Opinions ran wild on both sides last year when the 7 percent increase to the Police Officers Association was announced.

This was contracted during closed-door negotiations four years earlier, so the city lived up to the contract, regardless of the present economic situation. The POA was satisfied with the contract and their increase even during rough times.

It is now contract time again, and behind closed doors these negotiations have been unsuccessful for four months. Emotions are running high, with both sides saying the other side is unwilling to compromise, and all the residents get is a “they said” from both sides.

A random comment overheard, out of context, at a community gathering caused the POA to demonstrate outside Councilmember Becerra’s home on a Saturday at 8 a.m. with no respect to the other residents living on that street.

These are the men and women we as Simi Valley residents respect and look to to protect our city. Is that what your L.A. public relations firm is advising you to do, disrespect the local residents? This is truly beneath the high regard which our officers have achieved from the residents.

The outcome of these negotiations affects every resident of Simi Valley, and we have a right to know what is really going on behind closed doors.

Contracts might not be agreed on so far in the future, and negotiators will truly have to negotiate to the good of all concerned.

If all parties truly want the negotiations to remain behind closed doors, then I suggest that the L.A. hired firm be told to take a hike and both sides start being professional and stop making comments to the press.

Look up the meaning of the word “negotiate” if you’ve forgotten what it means. Settle this thing for the good of all of Simi Valley, both the POA and the residents. Delight Congdon Simi Valley