Left In Lowell

I found the LPD’s union presence at today’s event with Governor Patrick pretty amusing. They are, after all, standing out in support of the Governor, even if they don’t know it and their signs read otherwise.

I can’t think of a single taxpayer who is not a police officer or relative of one who has not wanted to get rid of police details for construction sites, or to moderate the taxpayer-funded Quinn bill. On the former, no previous (mostly Republican) governor has ever been able to make the process that Patrick has made on civilian flaggers - sure, there was a limit to what Patrick could do, since he has control over state projects and only certain ones at that. But he did what he could to join the rest of the 49 states in hiring civilian flaggers at construction sites. Look, our police are too damn valuable to be directing traffic all the time. They’re overtrained for such duties. It’s a waste of our taxpayer money to continue to allow it.

And on the Quinn bill, look, I’m all for better educated police officers. However, there is a limit to what the state, and cities and towns, can afford, and a college education isn’t really completely applicable to most police jobs in the ranks (even patrolmen get a huge 30% bonus for achieving a master’s degree! WTF?). They get their education paid for, then get bonuses afterward. Well, everyone in this economy is struggling, and to ignore the fact that other state employees (as well as private sector workers) are taking furloughs and getting laid off, is to be tone deaf. The police unions certainly are very tone deaf.

So that’s why their standing out today is really actually helping Patrick. Because they remind the public of the things they hate about how taxpayer dollars are sometimes spent. Their signs were insulting - Deval Hates Cops? Really? Or Deval Is Against Public Safety? Melodramatic much?

I know it’s the job of a union to fight for all the perks they can get, and to fight to keep the ones they’ve had, but seriously, you guys are doing yourselves no favor with your shouting and your overdramatic signs. The public sides with Patrick on this one, folks, and there’s no denying it. So, thanks for standing out in support of Governor Patrick’s reelection campaign. We all appreciate it!

Sponsored by The Lowell Plan and the City of Lowell, this event brings in nationally renowned city planner Jeff Speck to discuss progressive development, streetscapes, public transportation, walkability, and more. The event takes place on Saturday, April 10, 10 a.m. – noon at the MCC’s Federal Building, 50 Kearney Sq. The event is free and open to the public. For information call, 978-459-9899.