Go Ahead! Call the Mayor! (Be careful what you ask for…)

Go Ahead! Call the Mayor! (Be careful what you ask for)

You would think with the recent elimination of public employee collective bargaining in the state of Wisconsin and last years scandal in the city of Oakland's parking division that the current employees of that department would be a bit more civil, if not, downright nice when it comes to interactions involving the public.

Case in point, on the 16th of March, I had a surreal phone encounter with a parking division employee, who refused to identify herself other than by the first name of Lula. When I asked, out of frustration, for her last name she insisted she did not have to give me that information. I informed her that as a municipal employee, she is obliged to provide me with appropriate information in order to identify who she is. In addition, I tried to provide a rational for the necessity of her telling me her last name. She responded by asking me in a snide tone, "How many Lulas have you met?" I must mention also, for future identification purposes, that the purported "Lula" had a noticeable Latin accent and in my estimation she must be tenured civil service--for whom else would respond with such an attitude.

What led to this unpleasant encounter? Approximately 3 1/2 months ago, I received a parking citation which I disputed, first by written statement and then by administrative hearing. I, now, believe the parking division's default position is to rule against the victim's written testimony in hopes that they will not pursue the matter further. The kicker, I was required to post bail in the full amount of the fine when I submitted my written statement. The constitutionality of this procedure I will leave for a lawyer to argue--if so inclined; but it is clear that a collection of up-front fines in the city's coffers, let's say, placed in a modest certificate of deposit can yield interest that only the city benefits from. Of course, the longer the city leverages your money by delaying the refund the more interest they can collect. Again, the legality of this procedure can be argued by a motivated lawyer. Needless to say, my written testimony was denied and I subsequently requested an administrative hearing.

I showed up for the hearing about a month later only to have the matter dismissed because the city provided no testimony in their behalf. The notice I was given stated that I would have my bail refunded to me in 6-8 weeks. I thought this was preposterous! So, I have to wait another two months for the city to return my money that they so quickly took from me. Maybe, I should have told them that I was willing to post the bail, let's say, in 6-8 weeks. They would have laughed me out of the office.

I patiently waited for 6 weeks and then on the 16th of March, I contacted that unpleasant, surly, and rude Lula. She told me that I would probably have to wait two more months before I get my refund. Incredulous, I asked who her immediate supervisor was, and surprisingly she told me Linda Gillette @ (510) 986-2681, but then, in the same breath, she said that she wasn't in. I then asked the name of the department head and she told me Noel Pinto which she mispronounced causing another row which I will not go into. It's clear that Lula was willing to give everyone else's full namejust not hers. I told her that I was going to call the Mayor's office to bring this obviously systemic problem to her attention. Lula told me, "Go Ahead! Call the Mayor!"

I have lived long enough to know that the snake rots from the head. This Lula's attitude was so outrageous it bordered on comedy. There is no way that she could survive except in an environment that permits, encourages, or cowers in the presence of such behavior. Is it a mystery why public employee's "rights" are now under attack?

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