Left Side of the Moon

Some time ago, my sister and I were discussing teacher salaries and she mentioned that few people earned less and were considered ‘professional.’ Then we learned the Boise Police Dept still didn’t have a contract and the last figures we had were $24,000/year. And to be honest, I don’t remember if they said Boise Police or Idaho State troopers.

Boise police officers base salary is annually around $30-33,000 (from what I gleaned here).

Per the Idaho Education Association: “

The beginning salary for Idaho teachers next year will be $30,000? But a beginning computer engineer in Idaho with the same amount of education starts out at about $52,500.”……..

…

Although a child of the ’60s and not overly enthusiastic of a police presence (given the present political climate and especially given the past 24-36 hours), I am hoping these discussions chill out a bit for the sake of all Boise residents who depend upon the police. Coming home at night, I see the checking in at the Mavericks’, Jacksons’, 7-11, and other gas and convenience places and it’s then I realize there’s a lot that goes on that the public doesn’t always see.

‘Downright nasty’ is a description assigned to these negotiation sessions, as demonstrated here in The Idaho Statesman and the Boise Weekly.

This drew an angry response from reflexively outspoken City Council member Alan Shealy. In an interview with Deanna Darr of the Boise Weekly, Shealy said the union leaders’ tactics will backfire. “They engaged in this scorched-earth policy of personal attacks. If they think that’s going to help their cause, they’ve got another thing coming. I think they’re on dope and dog food.”

As Kevin Reichert writes in the Idaho Statesman:

Dope and dog food? Today’s nasty rhetoric is brought to you by the letter “D.” A letter that, I believe, also appears in the word “diplomacy.“

Oh, dear……

Joyce Alexander, Boise Weekly, got this shot below of the Boise Police protesting. Ah, democracy.

Boise Police Union president Kip Wills and protesters in front of City Hall last week as tensions rise in the conflict with the city