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(The Nation)   Remember all the slowdown that the union caused in the New York snowstorm cleanup last month? Yeah, about that   (thenation.com) divider line
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    More: Obvious, New York, Dish Network, snowstorms, Greenwald, United States Department of Transportation, State of the Union, mode of transport, councilman  
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28300 clicks; posted to Main » and Politics » on 30 Jan 2011 at 4:24 AM (9 years ago)   |   Favorite    |   share:  Share on Twitter share via Email Share on Facebook



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Bucky Katt [TotalFark]
2011-01-30 12:11:24 AM  
You mean the knee-jerk union bashers are full of crap? Shocking!
 
shirtsbyeric
2011-01-30 2:30:51 AM  
FTA:workers "were subtly informed there was no need to rush" while clearing snow, rather than explicitly told to slow it down.

/wink wink
 
Penman
2011-01-30 4:28:39 AM  
Can we please get a source that isn't a leftist rag?
 
Elmo Jones
2011-01-30 4:29:46 AM  
FTA: "But even Halloran has changed his story somewhat as the investigation proceeds."

/that's what people often do, when they're caught lying
 
Lenny_da_Hog [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2011-01-30 4:34:56 AM  

Penman: Can we please get a source that isn't a leftist rag?


For some reason, the John Birch Society newsletter didn't print this story, sorry.
 
To The Escape Zeppelin!
2011-01-30 4:37:28 AM  
So it was caused by incompetence rather than willful negligence. That's so reassuring, I feel safer already.
 
Clint_Torres
2011-01-30 4:49:49 AM  

shirtsbyeric: FTA:workers "were subtly informed there was no need to rush" while clearing snow, rather than explicitly told to slow it down.

/wink wink


Hahaha. I came here to post that also.
 
Sail The Wide Accountancy
2011-01-30 4:53:38 AM  
The end result was that snow wasn't cleared for two days. It's the union workers jobs to clear snow. If snow isn't cleared than I blame the workers.

Unions were not set up to protect the incompetent.
 
Ed Grubermann [TotalFark] [BareFark]
2011-01-30 4:55:10 AM  

To The Escape Zeppelin!: So it was caused by incompetence rather than willful negligence. That's so reassuring, I feel safer already.


Or maybe the teabagger is a liar and there was no slowdown at all. shiat just took time. It wouldn't be the first time a freshman politician lied in order to make a name for himself or to further his agenda.
 
relaxitsjustme [TotalFark] [BareFark]
2011-01-30 5:02:38 AM  

Clint_Torres: shirtsbyeric: FTA:workers "were subtly informed there was no need to rush" while clearing snow, rather than explicitly told to slow it down.

/wink wink

Hahaha. I came here to post that also.


So you're quoting the Tea Party liar to back up your anti-union stance? Good plan. Let me know how it works out.
 
log_jammin
2011-01-30 5:10:06 AM  
I love it when people rush to blame the unions. I'm half surprised they haven't blamed them for the snow yet.
 
Pockafrusta
2011-01-30 5:11:32 AM  
Subby is a retard.
 
Mcavity
2011-01-30 5:12:34 AM  
But even Halloran has changed his story somewhat as the investigation proceeds. The freshman councilman, who has Tea Party support, now says that workers "were subtly informed there was no need to rush" while clearing snow, rather than explicitly told to slow it down.

context...
 
ignacio
2011-01-30 5:14:43 AM  

log_jammin: I love it when people rush to blame the unions. I'm half surprised they haven't blamed them for the snow yet.


If unions do shiatty work clearing the snow, unions deserve to be blamed.
 
Gdalescrboz
2011-01-30 5:23:52 AM  
log_jammin: I love it when people rush to blame the unions Obama admin. I'm half surprised they haven't blamed themBush for the snow Hurricane Katrina yet.

See, i can say retarded things to. It's not hard, no one is impressed by it so stop trying
 
log_jammin
2011-01-30 5:26:25 AM  

ignacio: If unions do shiatty work clearing the snow, unions deserve to be blamed.


If politicians lie about unions doing a "slow down" when they didn't, The politicians deserve to be blamed. yet here you are still blaming the union.
 
log_jammin
2011-01-30 5:27:26 AM  

Gdalescrboz: See, i can say retarded things to.


you sure can....not sure what you think that has to do with my comment though...
 
No Such Agency
2011-01-30 5:32:13 AM  
The New York Times reports that one man, Councilman Daniel J. Halloran, Republican of Queens, had started the story, saying that five workers, two from the Transportation department and three from Sanitation, had visited him to tell him about the "slowdown." The transportation workers, though, have denied his claims, and he cannot or will not name the sanitation workers.

Very... convenient. But it is nice of him to protect those evil union members from being outed as snitches. He must really like them and their collective bargaining unit.
 
Cyclometh [TotalFark]
2011-01-30 5:32:59 AM  

shirtsbyeric: FTA:workers "were subtly informed there was no need to rush" while clearing snow, rather than explicitly told to slow it down.

/wink wink


I call shenanigans. That's what the guy making the accusations said was going on, but he couldn't cite anyone or produce any evidence.
 
Gdalescrboz
2011-01-30 5:33:08 AM  
log_jammin 2011-01-30 05:27:26 AM

Gdalescrboz: See, i can say retarded things to.

you sure can....not sure what you think that has to do with my comment though...

I would explain it, but you would just miss the point...again
 
PunGent
2011-01-30 5:35:54 AM  
Again, I find it just saves time to assume that all politicians, and especially Republicans, are lying all the time.

If you think Tea Bag Republicans will be any different, well, bless your little heart.
 
Sail The Wide Accountancy
2011-01-30 5:36:03 AM  

log_jammin: ignacio: If unions do shiatty work clearing the snow, unions deserve to be blamed.

If politicians lie about unions doing a "slow down" when they didn't, The politicians deserve to be blamed. yet here you are still blaming the union.


Now we're going in circles. Even if they weren't told to work slowly, the fact remains that virtually no snow was cleared for two days. Would it make everyone feel better if we just blamed it on the Sanitation workers? (Putting aside that they happen to be in a union) Is it just the terminology that's bugging people?
 
log_jammin
2011-01-30 5:38:50 AM  

Gdalescrboz: I would explain it, but you would just miss the point...again


*yawn* You sound like a woman you know. "well if you don't know why I'm upset then I'm not gonna tell you.
 
log_jammin
2011-01-30 5:41:29 AM  

Sail The Wide Accountancy: Even if they weren't told to work slowly, the fact remains that virtually no snow was cleared for two days.


and the question is "why?". We know it wasn't because they were ordered to not remove any snow. well WE do, but go back upthread and there are obviously many people who don't.

personally I'm going with "20 inches of snow is a lot of farking snow".
 
gibbon1
2011-01-30 5:42:55 AM  

ignacio: If unions do shiatty work clearing the snow, unions deserve to be blamed.


The unions are the Tweedledee to the Politicians Tweedledum.
 
Gdalescrboz
2011-01-30 5:52:40 AM  
log_jammin 2011-01-30 05:38:50 AM

Gdalescrboz: I would explain it, but you would just miss the point...again

*yawn* You sound like a woman you know. "well if you don't know why I'm upset then I'm not gonna tell you.

*sneeze* You sound dumb. "Im a dumb retard who likes to make snide off the wall remarks like "i cant believe they didnt blame the snow on the unions yet" to paint anyone and everyone who may criticize the Unions as Sarah Palin kool-aid drinkers while i sit in Starbucks in my sisters skin tight jeans and purple deep V-neck sweater basking in the glorious radiation that is my liberal intellectual superiority."

Im pretty close aren't I?
 
log_jammin
2011-01-30 5:54:14 AM  

Gdalescrboz: Im pretty close aren't I?


do you have anything at all to say on topic?
 
I_ROUTE
2011-01-30 5:57:43 AM  

Sail The Wide Accountancy: The end result was that snow wasn't cleared for two days. It's the union workers jobs to clear snow. If snow isn't cleared than I blame the workers.

Unions were not set up to protect the incompetent.


Yet they do...
 
log_jammin
2011-01-30 5:59:11 AM  

I_ROUTE: Yet they do...


because god knows the the incompetent are fired in private businesses.
 
Gdalescrboz
2011-01-30 6:01:09 AM  
log_jammin 2011-01-30 05:54:14 AM

Gdalescrboz: Im pretty close aren't I?

do you have anything at all to say on topic?

Im just following your lead. You turned the thread into a "who can imitate Fox News journalism the best" and i'm just joining in
 
log_jammin
2011-01-30 6:02:30 AM  

Gdalescrboz: Im just following your lead. You turned the thread into a "who can imitate Fox News journalism the best" and i'm just joining in


so no? ok.
 
Gdalescrboz
2011-01-30 6:07:32 AM  
log_jammin 2011-01-30 06:02:30 AM

Gdalescrboz: Im just following your lead. You turned the thread into a "who can imitate Fox News journalism the best" and i'm just joining in

so no? ok.

Of course i do. But why would i contribute a well thought out opinion in the mix of "im surprised they havent blamed the snow on the Unions yet. HARHARHAR derpty derr."
 
log_jammin
2011-01-30 6:11:38 AM  

Gdalescrboz: Of course i do. But why would i contribute a well thought out opinion in the mix of "im surprised they havent blamed the snow on the Unions yet. HARHARHAR derpty derr."


why don't you contribute to the opinion of "I love it when people rush to blame the unions." or better yet, the implication of the entire post where I was pointing out the stupidity of those rushing in to blame the union based on a lie told by a councilman?
 
angrygrizzly
2011-01-30 6:14:34 AM  
So:

No new quotes.
No new information.
Lots of opinion.

Exactly what was set straight here?
 
zerkalo
2011-01-30 6:18:17 AM  
So the guys drinking while rome burns were Randian free marketeers? Color me surprised
 
Ed Grubermann [TotalFark] [BareFark]
2011-01-30 6:20:02 AM  

angrygrizzly: So:

No new quotes.
No new information.
Lots of opinion.

Exactly what was set straight here?


Um, the city councilman has been noted as changing his story and refusing to name the sources of his allegations. So, I'm thinking that we may be seeing new information: ie - the guy lied. But that's just my opinion.
 
Gdalescrboz
2011-01-30 6:35:14 AM  
log_jammin 2011-01-30 06:11:38 AM

Gdalescrboz: Of course i do. But why would i contribute a well thought out opinion in the mix of "im surprised they havent blamed the snow on the Unions yet. HARHARHAR derpty derr."

why don't you contribute to the opinion of "I love it when people rush to blame the unions." or better yet, the implication of the entire post where I was pointing out the stupidity of those rushing in to blame the union based on a lie told by a councilman?

Had you said that, i wouldnt have started mocking you. But when you go off full retard with "I'm half surprised they didnt blame them for the snow yet" it makes me think you are either "special" or a troll.
 
swahnhennessy
2011-01-30 6:37:12 AM  
The good old Irish "I-got-mine" syndrome.
 
log_jammin
2011-01-30 6:38:08 AM  

Gdalescrboz: Had you said that, i wouldnt have started mocking you.


well now I said it. so.....anything to say about the topic yet?

Gdalescrboz: But when you go off full retard with "I'm half surprised they didnt blame them for the snow yet" it makes me think you are either "special" or a troll.


yes. Out of everything said on fark over the years that is at the very top of the list "special" or trollish comments. uh huh.
 
Gdalescrboz
2011-01-30 6:43:50 AM  
log_jammin 2011-01-30 06:38:08 AM

Gdalescrboz: Had you said that, i wouldnt have started mocking you.

well now I said it. so.....anything to say about the topic yet?

Gdalescrboz: But when you go off full retard with "I'm half surprised they didnt blame them for the snow yet" it makes me think you are either "special" or a troll.

yes. Out of everything said on fark over the years that is at the very top of the list "special" or trollish comments. uh huh.

No, not the top of the list, but the top of my list tonight. And yes i will contribute. It doesnt matter what they were told, if they werent doing their best to do the job they were paid to do, then they are to blame. Even if their boss just said "take yoru time" that doenst take them off the hook, people are w/out power, heat, communication and what not, if they are taking their time, then fry their ass
 
log_jammin
2011-01-30 6:49:03 AM  

Gdalescrboz: t doesnt matter what they were told, if they werent doing their best to do the job they were paid to do, then they are to blame.


cool. Now prove they weren't doing their best. anything short of that is just a knee jerk reaction to blame the union.

Gdalescrboz: Even if their boss just said "take yoru time" that doenst take them off the hook,


Th councilman who said it was a slow down changed his story to that. why would you believe a liar?
 
Cornelius Dribble
2011-01-30 6:50:11 AM  

angrygrizzly: Exactly what was set straight here?


The point is that the sole source of this rumor, Councilman Halloran, has brought forth no witnesses to back up his claim, and has since changed his story several times. From the original New York Times story that Fark should have linked instead of NPR's digest of it: (new window)

Meanwhile, investigators had hoped that extensive publicity would bring out others with knowledge of the purported plot. That has not happened, according to the people briefed on the investigations, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigations are continuing. This leaves prosecutors with no proof that anything occurred.

"When you're talking about establishing a negative, I don't know how it's going to get firmer," one person briefed on the inquiries said.

...

In a letter published in The Chief-Leader, which focuses on municipal labor issues, Mr. Halloran seemed to feel conflicted about all the uproar. In the letter he defended his original assertions about the slowdown, but also suggested it might have been small in scope, involving "a few bad apples."

The article also contains some interesting information on Mr. Halloran:

During his 2009 campaign, his faith was briefly an issue. He is an adherent of Theodism, a neo-pagan faith that draws from pre-Christian tribal religions of northern Europe, and he led a branch in the New York area.

He campaigned as a conservative Republican with the support of Tea Party organizers, advocating personal responsibility and limited government.

In 2008, Mr. Halloran sternly criticized the city's Buildings Department after it cited him for building a bathroom in the basement of his home without obtaining the required permits. Shortly after winning election, he accused the department of issuing improper citations for illegal basement conversions that had been called in by home repair companies hoping to get work fixing the violations.

Then, last month, he requested a building permit for a $60,000 project to add a second floor onto his Cape Cod-style home. On Jan. 3, the Buildings Department denied the request, saying it would make the house too big for the area's zoning.

The timing of the permit was unusual, given the recent financial difficulties faced by Mr. Halloran and his wife, Cynthia.

In January 2010, Wells Fargo began foreclosure proceedings on their home. In November, Ms. Halloran, a registered nurse, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, seeking to wipe away $116,521 in credit card debt, while retaining a 2005 Jaguar and their home.

Her debts include $14,777 owed to Home Depot, $29,000 on three Chase credit cards and $58,000 on two American Express cards. The couple has an annual salary of $166,660, according to bankruptcy records and Council salary rules.

So this champion of "personal responsibility and limited government" is now seeking bankruptcy protection. Not exactly relevant, perhaps, but amusing nevertheless.
 
Gdalescrboz
2011-01-30 6:51:39 AM  
log_jammin 2011-01-30 06:49:03 AM

Gdalescrboz: t doesnt matter what they were told, if they werent doing their best to do the job they were paid to do, then they are to blame.

cool. Now prove they weren't doing their best. anything short of that is just a knee jerk reaction to blame the union.

Gdalescrboz: Even if their boss just said "take yoru time" that doenst take them off the hook,

Th councilman who said it was a slow down changed his story to that. why would you believe a liar?

its not that i believe him, its that i dont believe the Union workers. Have you seen people work that are guaranteed they have a over-paying job short of commiting murder?
 
log_jammin
2011-01-30 6:55:30 AM  

Gdalescrboz:
its not that i believe him, its that i dont believe the Union workers. Have you seen people work that are guaranteed they have a over-paying job short of commiting murder?


which goes right back to the first thing I said. No wonder you refused to talk about the actual topic for so long.

Thanks for playing.

/be careful....I heard they are planing to make it snow again in the next couple of weeks...
 
SomeoneDumb
2011-01-30 6:58:12 AM  

Gdalescrboz: ...then fry their ass


I obviously need to update my list of capital offenses.
 
soy_bomb
2011-01-30 7:02:05 AM  
If there is one thing you can count on in NYC, its the honesty and integrity of public service unions and their leadership.
 
cantsleep
2011-01-30 7:08:52 AM  

Gdalescrboz: Have you seen people work that are guaranteed they have a over-paying job short of commiting murder?


English, please?
 
angrygrizzly
2011-01-30 7:11:43 AM  

Cornelius Dribble: angrygrizzly: Exactly what was set straight here?

The point is that the sole source of this rumor, Councilman Halloran, has brought forth no witnesses to back up his claim, and has since changed his story several times. From the original New York Times story that Fark should have linked instead of NPR's digest of it: (new window)


And this is part of the problem, at least in my mind. The admins seem to be doing the trolling now.

I don't have a problem if a link is halfway informative. We'll see how the story shakes out. But linking to a blog that has no factual sources linked to it whatsoever? That just annoys the hell out of me.

/possibly because I read the NY Times article before
//but I'd be curious to know NY Farkers' opinion of the whole snowstorm subject
 
Lenny_da_Hog [TotalFark] [OhFark]
2011-01-30 7:19:53 AM  

Gdalescrboz: its not that i believe him, its that i dont believe the Union workers. Have you seen people work that are guaranteed they have a over-paying job short of commiting murder?


"Psst. Hey buddy -- that guy over there gets paid a fair wage while you do practically the same work for nothin'. How's that make you feel?"

"I'M ANGRY AT THAT GUY OVER THERE, THAT'S WHAT!"
 
alostpacket
2011-01-30 7:27:11 AM  
Honestly, it was the day after xmas, and a much larger storm than anyone predicted. I dont think there is more to the story. Good thing we can blame unions when this is just a standard human imperfection.

I'd love to see how many CEOs would have called in sick the day after xmas.

I mean, clearly this couldn't have been a logistical problem from managment not accounting for the low number of employees avaialable around holidays.

I mean if that were the case Bloomberg would have fired the managment.

Oh, wait, he did:

Link (new window)

Link (new window)


OK, you anti-union types may now resume your whargarbling.

/NYer
 
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