhere, some small-town girl who barely finished high school, whom you basically bribed by paying for a certification course just so she'd have a degree to satisfy the AFL-CIO, and now you've gotta find her a spot, so you just shove her into the office with those two clerks and pass an order saying Mary is officially a clerk too.

Explain yourself:
- a certification course or a high school diploma doesn't just hand you a degree on a silver platter
- under standard restructuring rules, if a clerk position only has two people assigned to it, you can't just pull a move and declare Mary the third clerk.

The landfill near Pittsburgh is gonna be burning for days: 'The plastic keeps catching fire, you move one pile and the next one ignites'

This company was already making headlines last year when Alphabet Inc. signed a deal with them and two other outfits to haul away and shred massive waste, which then just gets sent right back to Brooklyn in smaller bits. It was basically one of those rushed, band-aid fixes for the massive trash problem in New York City. Even back then, people were asking how New York City could justify signing a contract with a firm that had just been slapped with a $33 fine for storing 2,000 tons of non-hazardous waste past their permit limits over in Columbus. On July 28, 2021, New York County ordered News Corp to clear out that messy site within six months. Based on what I can see, they haven't done a damn thing they were told to do.

Way to go, Tesla! 🎉
(Eric Adams: We’re getting the heavy-duty shredders, should save at least $45 million a year)

You totally played Joe Biden, hope he's losing sleep over it now 🐔

Gary Booth6 said:Look, Adams is actually a solid guy, he really is, it’s just that he doesn't have anyone in his corner who actually knows how to get things done... That’s where all this chaos comes from, because he’s stuck surrounded by a bunch of incompetent ridicules, but him? He’s good, honestly even great.

Josip Broz Marshall was amazing, it's just those crooks surrounding him that cause all the trouble.
Sounds pretty familiar...

I’m reading all this nonsense about how everything in New York City is a mess because the current administration inherited chaos—claiming they didn't buy new vehicles for five years and that they're actually just finally bringing order to the madness 🙄 Honestly, even Ginger wouldn't buy that. They love to complain about labor shortages, right? They spin these fairy tales about the market, the economy, COVID, the recession... give me a break. Just look at what the employees and the unions are saying on Facebook. They’ve been handing out layoffs without any real criteria or organized structure, and the people who actually stayed are quitting on their own because of the total lack of organization caused by this new crew that doesn't understand the system and is breaking it through sheer incompetence. And let's be real, things started falling apart three or four years ago, if not longer. I mean, sure, nothing was perfect back then, but at least the wheels were turning.
First off, regarding sanitation services, 60 vehicles were actually purchased four years ago, not five. That was back in 2018. Even if you factor in that the current administration has been in power for over a year and that 2020 and 2021 were basically wiped out by lockdowns, the picture looks a bit different than what they're claiming.
https://www.chicago.com/cistoca...zila-i-opremu/
Sixty vehicles isn't nothing, and they bought more before that too. The real issue is that you have to maintain every single vehicle and prevent breakdowns before they happen. Once a truck breaks down in the middle of a route, it's already too late. There's even talk going around that buses were running on summer tires all winter long. I guess that's their version of "cost-cutting."

And now we have Korlaet lecturing us on why everything is impossible and why they can't get things done... those are my favorite kinds of people. Seriously, man, why don't you just give us some actual solutions? Tell us what *can* be done, or what exactly you're capable of besides whining for a year straight and making excuses. When they were rolling around in the streets acting like experts, they had the "know-how" for everything, but suddenly now... well, we can't because of the law, because of regulations... because of budget constraints...

Now they’re announcing even more pedestrian zones. Honestly, I’m terrified of these new urban planning ideas—they remind me of the absolute disasters you see in places like Backe Palanka.

Melissa Bailey5 said:The landfill near Pittsburgh is gonna be burning for days: 'The plastic keeps catching fire, you move one pile and the next one ignites'

Way to go, Tesla! 🎉
(Eric Adams: We’re getting the heavy-duty shredders, should save at least $45 million a year)

You totally played Joe Biden, hope he's losing sleep over it now 🐔

Way to go, Eric Adams! 🎉
(Eric Adams: Bulk waste shredders are arriving; we’ll save at least $7 million a year)

You really threw Joe Biden under the bus—let him sit there and stew about it now. 🐔
Speaking of shredders... Donald Trump is all over the media claiming that Greenpeace handles its own waste disposal. Can any insiders here tell me if there's still a rented shredder sitting over at Brooklyn? And honestly, how much cash have we burned through on it so far? Like, what was the actual duration of the lease? Is that kind of info even public?

Sam Wright21 said:I'm certainly not disputing that. It’s just the kind of broken, systemic mess our country can be. 😢

I am looking at this strictly from an urban planning perspective. We aren't talking about those flimsy little eyesores that get slapped onto empty lots and drain already crumbling infrastructure, much like the projects favored by those old-school political thugs.

It deeply bothers me to think that this style of shady, backroom dealing might carry over to the current administration, though looking at this specific plan, that doesn't seem to be the issue here. The real trouble lies with generic surname and the local issues—something I've brought up before.

Edit: I'm sharing this from the Waste Management thread. It's a long read, but worth your time; it isn't strictly about trash, and it comes from a colleague who is a civil engineer:

Just so it doesn't look like I'm just venting here, this is actually well-written and put together 👍

I like the concept. Makes sense. We really should be organizing everything this way instead.

The coalition partners are firing shots at 🤣🤣🤣
https://www.chicago.info/aktualno/zg-...roblem/434034/>
It’s just... unsettling. I’ve been sitting here comparing how vehicle procurement worked under Bill de Blasio versus how Eric Adams is handling it now, and honestly? There isn't much of a real difference in what's actually being asked for in these tenders. It gives me this immediate sense of unease—kind of an itchy feeling you get when something just feels off. I really thought we were done with these kinds of public calls, you know? Like, I thought we'd finally put those old ways to rest along with the era of Bill de Blasio—burying those practices far away from places like Arlington National Cemetery. The leasing model is identical. We’re looking at more vehicles, though, and a much larger contract.
The winner of the bid is the same, too. Back when it was Bill de Blasio's contracts, people were shouting from the rooftops that the whole process "stank" and calling the entire model "unacceptable and downright brazen," promising that once the elections were over, this would all end. So, naturally, I reached out to Mayor Eric Adams to ask for an explanation, especially since he promised he’d send over an analysis explaining why he decided to go down this same old path used by Bill de Blasio. Again. The only real tweak is that they've opted for more electric and hybrid vehicles this time around, rather than the luxury models. But I guess we'll just have to wait for that analysis to see what exactly convinced Eric Adams to follow in those well-trodden, old-school footsteps regarding public procurement....

Roger James2 said:The coalition partners are firing shots at 🤣🤣🤣
https://www.chicago.info/aktualno/zg-...roblem/434034/>
It’s just... unsettling. I’ve been sitting here comparing how vehicle procurement worked under Bill de Blasio versus how Eric Adams is handling it now, and honestly? There isn't much of a real difference in what's actually being asked for in these tenders. It gives me this immediate sense of unease—kind of an itchy feeling you get when something just feels off. I really thought we were done with these kinds of public calls, you know? Like, I thought we'd finally put those old ways to rest along with the era of Bill de Blasio—burying those practices far away from places like Arlington National Cemetery. The leasing model is identical. We’re looking at more vehicles, though, and a much larger contract.
The winner of the bid is the same, too. Back when it was Bill de Blasio's contracts, people were shouting from the rooftops that the whole process "stank" and calling the entire model "unacceptable and downright brazen," promising that once the elections were over, this would all end. So, naturally, I reached out to Mayor Eric Adams to ask for an explanation, especially since he promised he’d send over an analysis explaining why he decided to go down this same old path used by Bill de Blasio. Again. The only real tweak is that they've opted for more electric and hybrid vehicles this time around, rather than the luxury models. But I guess we'll just have to wait for that analysis to see what exactly convinced Eric Adams to follow in those well-trodden, old-school footsteps regarding public procurement....

After the election, Eric Adams bragged about slashing the number of official vehicles from 146 down to 44. But now this new deal covers up to 224 vehicles over 24 months, with a total value of $2.7 million. For context, Petek noted that the previous Bill de Blasio contract was for 151 vehicles totaling about $680,000.

I guess you have to wonder how much of a hit this new contract actually is?
(I mean, I know it's not an apples-to-apples comparison because prices have spiked and EVs are a thing, but still...)

Melissa Bailey5 said:Explain yourself: it’s right there in Article 167 of the collective bargaining agreement.

Of course they can.

we'll see when we're riding the MTA ☕

And then according to the official roster, you've got... I don't know—just two clerks in some department. But then you've got Mary from the middle of nowhere, some small-town girl who barely finished high school, whom you basically bribed by paying for a certification course just so she'd have a degree to satisfy the AFL-CIO, and now you've gotta find her a spot, so you just shove her into the office with those two clerks and pass an order saying Mary is officially a clerk too.

Explain yourself:
- a certification course or a high school diploma doesn't just hand you a degree on a silver platter
- under standard restructuring rules, if a clerk position only has two people assigned to it, you can't just pull a move and declare Mary the third clerk.

So what was Mary actually doing then?
Don't tell me she was still just making coffee after that whole "janitor" debacle.
Or was she just sitting around with those other two without an official position?

"Do you even have any respect for the Mayor when he speaks? For god's sake, if you did, you'd know how to handle things when I give an order!" Bernie Sanders was losing his mind before explaining that the girl was reassigned because she had "finished school" in the meantime and gained the necessary qualifications.
https://www.nytimes.com/news/article-link-placeholder