Editorial “City firefighters’ dubious billboards” opines:
“[Mayor] Gray’s efforts to cut spending were greeted with disdain by the union, which accuses the mayor of putting cost savings ahead of the safety of firefighters and – by extension – the public.
“The firefighters’ charge is without foundation. Had the city been swimming in money, would the mayor be asking for these drastic changes? Not likely.”
WATCHDOG: That is called a ‘non-sequitur’, Latin for “It does not follow.” Had the “city been swimming in money”, Gray would not be requesting the cuts and the issue of their effect upon public safety would not exist.
NewsLanc understands from sources deemed reliable that there are issues worthy of public scrutiny concerning the adequacy of fire protection for the City of Lancaster. Let us hope that there is no tragedy that causes the editors to have to eat their words.
“NewsLanc understands from sources deemed reliable that there are issues worthy of public scrutiny concerning the adequacy of fire protection for the City of Lancaster”.
Great! But is there some secret about these issues? I, for one would like to hear about them. Why not put the “adequacy” issues “of fire protection for the city” on the table together with the perspectives of the firefighters and “City Hall”. Most people support the firefighters and they also know about the crisis in most city and state budgets here and around the country.
In a broader context, It is certainly a tragedy that because of the crimes of our nation’s banks and other financial institutions supported by our “bought” cadre of Congress and White House (and state houses), the “people” are in austerity while the major villains and their corporate choruses are sitting on mountains of cash and manipulating the situation further to bring about institutional changes that they had not been able to achieve in “better times”. So we all fight each other on main street over the remaining scraps from the table where we used to sit.. No more.
Aside from my fairly constant complaints about manufactured reality, it is still the world we have collectively chosen or allowed to exist through gullibility, ignorance, religious/political/economic dogmatism, or malice.
But enough of this digression, the issue before us at the moment is just a part of our decline. We need to squeeze the firefighters in Lancaster and even at the cost, perhaps, of safety to the city or themselves. Tomorrow its the teachers, then the Police, then government workers, trade unions, food stamps, living wages, moderate income housing, legal services, homeless shelters, child care, parks, libraries, health care, etc etc.
A self made and manipulated mess.
As George Bush said in another context “Bring em on”!
I believe that the “adequacy issues” of fire protection in the city have been “put on the table” by the firefighters through their recent public outreach efforts.
While I see where the above commenter is coming from with the pointed statements about our current financial woes and the root causes of such, I believe that the commenter misses the point brought up by the firefighters that not only have they offered many concessions, they have been the only city workgroup targeted by the administration for cutbacks.
No other city department has seen layoffs, no other city department has been pressured to work longer hours for no additional pay, no other city department has stopped all training, no other city department has stopped hiring. In fact, at this very moment the city is hiring a Water Plant Operator II, a “Labor Supervisor II” and a custodian. Are we really to believe that these jobs are more important than fire protection?
Just a few days ago NewsLanc posted a report about 4 city workers filling a single pothole, and we’re going to hire another “supervisor” in that same department?
If you read the information on the firefighter’s website http://www.iaff319.org , you can clearly see the disconnect between what is universally accepted as “adequate” fire protection and what the city provides for its citizens. Here’s a hint: we’re getting 1/2 of the firefighters we should be. Rick Gray and Tim Gregg’s answer? Let outside agencies come into the city. In other words, let people in Manheim Township, Lancaster Township, East Lampeter Township and other surrounding areas foot the bill so Lancaster can have a public works director making $110K, a “chief of staff” for the mayor making $70K, and a few more “labor supervisor II’s.”
This city’s priorities are completely out of whack, and our mayor and his staff have themselves so wrapped up in their own hubris to even acknowledge that a problem exists.
Well if there are secrets; LNP will never reveal them. Especially if they were to reflect negatively on their fair-haired boy Rick. LNP probably wouldn’t know how to research/investigate anyway. If only we had some reliable daily newsprint besides the Steinman monopoly. Thank goodness for Newslanc and Lancaster Independent Press.