Complaints about proposed budget cuts have been many, but solutions often few at Long Beach City Council meetings. But 6th District Councilman Dee Andrews has a proposal (and my apologies on the delay for putting this online) to prevent Fire Department cuts that would reduce the total number of firefighters on duty from 137 to 130 and reduce the number of fire crews, including the part-time closure of Fire Station 18 in East Long Beach. Andrews' solution? Cut infrastructure funding (the city happens to be getting some extra funding anyway this year, he notes) and implement some other cost-cutting measures that have been suggested by the Long Beach Firefighters Association.
Here is Andrews' detailed press release explaining his plan:
BACKGROUND & FACTS
The funding from Federal, State, and County grants has restrictions on what it can be used for. With that in mind, when you review infrastructure repairs on a macro level the investment we are receiving from these agencies are 8 times more than our general fund contribution of $2,200,000 citywide.
In addition, the Long Beach Fire Association has come forward with additional revenue estimated between four to six hundred thousand dollars ($400,000-$600,000), as discussed in the BOC meeting.
Additionally, our Long Beach Fire Firefighters gave back the equivalent of 2% in salary reductions, resulting in an additional $732,000 in savings in FY 09.
DISCUSSION
I believe most individuals would agree that eliminating 21 Sworn Fire Department employee positions, who are emergency responders, is totally unacceptable. There are many cuts in this budget that will be difficult to live with. The impact will be felt in the four corners of the City of Long Beach. We cannot allow for 21 Sworn Firefighters to be cut. Their positions are critical to saving lives.
The current proposed budget is asking for:
Elimination of 12.0 sworn positions by having one engine during the day at one station and relocate the engine during the night at another location.
$1,669,000
Elimination of 9.0 sworn positions by creating a "Light Force" fire engine
$1,205,696
CONCLUSION
If we reallocate $2,200,000 in General Fund Infrastructure Repairs from the FY10 Budget and if the City Council adopts the Fire Association Sponsored BOC recommendations of $400,000-$600,000 revenue, we will be closer to the needed $2,874,696 to keep the 21 Sworn Fire Department employee positions.
I hope you support my position that this is the most important restoration of funding we can do as a Council and I would like to hear any further recommendations.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
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covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
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He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
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Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Use 1 EMT and 1 paramedic per truck and decrease the fireman on each truck to 3 the way LA COunty does.
End overtime for fireman. Have 3, 8 hour sifts or 2, 12 hour shifts but no overtime unless there is a fire.
It isn't necessary to send a firetruck with paramedic runs.
Cut the slary of fireman, stop the overtime or cut fireman. Cut pension benefits.Raise the age of retirement to 65.
We need infrastructure. Take paramedics out of the fire dept and place it under the Health Dept.
with his ridiculous homeless sleeping in cars proposal and now this Dee is challenging uranga for the worst councilperson in the history of Long Beach.