If employees are abusing the policy, then it's costing taxpayers money and it must be corrected. Other suggestions mentioned at the retreat are city-funded uniforms and shoes for sanitation and sewer workers, parking stipends for employees working downtown and increased pension benefits. Upgrading pension benefits makes sense as a way to attract and keep good employees. To most people, low unemployment rates and a strong economy mean good jobs and higher wages. For businesses, though, they mean stiffer competition for skilled workers and larger payrolls.
Bigger payrolls have to be covered by taxes.
But ignoring the situation could be more expensive. Indeed, some city employees are talking about forming a union. For these reasons, City Council and Mr. Brown are right to work overtime on this issue.