capesidefan

bet this is not the only station or cops being cut out there . Where's the funding? Kerry said he will give more funding for fire fighters and police... we need to give better funding for our fire fighters and police.

here's an example on what he said in one of his speeches:
The job will be done when every firehouse in America has the firefighters and the equipment they need to protect our communities. Right now, two-thirds of firehouses are understaffed, and we’re not spending one dime to fund the SAFER Act.

The job will be done when all our firefighters have the resources to fight the war on terror here at home. Right now, in too many places, your budgets are being cut to cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans.

link to the speech
http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/s...2004_0819.html


this article below is from komotv.com
http://komotv.com/stories/33643.htm

Proposed Budget Cuts Could Hit Firefighters, Police

October 24, 2004

By George Howell


TACOMA - Fewer firefighters and less police service.

That's just part of the plan being proposed in Tacoma, as the city tries to close the gap on a $29 million dollar budget deficit.

The plan is to cut $14 million, partly by selling some city properties and increasing city fees.

It's the cuts aimed at public safety that have one group of firefighters concerned.

In event of a fire or medical emergency in north Tacoma residents may be getting help from firefighters at Station 13. "The station's open 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide coverage for what's commonly termed the Proctor District," said Kevin Callier, a firefighter at the station.

Recently, it seems 13 is definitely an unlucky number for the 13 firefighters assigned to the station.

The city council is considering a plan to close the operation entirely, despite the fact that Tacoma's call volumes for fire related incidents are on the rise by about 5 percent each year.

"Right now, we have a hard time just keeping up with the run volume. With taking just one station out of the loop, you get a large domino effect, that really impacts the surrounding stations," Callier said.

"It means something as insignificant as waiting for the fire department to get there, or it could mean ultimately watching someone die, because the help wasn't given," added firefighter John Goddu.

Cutting Station 13 would save Tacoma $2.3 million dollars. The firestation was on the chopping block two years ago, but the firefighters union cut pensions to save it.

The city may also eliminate its Community Oriented Policing program. Re-assigning the 13 officers who work as community liaisons to regular patrol duties would save $3.5 million.

Mayor Bill Baarsma says the city council will make a final decision in December. "Now what we have is simply a proposal," he explained. "I'm hoping that we can keep this force structure with both fire and police as strong as possible."

As for the firefighters at 13, they're concerned that the rich history could be coming to an end.

Callier said "The thought of anybody losing their job because of this is emotional for all of us, really."

Nothing is final yet.

mh67511

Why don't they just raise the property or sales taxes a little bit? I know when I lived in Chicago there was 8.75% sales tax, plus very high property taxes, as well as one of the highest car rental taxes (18%) and hotel taxes and we never had any problems. In fact once we called 911 because our dryer started on fire and we were afraid of a gas leak...and FOUR HOOK AND LADDERS along with the fire chief came in THREE MINUTES! And this was Chicago!! Also, once the kid from down the street was drunk and walked up the back porch stairs and INTO the neighbors apartment and withing minutes there were police cars all over the place casing down the apartment! So as far as I'm concered all those taxes were worth it.

My parents town doesn't even have a fire station! We have a volunteer fire department, but by the time they made it to my parents house there would probably be nothing they could do! I think there is on police car in town.

capesidefan

its not just going on where I live, but all over I think

I don't think its in one's fault for not having the funding, but we need to do a better job on getting money there, closing down fire houses, will not make better response time. Its sad this day in age, we can pay 400 million dollars for Baseball stadiums and football stadiums, but can't pay to keep a fire house open. I don't know I just see something wrong with it when we get taxed for stadiums, but can't pick up the tab to keep police men and fire fighters around. I think are money would be much better spent on public safety then a lot of things we spend things on, here and in the country. Having a budget shortfall, is something we shouldn't have.

I'm fine with getting taxed a little more to have they things done.

Chicago has some of the best and most highly trained fire fighters out there... They are awesome. Long tradition of fire fightering. The response time is amazing by these guys... Where I live we have to paid fire fighter stations, and we also get help from surrounding communities.

In Kerry's speech he said Right now, two-thirds of firehouses are understaffed, wow all I can say. I know where I live they try to fund to have 4 paid fire fighters on each engine.... But places like Seattle have a tuffer time coming up with funding, they try for 4, but I've heard some only have 3 on the engine... Usually on a Engine, there's a engineer (drive), Officer, Captain or Leutient, and Hydrant person who hooks up the water when they arrive on the scene, the hose man..... Most engines should be staffed with 4, better and quicker response time.

My Uncle's a assistant fire chief for a smaller city in washington, there fire station, mostly has a problem of having enough people to staff the station, they have 6 paid fire fighters, volunteer's too.. But i think if they had more money, it would be a lot easy for them to keep it staffed well.
They have had 1 person working, on certain days before.

Technology rise, fire fighters still need better equitment all over the country too.. Like better radio setups and more. Money for new trucks too, new fire engines and ladder trucks are usually replaced like every 5 years..

So it should be interesting to see what happens after the presidential election, John Kerry has a few Idea's on how to keep the public saftey rolling...



The job will be done when every firehouse in America has the firefighters and the equipment they need to protect our communities. Right now, two-thirds of firehouses are understaffed, and we’re not spending one dime to fund the SAFER Act.

The job will be done when all our firefighters have the resources to fight the war on terror here at home. Right now, in too many places, your budgets are being cut to cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans.

And, my friends, the job will be done when we stop opening firehouses in Baghdad while closing them down here in the United States of America.

For four years, we've heard a lot of talk about values. But values are not just words. They're what we live by. They're about the choices we make, the causes we champion, and the people we fight for.

Let me tell you about my values. The way I see it, all of you are full-time heroes, and you deserve nothing less than America’s full-time support.

That’s why, for nineteen years in the Senate, I’ve fought for better equipment and training, for tracking technology and workplace protections. I sponsored the Federal Presumptive Disability legislation, because when federal firefighters get sick because of their job, they deserve our help. And I’ve fought for collective bargaining for all employees – including federal employees – and I’ll take on anyone who tries to take it away.

And that’s just the beginning. When John Edwards and I are in the White House, we’re going to fund the FIRE Act and the SAFER Act. We’re going to create the Father Mychal Judge fund to hire 100,000 new firefighters all across America. And we’re going to be an Administration that stands with labor. Let us never forget that every single one of the firefighters who went up the stairs of those burning towers, and through the doors of that warehouse in Worcester – all of them were members of organized labor. They believed in the right to organize…the right to overtime pay…the right to have a Secretary of Labor who comes from labor. And we do too. Those are our values, and we’re going to live and lead by them every day that we’re in the White House. And that’s how we’re going to get the job done.