Originally Posted by funkymonkey1111
unions are a wonderful thing to extort $$ from the citizenry



Quote Originally Posted by StreetDoctor View Post
Let's not start the union bashing.... :rolleyes

I was a firefighter outside of chicago before moving here and I made nearly 90k without overtime. Property taxes on a 250k (3b2b 1500sq ft) house was also nearly $8,000 and sales tax is the highest in the country (11% I believe). My wife and I were definitely "middle class". Cost of living is a LOT cheaper out here. I make half of what I did back there and we live a lot more comfortably in a much bigger house. I believe NJ has the same property taxes.

Agreed our daugher had / still has the opportunity to work NYPD for some ungodly sum.
HOWEVER as posted above. Take the starting salary with increases over the years. Include the average median priced home (in even a shitty area) starts @ $300K EASY factor in TAXES [ Long island for ex] average yearly home owners starts @ $8-12K once again in a less than perfect area. Vehicle ins, food cost Forget about riding the train. Which is about the only perk LE receives (they ride for free) everyone else that's another $250 mthly.

Cheap place to dine out other than the Clown's golden arches dinner for 2 $75 NOT INCL Tax, Alcohol, Gratuity .
Hell due to the density of housing the only place to build is UP. The kids live at home because a 2 bd 1 bath dinette apt over some levitt home starts @ $2K. My nephew purchased a foreclosure for $325K ! ! ! ! That is one which needed major renovation before occupying. Now he has foundation and starting over due to hurricane Sandy.