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01-22-2008, 12:35 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Jan 2008
12 posts, read 11,349 times
Reputation: 19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cibeg
People have a right to live where they want. If you feel so strongly in your logic that you must live where you work I sure hope you practice what you preach and live in the municipality in which you're employed. We are losing valuable young Officers to other agencies specifically BECAUSE of the residency requirement and it is NOT easy to replace them with QUALIFIED applicants. Our lists are at most 15 people long and often result in 1 or 2 hires. I do not really know where the feelings of entitlement and ownership come from in regards to public perception anyway.
We all do our jobs to the best of our abilities and receive fair compensation - what difference does it make where we live? My father worked at Inland Steel his whole life and we certainly didn't grow up in East Chicago! I believe it makes people feel better, they believe it somehow makes the neighborhoods "feel safer; more secure" - of course this is merely a perception and not reality. It isn't like you can run over to your Police Officer neighbor and he/she will suddenly spring into action in regards to your incident. This is very unrealistic! My wife and children are instructed to keep the door closed, locked, and dial 911 - the same thing the neighbor should be doing. Does this feeling of a security blanket triumph over the employees Constitutional Rights? Luckily, most municipalities are abolishing this "old school mentality" and doing the right thing by letting employees make their own living choices. Calumet City, South Holland, and Kankakee are all examples. Unfortunately, in Lansing, the union was unable to secure this right in binding arbitration. Now, we are already suffering the consequences - very qualified Officers leaving for other agencies and many others in the process. The administrators and public do not realize the impact this ordinance makes. Remember, when you dial 911 are you truly getting the best qualified Police Officer...or merely the best qualified Officer who is willing to live in Lansing?
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Yes, you do have a right to live where every you want. I never wrote that, you didn't. Futhermore, I'm talking about village employees who are paid, with tax dollars! Just like employees employed with the City of Chicago, including educators....now have to LIVE in Chicago! What does your father who worked for Inland Steel have to do with this? That company, doesn't pay it's employees with tax-payer dollars?
I stated how about making incentives for village-employees, who do still live in town? Many other cities have these type of benefits! What tends to happen in many South Suburban communities, is that when the police officers/fire-fighters/EMT's and such start moving out, people.... especially non-minorities, start abandoning ship! Then as a result, businesses start pulling out, so on and so forth and there begins a demise of a community! This is what I've seen my entire adult life, living in the South Suburbs, of the Chicagoland area!
I worked in Orland/Tinley park area for over a decade. They have residency-requirements, for village-employees.... and it's NOT a problem! However, it's a problem for urban-community areas, because the White employees, don't want to live there!
Yes, we do practice what we preach! My husband has worked for the Village we live in for nearly two decades. They even lifted residency and we are still here! Many of the elderly towns-people were dishearten when the residency was lifted and are uber appreciative of those who stayed, like us. Interesting enough, it was all of the White officers and such who were so eager to leave because, "oh my.....I don't want to live in a town with people of color moving in and the administration voted in, is now diverse too. Ugh, perish the thought!"
Yes, town-people, felt a sense of security with officers/fire-fighters and such living in town. It maybe perceptions of safety more than a reality in your opinion. However, it's assuring to know when there's a serious sitiuation, that results in calling in numerous staff members to be on-site, they can get there in five minutes. Instead of, taking 45+ minutes because they all moved to St. John/Crown Point or Merrillville Indiana. We felt a since to stay in the community because it's a good community and just because minorities are moving in, doesn't make it bad!
I've experienced White-Flight my entire adult life. I find it quite sad and pathetic! The foundation of this nation was built on diversity. The Mid-West (Illinois), is one of the most racist states ever. My family are all from the South. Believe it or not, they couldn't believe how White people acted when they moved into a community. They lived right next door to other races in South; the so-called heart of racism and never had problems.
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