To the editor: The primary takeaway from your article about retired cops
and firefighters taking their pensions and fleeing California is that
certain pockets of this nation are riddled with petty � if not delusional
� grievances. You get a well-paying job with both union and civil service
protections, retire at 50 with a six-figure pension and complain.

Retired Long Beach officer Jorge Grajeda � now living in Eagle, Idaho �
griped that he was paying up to $40,000 a year in taxes. Considering he
earned nearly $253,000 in 2020 (per Transparent California), that's an
overall tax rate of a little more than 15%.

It�s a good thing he�s not living in a place like Norway, where he'd pay
around 40% at his income. Maybe he would then complain about everyone
being assured enough retirement income and safety net programs so they
don't wind up on the street.

I suppose five years from now, when The Times writes a followup article,
I'll get to hear these retirees moan about how cold Idaho is and how
there's nothing to do. And that everyone there complains too much.

Ron Shinkman, North Hills

...

To the editor: Being a police officer is a harrowing job when it seems
that almost everyone has access to a weapon. When it comes time to retire,
your pension should reflect the sacrifices you and your family made.

Still, what struck me about one of the retired California police officers
in Eagle, Idaho, was his support for a presidential candidate under
indictment on 91 felony counts. The intellectual and moral conflict this
represents doesn't even seem to register.

One retired officer complained that California leaders no longer "have
their backs," meaning that whatever an officer does in the line of duty
should be condoned and protected. This is not unlike former President
Trump saying he should have immunity for whatever he did during his
presidency.

This mind-set creates problems when public servants and leaders expect
loyalty at the expense of protecting society and serving the greater good.
Lawyers, doctors, nurses and teachers are held accountable every day for
their mistakes, and it should not be any different for police.

Betty Seidmon-Vidibor, Los Angeles

...

To the editor: The Times wrote a story about my hometown, and the only
thing I recognize is the photos.

I live in Eagle, where I closely follow local politics. Our mayor's race
pitted incumbent Mayor Jason Pierce against City Councilman Brad Pike. The
top issue was the annexation of Avimor, a nascent subdivision that lies
nine miles up an empty stretch of highway from downtown Eagle.

Pierce, the incumbent, supported annexation; his opponent Pike was the
only City Council vote to oppose the plan. In spite of vocal, organized
and active opposition, annexation was approved earlier this year.

Just this month, Pierce was defeated in his reelection bid. Between
general and run-off elections, greater than 60% of the votes went to
candidates against annexation.

Jim Blachman, Eagle, Idaho

...

To the editor: Also deserving of coverage in The Times is the brain-drain
of military retirees leaving the state.

California is the only state in the U.S. that fully taxes military
pensions, none of which is six figures. Many who collect them are in their
40s, and most would prefer to stay here. In fact, most could afford to
stay with their lucrative second careers � which for now are in other
states.

Assembly Bill 46, which would repeal the military pension tax for a
decade, is being held up because of state budget concerns. This is more
shortsighted than the political failures that set up the exodus of
government retirees in your article about California cops in Idaho.

The military retirees, in their new careers, would probably pay more in
state taxes over the long term than any short-term decrease in state
revenue.

Raymond Roth, Oceanside

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