I've been to Buffalo. It's not working. In this day and age, free plastic surgery for teachers.
Buffalo, NY teachers get free plastic surgery
1:11 AM, Feb 22, 2012 | 23 comments
BUFFALO, NY (CNN) -- As thousands of teachers face layoffs across the country, teachers in Buffalo, New York are getting lipo? Yep. And nose jobs and whatever else they want. All on the taxpayers' dime. How is this happening?
This Buffalo plastic surgeon has a lot of happy patients. Dr. Kulwant S. Bhangoo says, "Let's just suppose I was a woman weighed 300 pounds, and I lost 150-160 pounds."
Indeed, that's what happened to Buffalo school teacher Valerie Akauloa, but it's not just the results that make her happy, it's the sweet deal that she gets.
The sweet deal that all the 3,400 teachers in Buffalo are eligible to get under one of their insurance plan options, they are billed nothing for any plastic surgery procedure, such as botox, liposuction, tummy tucks, and there is no deductible.
Linda Tokarz teaches second grade and says she gets regular treatments. She says, "I think its great for us. I wouldn't want to see it taken away."
Dr. Kulwant Bhangoo has been a plastic surgeon in Buffalo for almost four decades. He says, "I feel the teachers have paid their dues and it would be wrong to take it away from them."
While he does have plenty on non-teacher patients, Dr. Bhangoo does say three out of every 10 are Buffalo teachers and the school district's insurance covers every single penny. They will come in for hair removal on their face, liposuction, breast enhancement, and rhinoplasty.
Dr. Bhangoo is one of many plastic surgeons who advertise in where else the teachers union newsletter.
Last year, Buffalo's schools spent $5.9 million on plastic surgery which is also known as a cosmetic rider. And Buffalo teachers have had this rider for nearly four decades.
Now you might think Buffalo's school district must be flush with cash to be offering perks like free plastic surgery, right? Wrong. Louis Petrucci, the president of the Buffalo Board of Education says he is projecting a $42 million deficit in next year's school budget.
You don't have to be a brain surgeon to know that a plastic surgeon or a teacher would like this policy more than the typical taxpayer. But the teachers will tell you there is more to the story. They say the teachers contract with the city expired nearly a decade ago negotiations for a new one have failed.
And they add they are woefully underpaid. It is quite interesting to hear what the president of the teachers unions says about the plastic surgery benefit. Philip Rumore says, "We've told the district from the beginning of negotiations six or eight years ago that we're willing to give it up, so as long the district comes back to the table with us, it's gone." When asked, "Do you feel as a gesture of good faith, the union should say, teachers, no more free plastic surgery?" Rumore responds, "It would be a wonderful gesture of good faith. We're willing to give it up. All the district has to do is come to the table and negotiate with us. But not willing to do it unilaterally."
Fact is that police and firefighters in Buffalo have similar plastic surgery programs, but those departments are not dealing with the same financial problems as the economically challenged school system.
But at least for now, the policy remains in a school district with a unique mix of brain and beauty.
Originally posted by sasquatch672I'd say you're devolving into a trashy supermarket tabloid, but that's what you've always been.
I've been to Buffalo. It's not working. In this day and age, free plastic surgery for teachers.
Buffalo, NY teachers get free plastic surgery
1:11 AM, Feb 22, 2012 | 23 comments
BUFFALO, NY (CNN) -- As thousands of teachers face layoffs across the country, teachers in Buffalo, New York are getting lipo? Yep. And nose jobs and whateve ...[text shortened]... remains in a school district with a unique mix of brain and beauty.
Originally posted by SoothfastAre you going to tell me that it's not a legitimate conversation when Buffalo teachers, given the choice of 100 layoffs or keeping free plastic surgery, choose the plastic surgery?
I'd say you're devolving into a trashy supermarket tabloid, but that's what you've always been.
Or that a school district $42 million in debt would spend $5.9 million on plastic surgery?
Rather than the tabloid bit, I think it displays the selfishness of teachers' unions and public sector employees in geenral.
Originally posted by sasquatch672More teachers with breast enhancements decreases absenteeism.
Are you going to tell me that it's not a legitimate conversation when Buffalo teachers, given the choice of 100 layoffs or keeping free plastic surgery, choose the plastic surgery?
Or that a school district $42 million in debt would spend $5.9 million on plastic surgery?
Rather than the tabloid bit, I think it displays the selfishness of teachers' unions and public sector employees in geenral.
Originally posted by sasquatch672More like the retardedness of whoever approved funding for this. (although it's more likely bribery was involved, surely someone can't be that stupid?)
Are you going to tell me that it's not a legitimate conversation when Buffalo teachers, given the choice of 100 layoffs or keeping free plastic surgery, choose the plastic surgery?
Or that a school district $42 million in debt would spend $5.9 million on plastic surgery?
Rather than the tabloid bit, I think it displays the selfishness of teachers' unions and public sector employees in geenral.
By the way, weren't you a public sector employee once?
Originally posted by KazetNagorraYes, I was. So when I talk about wastefulness in government, I'm doing it from first hand knowledge.
More like the retardedness of whoever approved funding for this. (although it's more likely bribery was involved, surely someone can't be that stupid?)
By the way, weren't you a public sector employee once?
I was a public sector employee once, just not a very popular one. Government employees don't like being told they need to work harder.
Originally posted by sasquatch672Did you actually read your own post?
Are you going to tell me that it's not a legitimate conversation when Buffalo teachers, given the choice of 100 layoffs or keeping free plastic surgery, choose the plastic surgery?
Or that a school district $42 million in debt would spend $5.9 million on plastic surgery?
Rather than the tabloid bit, I think it displays the selfishness of teachers' unions and public sector employees in geenral.
It doesn't say anything about the teachers being given "the choice of 100 layoffs or keeping free plastic surgery". In fact, it says the teachers would be quite willing to give up the cosmetic rider as part of negotiations - negotiations the school district refuses to engage in according to the article:
It is quite interesting to hear what the president of the teachers unions says about the plastic surgery benefit. Philip Rumore says, "We've told the district from the beginning of negotiations six or eight years ago that we're willing to give it up, so as long the district comes back to the table with us, it's gone." When asked, "Do you feel as a gesture of good faith, the union should say, teachers, no more free plastic surgery?" Rumore responds, "It would be a wonderful gesture of good faith. We're willing to give it up. All the district has to do is come to the table and negotiate with us. But not willing to do it unilaterally."
You say you negotiate contracts, but you don't seem to have the faintest understanding of negotiations. They've had the rider for four decades and would be foolish to just give it up for nothing.
Originally posted by no1marauderThere's another story about the 100 layoffs. The district gave the union a choice - either the layoffs or the plastic surgery. I'll find it.
Did you actually read your own post?
It doesn't say anything about the teachers being given "the choice of 100 layoffs or keeping free plastic surgery". In fact, it says the teachers would be quite willing to give up the cosmetic rider as part of negotiations - negotiations the school district refuses to engage in according to the article.