D.A. offers to help end attorneys’ strike, supervisors skeptical

The District Attorney’s office is willing to use some of their funds to end the attorneys’ strike if the County approves a 10% increase to attorneys’ salaries.

D.A. Gilbert Otero offered the help in a letter sent to the Board of Supervisors Wednesday night. The offer states that the D.A. would pick up the difference if the County approves the 10% salary increase. The County would only be obligated to actually cover for the attorneys a 2.2% increase for the next three years, pay overtime, create a new attorney position, and give a stipend for attorney court clothing.

Supervisors said they will turn this offer to the Board on Tuesday for review. However, one supervisor who didn’t want to be named said the offer has little hope of being passed because it goes around the employee bargaining units, which they said, is wrong.

Deputy D.A. Association President Twylailyne Johnson said, “It won’t cost the county a penny. It comes strictly out of the District Attorney’s budget. Given some of the conversations that have already gone on between members of the board and Mr. Otero, I am a little bit concerned that they’re not very enthusiastic about it.”

The public is encouraged to attend the next Board of Supervisors meeting in which they will review the D.A.’s offer.