Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Letter: Nothing unfair about government pensions, benefits

Dear Editor,

I don't know where Mr. Bart Hughes works, what he's paid, or why he doesn't have a Roth IRA or retirement plan ("Government employees should share sacrifice," Letters, Aug. 21, page 10). But, I resent his implication that government employees are sponging off taxpayers and living the high life with "above market salaries" and "golden entitlements" and need to hurt more.

First of all, government employees are taxpayers too. Some of us are childless taxpayers who pay our homeowner and other taxes which benefit the needy in our community through social services and help educate "our children," which Mr. Hughes feels are living impoverished by my retirement pension.

I worked for many years as a government employee for the citizens of Pleasanton -- at times worked overtime with no additional compensation because I felt the work was needed and had to be done. Pleasanton has many dedicated city employees. And, I can assure Mr. Hughes that unlike the Silicon Valley millionaires of yesteryear, or the Wall Street and bank CEOs of today, most government employees earn their pay and do not enjoy "golden entitlements," or live on extravagant pensions.

Yes, I have a pension and benefits; I worked long and hard for them. I feel I earned them. I see nothing unfair about it.

Cathleen Cordova