Originally Posted by
EastsideAl
What a poorly written article. Somebody obviously has no idea how the consulting business works. That kid isn't making anywhere near $275/hr, nor is he the one billing it from the city.
He's an employee of a consulting firm that is billing the city that amount for his services - and, it seems, is also billing much more for the services of several other, apparently more experienced, people. The firm is charging for access to professional people they have theoretically vetted and trained. But unless those people are partners in the firm, most of that billed rate is not going to them personally, but straight into the firm's coffers to pay for expenses and the partners' share of the profits.
The unions' anger also seems misplaced. Again, perhaps because of a misunderstanding of how that business works. They really shouldn't be singling out this guy over what the city's paying his company for him. But they should be objecting to the huge amount these "services" are costing a purportedly broke city that can't even afford to keep lights on, police and fire depts. staffed, or its pension obligations funded. And the amount of padding involved for the firm's profit margin, way over and above what the individuals are actually paid for their work.