Measure JB—the proposed charter amendment (on our upcoming November local election ballot) to “combine” the currently-independent Civil Service Department (Long Beach Civil Service) with the City Manager’s Human Resources Department—is a lie.

This amendment destroys independence and moves control of hiring to the City Manager, consolidating the City Hall power
structure.

It takes authority away from independent resident commissioners, who are appointed to serve, as objective arbiters, on the Civil Service Commission by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council.

To do this would represent the dismantling of protections against political corruption of the taxpayers’ public workforce  hiring process, going back over 100 years!

This amendment would eliminate those intended checks and balances and allow crony appointments of friends,  family members, and campaign donors to politicians!

It would allow for the hiring of individuals without experience or qualifications, costing the city substantial taxpayer dollars in lawsuits.

These individuals would be loyal to  politicians and the City Manager, not the residents!

This is dangerous!

Civil Service ensures that the city  follows both federal and state hiring mandates. We know what happens without this protection. Neighboring cities have faced lawsuit after lawsuit, and even federal and state intervention, in their hiring.

Furthermore, Civil Service is the only thing that allows for current veteran preferences and  proposed local preferences.

Getting rid of Civil Service makes veteran preferences optional for management , to be waived whenever a crony is in the pool!

Anyone who has worked a job knows HR (Human Resources Dept.) doesn’t care about employees, only management.

The citizens of Long Beach cannot afford to lose the oversight and transparency provided by Civil Service.

Citizens of Long Beach deserve better. Vote for integrity and less corruption in Long Beach.