Latest news with #JohnHart


Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Six-figure salaries of lifeguards patrolling Los Angeles County's beaches revealed
As Donald Trump attempts to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in government jobs, a new report reveals lifeguards in Los Angeles County have been making six-figure wages. Some of the county's 1,500 caretakers on the beach made up to $510,283, with nearly 100 more making as much as $200,000, according to transparency watchdogs Open The Books. They're also able to collect exorbitant amounts of overtime, with one garnering upwards of $700,000 in just a five-year span. In 2024, the left-leaning county paid out a total of $70.8million from taxpayers for the 134 highest paid lifeguards. Much like the city, Los Angeles County is also led by a majority-Democrat council. The county's lifeguards don't just get paid to monitor swimmers on the beach, as many also help conduct maritime rescues and other emergency responses. 'Lifeguards who risk their lives protecting the public deserve to be well compensated, but paying them more than $500,000 may be unsettling to taxpayers who are drowning in debt,' John Hart, who made the report, told Fox News Digital. 'Once again, Los Angeles — a city that is struggling to extinguish fires and looting — is leading the way in lavish pay that needs to be addressed.' has reached out to a spokesperson for Los Angeles County for comment. The report comes as California and Los Angeles specifically have faced devastating cuts to public services. Three days ago, the county passed a new $47.9billion budget that required many departments to make three percent cuts. 'This is a different budget. It's reflective of us being in tough times,' Supervisor Janice Hahn told LAist. Sheriff's Department, Public Works, Regional Planning, Mental Health and the Correctional Health Services Department were exempt from the austerity measures. Property tax revenue from the state - which many have fled to avoid 'woke' political movements - has dropped from $450million in 2022-23 to $233.9million in 2025-26. Home sales in Los Angeles County have gone down a shocking 41 percent since 2021. 'We are in uncharted territory with these simultaneous pressures on our budget,' Davenport said. In January, Mayor Karen Bass demanded demanded her Fire Department make an extra $49million of budget cuts last week, a leaked memo revealed. This cut is already on top of $17.6million of cuts in her latest budget. The extra cuts, requested just days before fires broke out and devastated swathes of Los Angeles, would have shut down 16 fire stations and crippled the department's ability to respond to emergencies, sources said. interviewed current and former senior LAFD officers briefed on the shocking proposed cuts, and exclusively obtained the memo from an LA Fire Department (LAFD) whistleblower who posts on social media under the moniker 'LAFD Watchdog'. The memo is dated January 6, only a day before the devastating Palisades Fire started. According to the sources, it was sent from LAFD 'top brass' at City Hall to division chiefs and captains - after a fraught meeting the previous Friday between Chief Kristin Crowley and Mayor Bass. 'The LAFD is still going through a FY [financial year] 2024/2025 $48.8million budget reduction exercise with the CAO [City Attorney's Office],' the document said. 'The only way to provide a cost savings would be to close as many as 16 fire stations (not resources, fire stations); this equates to at least one fire station per City Council District. 'The details of this plan have not yet been developed. This is a worst-case scenario and is NOT happening yet.' The sources briefed on the memo said Bass first made the demand for tens of millions from the cash-strapped department in a meeting with Chief Crowley on Friday. 'Bass wanted to cut even more,' one source briefed on the meeting said. 'They asked for $49million more on Friday last week. The Chief said 'We don't have it'. The Mayor said 'Find it'.' Chief Crowley had already warned Bass last month that $17.6million of cuts the mayor successfully steered through a City Council vote had 'severely limited the department's capacity to prepare for, train for and respond to large-scale emergencies, including wildfires.' Crowley wrote the warning in a December 4 memo first reported by NBC LA, highlighting the $7 million reduction in 'overtime variable staffing hours' it caused, which 'adversely affected the Department's ability to maintain core operations, such as [...] training, fire prevention, and community education.'


Fox News
04-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Lifeguards in this Democrat-controlled city are raking in 6-figure incomes on taxpayers' dime
It's not just the waves making a splash in Los Angeles this Fourth of July – lifeguards' sky-high paychecks are turning heads, too. According to a new report by fiscal watchdog group OpenTheBooks, at least one L.A. County lifeguard raked in more than half a million dollars last year. Meanwhile, 34 lifeguards brought in $300,000 or more during 2024, while 134 brought in at least $200,000 in base pay, overtime and other benefits. Taxpayers in Los Angeles County are used to getting soaked, but it might be "unsettling" for some to hear how much lifeguards are being paid while the city still faces a shortage of firefighters and police, and struggles to extinguish wildfires or return violent crime to pre-pandemic levels, said OpenTheBooks CEO John Hart. "Lifeguards who risk their lives protecting the public deserve to be well compensated, but paying them more than $500,000 may be unsettling to taxpayers who are drowning in debt," Hart told Fox News Digital. "Once again, Los Angeles — a city that is struggling to extinguish fires and looting — is leading the way in lavish pay that needs to be addressed." L.A. County's 134 highest-paid lifeguards earned a combined $70.8 million last year, according to OpenTheBooks — averaging over $500,000 in total compensation per person. In addition to base and overtime pay, the dollar amount also includes "other" pay, leave time payouts, health insurance payments, pension contributions, deferred contributions, long-term disability and life insurance payouts. The highest paid lifeguard OpenTheBooks found brought in $523,351 in base pay, "other pay," and benefits in 2024. L.A. County's lifeguard division is recognized as one of the largest professional lifeguard services in the country. According to OpenTheBooks, in addition to higher-paid lifeguards, whose duties can range from watching swimmers to major maritime rescues and emergency response, there are a slew of lower-paid lifeguards that bring the total number of them in the Los Angeles-area to around 1,500. OpenTheBooks, which tracks wasteful spending across the government, reported in 2021 that the top-paid lifeguards in Los Angeles County earned up to $510,283 – nearly half of which was overtime pay. That year, 98 lifeguards in L.A. County made at least $200,000. In 2024, overtime pay played a major role in boosting lifeguard earnings in Los Angeles. Beyond Los Angeles, excessive overtime pay has sparked debate in other cities — particularly those grappling with major budget shortfalls. In Seattle, police officers have had to be disciplined for repeatedly violating the city's overtime policy. Per The Seattle Times, a patrol officer made more than the mayor, the police chief or any other city employee in 2019 after raking in more than $414,000. Overtime abuse has been an issue in other major cities like New York and Chicago, as well. In Chicago, where the city faces a growing budget shortfall, records obtained by a local news outlet found that during the first six months of 2024, the city had already spent 30% more than was allocated for police overtime pay. In New York, a former department chief for the NYPD is currently under investigation for alleged overtime abuse and other crimes. Republicans' "big beautiful bill" is purported to help overtime workers bring home even more, with its "no tax on tips" provision. Initially, the House's version of the bill had no limit on how much overtime pay could be exempt, but the Senate's version of the bill capped it at $12,500. Fox News Digital reached out to the Los Angeles County public information office for comment but did not hear back by press time.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Agile Defense Celebrated as Corporate Growth Leader at ACG National Capital's 2025 Awards
MCLEAN, Va., June 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Agile Defense, a leading provider of digital transformation, cybersecurity, data analytics and AI solutions, has been honored as the Corporate Growth Company of the Year (Over $250M) at the 23rd Annual Corporate Growth Awards, hosted by ACG National Capital. The prestigious award recognizes Agile Defense's exceptional growth trajectory, marked by its strategic acquisition of IntelliBridge, which propelled the company's annual revenue to $500 million and expanded its workforce to over 2,000 professionals worldwide. In 2024, Agile Defense achieved additional growth milestones, including the successful transition of a landmark $1.1 billion, 10-year sole-source IDIQ contract supporting the DISA Joint Interoperability Testing Command (JITC), and the launch of Agile Lion, a high-impact joint venture with Nemean Solutions LLC designed to accelerate innovation and enhance mission outcomes. "We are honored to be recognized by ACG National Capital for our sustained growth and innovation," said Rick Wagner, CEO of Agile Defense. "This award reflects the dedication of our talented team and our commitment to delivering solutions that advance mission outcomes across the Government." Agile Defense's rapid growth has been fueled by strategic investments in cutting-edge technologies through its innovation hub, Agile Labs, and a deliberate M&A strategy that unifies best-in-class capabilities and top-tier talent to deliver outcome-driven solutions at the speed of mission. "We're aligning every investment, every acquisition, and every innovation to better serve our customer missions," said John Hart, Chief Growth Officer at Agile Defense. "Agile Labs gives us a launchpad for emerging technologies, while our M&A strategy ensures we're integrating the right talent and capabilities to stay ahead of evolving national security needs and drive long-term sustainable growth for Agile Defense." The Corporate Growth Awards celebrate the achievements of the Washington, D.C. region's fastest-growing and most innovative companies. Agile Defense's recognition highlights its strategic vision, operational excellence, and impact on the national security landscape. About Agile Defense Agile Defense stands at the forefront of innovation, driving advanced capabilities and solutions tailored to the most critical national security and civilian missions. With more than 2,000 teammates operating in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Agile Defense supports our customer missions around the globe. Our collaborative and multi-disciplinary teams bring creativity and flexibility to developing advanced digital transformation, data analytics, and cyber solutions. We are not afraid to take on the most difficult challenges because we know that together, we can accomplish anything. Learn more at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Agile Defense Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Flex Announces Collaboration with MIT to Advance the Future of Manufacturing with AI and Automation
News summary Flex joins MIT's Initiative for New Manufacturing Consortium as a founding member MIT graduate and PhD students will use artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to address manufacturing and supply chain challenges Anticipated research projects to include supply chain resiliency solutions, improved manufacturing efficiency, and more advanced manufacturing jobs AUSTIN, Texas, June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Flex (NASDAQ: FLEX) today announced a strategic collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on its new Initiative for New Manufacturing (INM) — a bold, Institute-wide effort to reimagine industrial production, drive innovation through advanced technologies, and strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. As a founding member of the INM Industry Consortium, Flex will work closely with MIT researchers, educators, and fellow industry leaders to support cutting-edge projects that apply AI, machine automation, and new system-level approaches to manufacturing. "Flex is proud to collaborate with MIT on this important initiative to shape the future of manufacturing," said Cameron Carr, chief strategy officer of Flex. "Together, we aim to innovate and advance manufacturing by focusing on areas that increase resilience, productivity, and sustainability — while helping to build a stronger industrial base in the U.S. and beyond." The MIT Initiative for New Manufacturing focuses on four core pillars: Reimagining manufacturing technologies and systems Elevating productivity and the human experience of manufacturing Scaling new ventures and resilient supply chains Transforming the global manufacturing base with a focus on sustainability and economic opportunity INM will also establish new labs to develop advanced manufacturing tools and techniques. Through an MIT "factory observatory" program, students will gain hands-on experience by visiting Flex production sites. Separately, Flex will be hosting MIT faculty, researchers and Masters of Engineering (MEng) students at its Sorocaba, Brazil, site, where they will have the opportunity to work with FIT (Flex Institute of Technology), a nonprofit research and development institute focused on developing technological solutions for electronics manufacturing and related end products. "We're excited to collaborate with companies like Flex that are already shaping the next generation of industry," said Professor John Hart, Head of the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering and INM faculty co-director. "This collaboration aligns our shared vision of creating more resilient, human-centered, and technologically advanced manufacturing ecosystems." Learn more about the Initiative for New Manufacturing and Flex's role in shaping the future of global manufacturing at and About FlexFlex (Reg. No. 199002645H) is the manufacturing partner of choice that helps a diverse customer base design and build products that improve the world. Through the collective strength of a global workforce across 30 countries and responsible, sustainable operations, Flex delivers technology innovation, supply chain, and manufacturing solutions to diverse industries and end markets. Media Contacts: Media & PressYvette LorenzDirector, Executive Communications and Corporate PR(415) Investors & AnalystsMichelle SimmonsSVP Global IR & PR(669) View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Flex Sign in to access your portfolio


Forbes
28-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
4 AI Applications To Manufacturing
Thumbnail: A factory Linkedin: Read more about AI in manufacturing Many aspects of the AI revolution are geared toward knowledge work – partly because these new models are so good at thinking in human-like ways. We're not used to computers being able to contemplate doing the job of a paralegal, or a writer, for example. AI in manufacturing is much different. It takes rote processes, and applies artificial intelligence to precision and doing things right. As I've been hearing about all sorts of use cases and applications at conferences and events, I've been thinking about some of the fundamental pillars of manufacturing automation with AI. I think that these provide a good survey of what companies are doing to automate traditional processes. I've written about this before, and I've heard over a dozen experts explain it in various ways. (Who am I kidding? More like a few dozen.) In a nutshell, it seems like this is how digital twinning has to do with manufacturing. The user will create a digital twin of a simulated factory process to show the ideal result. Then they will run the physical process, and compare it to the digital twin. This is a type of precision reinforcement that can help with defects and process errors. That's the basic idea, but there's more in terms of how you set up digital twinning. For example, in a Ted talk centered on this type of application, John Hart (someone with MIT connections) uses this description of how to use digital twinning: 'Before a part is ever printed, such as the watch housing in my hand, we're able to simulate the process,' he says. 'We built and adopted software tools to simulate the process, to virtually lay out the print, and then when the printing starts, we do a relatively straightforward thing that's really important. The printer takes pictures every time it completes a layer, and then, on the fly, looks for microscopic flaws. And the process runs uninterrupted. If flaws are detected, (or) as flaws are detected, it can identify ways to correct for those flaws. And at the end of the print, there is a digital twin of the printed geometry that can be compared to the expected outcome, and can also be used to train the system over time.' That's one model, but there are others, too. Digital twinning is soon to be a best practice in industries from defense to transportation and medical equipment manufacturing. Then there is 'cobots,' the portmanteau for 'collaborative robots' that people use to talk about automated machines working side-by-side with humans. What do these machines do? Well, cobots can do a lot, with everything from repetitive motion assembly, to inspection, to hauling materials to exactly where they need to be for a manufacturing process. The key is that the cobots are built to help humans – rather than industrial robots, which are built for precision, cobots tend to be built for economics and safety. When you talk about the 'factory in a box,' you're talking about self-contained systems that can be stood up at demand locations. They're also very versatile in creating different kinds of products. 'Equipped with AI-driven automation, IoT sensors and real-time data analytics, these units enable flexible, localized production,' write Matthew Finio and Amanda Downie for IBM. 'This allows companies to bring manufacturing closer to demand, reduce logistics costs and rapidly respond to changing needs.' There's also often a need for dedicated systems to provide central control in manufacturing environments. Overarching architectures establish baselines and enable more rigorous evaluation and process optimization. This resource from Tupl goes over Manufacturing Execution Systems (which authors refer to as a 'bridge between the production floor and the enterprise's higher-level operations'), Enterprise Resource Planning software and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) data collection systems on the floor. In his talk, Hart also theorizes three major advances with multimodal systems. One is the proliferation of new product design designs. The second is that manufacturing flexibility of a 'factory in a box' design. The third is changes to the value chain, where these innovations are going to make production and delivery different for companies. Those are some of the fundamental technologies that are 'collapsing complexity,' in Hart's words, and driving new ways of production. For people who are used to talking about business process optimization, I would use the term 'business process revolution' or 'business process transformation' in thinking about big transitions to AI-native designs that will make tomorrow's factories look much different from what we have today.