Do you believe all civil servants should have to live in the city which they work?

United States
October 15, 2015 8:59am CST
This seems to be the question of the day for me at work and it's a question happening currently in Baltimore, Maryland as some police officer's do not live within the city which they work. The police department is reviewing this, but one must remember some people live not only outside the city but in another state and commute to work due to higher taxes in Maryland. During last night's confirmation of Interim Commissioner Davis becoming the seated Commissioner of Baltimore, protesters made several demands. I have to wonder what right one has to tell someone where they can live. In fact, if the shoe was on the other foot I'm sure protesters would be enraged at the thought of being told where they themselves could live. One man stated, "Any civil servant who works in the city should have to live in the city." Think about that, civil servants are not just police officers, they make up a vast range of jobs. For one to make suggest a suggestion or requirement for those working in each city across America, would uproot thousands of families. When asked where they would be housed, the man had no reply other than to say they already do it in Philly, which I highly doubt. I told him I would love to see the documentation of it all but alas he gave way to the topic. It's great to want change in fact I applaud those who truly put thought behind making a better life for themselves as I am one of them, but such a requirement would over fill cities already over populated. Do we remove people from their homes who live in the cities simply because they are not civil servants just to fill this requirement? Should businesses have a right to tell employees where they can live? Or is it just part of the hiring process a choice of hiring those who already live there, which is usually the case. Many companies ask the question would you relocate. Several members of the community believe last night's protest at City Hall was all over race, as the new acting commissioner is white. Protesters were very outspoken about wanting someone else who happened to be black. However, members of the community, one mother of a child that died said she believed Commissioner Davis would put the rights of victims over any status quo. "Several protesters were arrested though no injuries were reported for officers or protesters," says Baltimore Police. This was definitely an interesting news topic for me to cover this morning. A number of community members believe officers are following in the footsteps of MayorSRB giving protesters to much room to act out. Some were questioning why it took so long last night for protesters to be arrested as BPD stated on their FB page "After hours of communication and warnings..." One FB user was reported for posting on the BPD FB page, "Hope someone shoots ONE of you or all of you". The message has sense been removed. As you can see there is a great divide in the city of Baltimore, though I have seen Commissioner Davis act in such a way during protests that give hope to continued change. I wish him great success in settling the unrest that still affects the area.
2 people like this
5 responses
@LadyDuck (502979)
• Italy
15 Oct 15
I know that in our country only some doctors and nurses are required to lives no more than fifteen minutes for the hospital where they work, in case of emergency. This makes sense.
2 people like this
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
15 Oct 15
Lol! in here , India civil servant lives in the same city.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
29 Oct 15
if someone is willing to do the commuting distance should be immaterial
@skysnap (20152)
15 Oct 15
I guess so because remote working and using the different location to that of workplace just dont work. this could be one reason the person has to be there too as well.
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
15 Oct 15
People should live where they want to live - I can't see why anyone thinks it's OK to dictate where they should live. My husband is a prison officer here in the UK. A lot of his friends and colleagues don't want to live near their prisons for security reasons.
1 person likes this