Report Card

Hope springs eternal at oemc. Even when all evidence suggests its a lost cause, Blogmaster continues to long for that day--in the not too distant future--when oemc finally turns the corner and becomes a model of best practices, efficacy, and is run by competent and qualified suits...........

However, for the present and recent past, oemc is mired in incompetence. The present suits, apparently having learned nothing from their predecessors--all of whom were roundly and justifiably criticized for a variety of reasons by the operations floor personnel, have amply demonstrated their own incompetence in a variety of ways. "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" as the old saying goes. Certainly it applies in this case.

The ED, allegedly a union guy himself and formerly "all around nice guy", appears to be in way over his head. The press conferences where he appears hopelessly lost, the deer in the headlights look, the arrogance combined with a profound ignorance of how the communications and operations aspect of oemc operate make for an all around cluelessness for which there is no compensation. Unlike Trotter with his politicians charisma, huberman with his undisputed brilliance, or velasquez who at times displayed a disarming and unexpected boyish charm, this ed has nothing to recommend him. Even so, Blogmaster had reserved judgement hoping to see what he could accomplish. The verdict is now in and it ain't good. A review of the record of this particular ed undistinguished reign thus far:

--failure to get additional staffing for 911 operations, even while the jobs are posted for "homeland security" and camera related positions at the oemc. The official city position is that there is no staffing shortage for operations and it doesn't even appear that anyone from oemc is privately lobbying city hall for additional staff (Blogmasters sources are very adamant on this point).

--turf wars and petty infighting have characterized this regime with the chain of command being corrupted. One good example of the recent edict, then the rescinsion, then the reimplementaion of the B clause even after the oemcs number 2 (allegedly) guy negotiated an agreement with the union. WTF? If HE didnt have the "authority" to make such an agreement with the union, then maybe he ought not to be the second in command and the ed himself should deign to speak a bit more with the union about its issues.

--continued discontent, strife, and general unhappiness among the managerial ranks which is a direct result of the top level managment style. A general unwillingness to listen to and address spco concerns. A renegade watch manager who has embarrassed the regime by officially deviating from the company line and caused untold havoc on a particular watch. A deputy director of police operations who is at odds with his watch managers and who apparently retaliated against an spco for unsubstantiated allegations and who has directed his subordinates on at least one occasion to perform unethical, perhaps illegal, actions on behalf of a pco.

These are real issues that are occurring in real time and this is only a cursory overview. The everyday decisions that are made by the suits have real implications for their subordinates, sometimes in unforseen ways. Every time a suit takes an action, or fails to take an action, it affect every employee. That is why the person at the top is so important--if he or she is ethically, morally, or otherwise challenged everything else will be tainted too.