Firefighters worth it

Regarding Rick Johnson’s July 3 letter, “Public safety pay generous.”

First, they are known as firefighters, not firemen (there are women in today’s fire department). He says that since he is a taxpayer, he has every right to know what firefighters are paid. He does not need to know that information. Most are woefully underpaid. They are willing to lay their life on the line for you and your property, and he wants to know how much they make? He can’t be serious!

My father was a Spokane firefighter for 30-plus years. He saw his fellow firefighters get hurt and a few paid the ultimate price. These local heroes never know what the next call might bring, and he thinks you should know how much they are paid? Shame on him.

The average worker’s pay may have been stagnant for the last 20 years, but a firefighter is not an average worker. I certainly hope Mayor David Condon does not take Johnson’s suggestion and publish that information.

If he is determined to know what firefighters are paid, he should move back to that town he grew up in with the volunteer fire department. They, too, are woefully underpaid.

Michael J. Rudd

Post Falls