DUer makes the paper in a feature story about losing his job and home

[Omaha Steve]

Full story reg req: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2220065

Published Tuesday
August 8, 2006

Rising fuel costs blamed for eliminating on-site park caretakers

BY JOSH SWARTZLANDER


WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Steve Dawes has lived with his wife on the grounds of Brown Park for more than eight years.

He has picked up litter, mowed grass, shoveled snow and kept an eye out for vandals in the park near 15th and U Streets. In return, the city has provided him rent-free housing at the park and a salary of about $34,000 annually.


Omaha Parks Department employee Steve Dawes, shown mowing at Fontenelle Park where he is caretaker, is one of five on-site park caretakers who will lose that position under Mayor Mike Fahey's proposed 2007 budget. Dawes lives on the grounds of Brown Park.


Five of Omaha's 12 park caretaker jobs, including Dawes' job, would be eliminated under Mayor Mike Fahey's proposed budget to the Omaha City Council. The caretakers would be given new positions with the city, probably outside the Parks Department, said Parks Director Steve Scarpello.

Dawes and some park neighbors worry the cuts will cause their community parks to deteriorate and attract late-night criminals. A longtime neighbor to Hummel Park said conditions deteriorated there after its caretaker left.

I'll email the page to those that don't want to register. Just send me an private email.

[RebelOne]

1. "losing" his job and home. Sorry, I just had to do that.

It's one of my pet peeves.

[Omaha Steve]

2. Spell checker missed it too :-)

Thanks.

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Sorry to hear about this. Is the mayor just going to let the grass grow?

I mean, a park still has to be mowed to keep it a park.

[converted_democrat]

4. K&R.n/t

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Sorry, OmahaSteve

I take it the proposed new positions wouldn't include housing, which means that your overall compensation has just been reduced by thousands per year?

[Omaha Steve]

6. correct

Ain't life grand. We will simply move back to the home we have owned for over 30 years. We have been renting it out.

[myrna minx]

7. I am so sorry Steve.

:hug: K&R

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. Any job that doesn't involve making life miserable for the underclass

is a job Supply Side Jesus doesn't want to exist.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. sorry, misspost

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Thanks for letting us know, Steve -- better luck to you! nt

[sweetheart]

11. feudal land reforms

Like a feudal barony, the serfs are turfed out of their homes, house slaves on a plantation
they vicariously 'own' as long as they're good slaves. In scotland, they gave the common
people the right to buy out the feudal landowners.

In the name of neo, everything is become so old.

[Omaha Steve]

12. Thank you

I got many nice comments in public and private about my story.

Steve

[Norquist Nemesis]

13. Have they told you anything about the city job yet?

That just sucks. They should be required to increase your direct compensation in line with what they are forcing you to accept. Hope you can find (and afford) comparable living arrangements.

The very best of luck to you and your family, Steve! :hi:

[Omaha Steve]

14. I won't be in parks, where I have a total of about 16 years experience

I have a choice of traffic or sewers. Once the budget is approved by the city council, I'll take the traffic job.