Cost of necessary help

Just ran across this blog article during lunch. I had an idea that many cities and agencies probably have a price for 911 calls. I think ours is included within our phone bill/plan. I know in some areas regarding house fires, firefighters may not try to put it out because the family hasn't paid for some kind of tax - I know what its called. Ugh, its on the tip of my tongue. But hell, if I need 911 I'm going to call and I'll dispute the costs later.

In The News: Paying for 911 calls

When the city of Tracy, California, announced it would charge residents $300 for placing a 911 emergency medical call, a solution to municipal deficit mushroomed into a national debate about personal versus governmental responsibility.

Sacramento’s CBS 13 news reported that the city planned to fill some of its $9 million budget deficit by levying 911 fees, giving Tracy residents a choice of paying a “voluntary” annual charge of $48 per household for unlimited 911 calls, or $300 at the time of a call.

Residents were predictably opposed to the plan. “This is a terrible idea,” one commented, “especially when people already pay taxes for emergency services.” Another hypothesized, “I see a cop get shot by a thug. So the city is going to charge me $300 for calling 911?”

The story gathered national attention, culminating with an opinion piece by Thomas L. Friedman in The New York Times. Writing about the Tracy 911 charges in a column entitled “The Fat Lady Has Sung,” Friedman said “it feels as if we are entering a new era” — described by Johns Hopkins University foreign policy expert Michael Mandelbaum as one “where the great task of government and of leadership is going to be about taking things away from people.”

Tell us what you think: Is it right for governments to charge residents for placing 911 emergency calls? How much would you be willing to pay per call?

 

Recess and Summer Vacations = Best part of school

Not so for Sam!

About a month ago he was looking into completing his college education to get his two year degree. I guess at the time he was accepted into the academy and he didn't finish...well something like that. As it turns out he had his AA all along but not the actual diploma. No one at the college had told him he had to apply for graduation even if he wasn't going to be walking.

So two years later, he finally has his diploma and also learned he was only 4 credits away from his AS in Criminal Justice. He starts summer school today I think. Then he'll be thinking of getting his bachelors in public service administration. So happy and proud of him.

Should've Had a Storm Warning

Sam hates that we're in hurricane season right now. I'm sure as soon as there is one headed for us, I'm going to hate it too. It's becoming a semi-reality with Tropical Storm Debby's outerbands impacting our area from the Gulf. For when a storm is brewing the police have to move in and bunk out at the station. I'm not looking forward to that.

We'll have to have a serious talk about what our storm plans are on Wednesday when he's finally done with the work week. I'll need to learn to get the shutters out and up on the house if I need to. Though I'm sure his family would be at house to help if I needed and there's his friend Dan and my friend/co-worker Martin who live close by who could lend a hand. But it be could if I could help out with that. And I certainly wouldn't be staying in the house by my lonesome with 2 dogs and a cat. We'd all be going stir crazy and there would definitely be no sleep. I would probably pack us all up and head to either my parents or his who live just about 25 minutes south.

But a plan would definitely be good. I think we'd both feel more at ease.

Sitting on fences

Again. Sam is back on the fence again with work. He's only been with the department two and a half years and I think he's gone back and forth too many times to count. He loves his job. He hates his job. He likes his job and is thinking of making detective. He despises work and can't wait to get out of policing all together. They give him a shotgun and work is okay again.

Now he's talking about transferring to the other city department in our county. Not sure how long he's been juggling the idea but I was informed this morning when he got in after shift. If he transfers, he said it'll be a $10,000 raise with the opportunity for advancement, he'll be dealing with white people, and he could go all shift and not get a call. Probably not the best thing to hear but its better than getting paid next to nothing, dealing with people who live in Section 8 housing areas (I think that's what he refers to it) and constantly getting shot at.

So I guess we'll see what decision he'll make. I'm sure I'll be posting in another week or so about how he's changed plans again. What ever keeps him happy and safe.