Page 44 - Patrick Morris News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

>> generous, indeed. in 2010, a san bernardino $317,000rgeant maided 3 h in a city where the average household income is less than $40,000. but it is not just the top salaries that have brought down san bernardino. it is the average ones. >> san bernardino firefighters are making about $130,000 a year. police around $95,000. with pretty generous pensions as well. >> did anybody say hey, you know what, we are not going to be able to afford this down the road? >> those are very problematic agreements that were made at a time when life looked rosy. >> morris admits it has been in good times and b...

It was even the location of the first mcdonald's. but today, this city of around 210,000 has a shortfall of $46 million. over a quarter of its entire budget. unable to fund enough cuts to close the gap, san bernardino on august 1 filed for bankruptcy. >> you called this a stain on the city? >> oh, yes. >> patrick morris has been mayor of san bernardino since 2006. >> how did sweard ge san bernat into the predict ament? >> it was a perfect storm economically when this hit in 2006 and 2007 the bottom fell out. >> in the perfect storm, morris says san bernardino property values dropped by 65%. se...

>> did anybody say hey, you know what, we are not going to be able to afford this down the road? >> those are very problematic agreements that were made at a time when life looked rosy. >> morris admits it has been in good times and bad that san bernardino's public unions had powerful influence over the politicians. the politicians they help elect. morris says that is just the way its. >> in a blue collar city as old as we are unions have a presence in terms of funding for candidates for are city council and they are present at the table during labor negotiations. >> those negotiations in some...

>> did anybody say hey, you know what, we are not going to be able to afford this down the road? >> those are very problematic agreements that were made at a time when life looked rosy. >> morris admits it has been in good times and bad that san bernardino's public unions had powerful influence over the politicians. elect.liticians they help morris says that is just the way its. >> in a blue collar city as old as we are unions have a presence in terms of funding for candidates for are city council and they are present at the table during labor negotiations. >> those negotiations in some cases ...

66. ♪ get your kicks on route 66 >> on old route 66, san bernardino was known as the last stop before l.a. ♪ san bernardino >> with freeways and major railway station it was the ideal hub linking the ports of los angeles and long beach out to the rest of the country. san bernardino symbolized the promise that economic growth held for middle class america. it was even the location of the first mcdonald's. but today, this city of around 210,000 has a shortfall of $46 million. over a quarter of its entire budget. unable to fund enough cuts to close the gap, san bernardino on august 1 filed fo...