New Haven Independent

Posted by: Eastshoreguy | April 15, 2008 10:17 AM

Wish I could fire my boss at work too

Posted by: WestvilleGuy | April 15, 2008 11:49 AM

I dont get it, what changes when it goes self-op? Do they all of a sudden become more motivated and do a better job? Does the city magically come up with more money to repair equipment (i heard somewhere there might be a budget deficit this year)? Does the city fill the vacant positions? Also, if the city hires aramark can't they just tell tehm to fill the positions and fix the equipment like I would to my landscaper?

I would just like ot know what changes if it goes to self-management beacuase I dont see more tax savings since someone has to manage the program and the equipment will still break and there will still be overtime.

Posted by: king james v | April 15, 2008 12:33 PM

This is great, i mean look how unions have brought such industries as the automotive, steel and textile industries to the forefront of the american economy. Oh right, those industries have left the united states. the only industry we have left now is food service, so i guess they must know their stuff. perhaps in five years my kids lunch will have a postmark from Banglore or some metropolis from the sub-continent.
The first thing i used to see by the way when i went to school was the crossing guard, and she worked for about five dollars an hour, knew every kid's name, lived in my town and never lost a kid on her watch.
the second person i saw was the teacher assigned to let kids in and make sure we were in the proper line. the third person i saw was my homeroom teacher. i did see the lunchroom people eventually though, although we never got to know each other, and i was never particularly embedded with thier work ethic, hopes dream or ideals, but they always seemed pleasant enough.

Posted by: On the front line | April 15, 2008 1:38 PM

Ok let's answer the first question from eastshore guy first Aramark is not our boss we are BOE employees so we work for the taxpayers of New Haven like yourself
As far as the questions from westville guy also a taxpayer would be self op would bring some ( A VERY BAD WORD IN NEW HAVEN) accountibilty to the picture no blame game so to speak why is the budget blown out it falls on this department.Does the city magically come up with more money to repair equipment? answer is of course not what you as a taxpayer should ask is why would this way over paid so called facilities management company would not know that equipment needs to be fixed as well as maintained on a regular schedule. As you pointed out about your landscaper I would bet he maintains his equipment on a regular schedule and I bet he even has a back up mower in case his front line machine goes down. As far as the budget deficit is concerned thats what we are trying to get to the bottom of. Who is responsible for the budget deficit we would like to know this as well. Can the BOE tell Aramark to fix the equipment and fill the vacant postions seeing how they are a hired company (taxpayer money) I would say that would be a yes haveing said that the next logical question would be why is this not happening? Would the equipment still break of course thats going to happen but with a proper perventive maintnace plan that could add up to a nice saveings and by the way you guessed it we either do not have a plan or it is not being utilized. As far as overtime is concerned what do you think the vacant posistions bring to the table yes that would be overtime this is also not something that was done by the workers. Again lets get real this is not hard just follow the money between the big three players(THE MAYOR BOE AND ARAMARK IN THAT ORDER) and you will find the answers to the puzzle known as the budget. Hey we all can agree the system is designed so the big 3 dont have to be ( oh no hear it comes again) ACCOUNTABLE.

Posted by: maria | April 16, 2008 9:09 AM

why not go back to the cafteria system in new haven...cooked food ... so you hire a few cafteria workers.....if it worked then why not now....you don't need the central kitchen delivering this terrible food...we pay enough tax in the city....

Posted by: WestvilleGuy | April 16, 2008 11:15 AM

All the lunches are free because the city takes advantage of a special program through the USDA. The reimbursements from the USDA don't cover the costs. Cooked food would work but there would be a cost associated with it and I doubt anyone wants to go back to the pay for lunch program. Simply saying "hire a few workers" contradicts your complaint about high taxes. Also, cooking food in the cafeterias woul drequire more oversight since all the food must meet the USDAs rigid guidlines about portion sizes and fat content (etc.) to qualify for the paltry reimbursements. THis would mean costs go up. The central Kitchen, on the other hand, is supposed to create efficiencies in the food program. If we go back to the old way what do we do with the central kitchen? THe point bieng, if we have complaints about the food and portion sizes it is on the USDA not on the management company or the city.

I have watched this debate go on for a few months and I think we all need to agree that feeding kids for free comes with a cost. Also, any changes we make come with costs. I am not sold on either self management or outsourcing just yet but I think we need to realize that even if it is sef managed that the costs are the costs and we have to pay someone to run it regardless of whose name is on the checks. Lastly, throwing up our hands and saying "cook the food this way" or "blame the alderman or the boe or the mayor" or "follow the money" distracts us from the root of the problem which is over regulation in a system designed to put free food in the hands of our children.