That's an interesting point, that part of the issue with the "fitness premium" was that HR and the union negotiated the change and the Council was pretty much unawares. Smith's idea to make sure a commissioner sits in on negotiations would make that a moot point.

In any case, you could have made a lot of money off me betting that the cops would not back the one major candidate to support OccupyPDX, but it must be testament to Smith's holistic vision for the city, and police/fire's ability to adapt it to their concerns rather than making it all about 100% kowtowing to what they want, that led them to the endorsement. The discussion about Smith being the only one with RECENT budget experience, especially trying to enact budgets in recessionary times, and his pledge to protect the general fund at all costs from pet projects, had to be music to their ears.

Labor unions are one thing, but I think people look at cops and firefighters differently, politically. This endorsement says a lot, IMO.

Unions thinking reducing 'middle management' would endanger frontline fire crews tells me everything I need to know.

@D: WHAT IS IT YOU THINK YOU JUST DISCOVERED?

D, lieutenants and captains run the individual stations, and are "middle management." Senior management starts with the Battalion Chiefs, I believe. So if you wanted to cut middle management in fire, in at least some cases you're talking about the best people they have--young enough to be able to hack on the line, but experienced enough to lead and on a track for bigger things as they age.

Don't know how the cops run, assume it's roughly similar--but they're not blowing smoke. And Fire has not been spared over the years to the extent police has, although they've definitely been spared compared to all the other bureaus. (And why not? That's our lives and property we'd be endangering at this point.) Portland is actually way understaffed with middle management than comparable cities like Denver. They've got like seven battalion chiefs with about the same area; think we still just have four. (May not be the most current but used to be so very recently).