Mike Webb: What Raleigh’s protectors deserve

Regarding the July 17 news article “Protectors at odds with city over pay”: I find it unconscionable that first-responders must drive as much as an hour to get home after serving a community they can’t afford to live in. This is valuable time they should be relaxing with their family and friends.

It is part of the coveted wind down that allows each of us to “get up and do it again.” Add to this the need for these community servants to supplement their incomes with part-time jobs and it is an indictment of the very residents they have taken an oath to serve and protect.

To put this into perspective, we only have to understand that we are talking about “1 penny per $100 of property valuation” equations.

Amphitheaters, greenways, fireworks, street fairs are all well and good. But they achieve their intended effect only when there is a well-rested and adequately compensated public safety contingency at the ready.

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Mike Webb: What Raleigh’s protectors deserve."