Save Station 18

Council Guts Fire Services in the Middle of the Night

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:22:00 +0000

For Immediate Release
Contact: Tiffany Andrews, Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske
562 570-6932

City Council Passes Budget in the Late Night Hours
– Cuts Fire and Police Staffing

Moments after six members of the Long Beach City Council voted in the middle of the night to make Long Beach the only major metropolitan city to staff its fire engines with 3-man crews, Council members Rae Gabelich, Steven Neal and Gerrie Schipske issued the following joint statement:

“In a shameless display of disrespect to the residents of the city, 6 members of the council orchestrated a vote on the budget in the late hours of the night after the public had left the council chambers. By waiting until the public left, they violated every principle of transparency and openness and proceeded to seriously cut essential public safety and quality of life services with few public in attendance.

“As a result of that vote, one-half of the City’s fire engines will only have 3 fire fighters, instead of the standard 4 that every other major metropolitan city provides. Other reductions in fire services will also take place at Stations 14, 18 and 19. This means that the City of Long Beach will have the lowest number of on duty firefighters in the last 40 years.

“At least twenty one police officers were also eliminated with this late night action – including patrol officers, gang enforcement, Homeland Security detail, and violent crime detectives. All at a time when the state is getting ready to release prisoners back into the community.

“Six on the council ignored the concerns of both the Police and Fire Chiefs who expressed reservations about the cuts proposed by Mayor Bob Foster and City Manager Pat West.

“Despite more than 28 residents giving testimony earlier in the evening against making cuts to public safety and quality of life services, the majority on the council waited for the public to leave before they jammed through a budget that seriously cuts these critical services.

“What we saw tonight was a blatant disregard for the will of the people and a lack of transparency in the budget process, This is a sad night for the City of Long Beach.”

#30

Come to Community Budget Meeting to Discuss Cuts to Fire, Police, Library and Recreation

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:45:00 +0000

Please attend my Community Budget meeting on Monday, August 29 at 6:30 pm at the El Dorado Community Center, 2900 Studebaker Road.

Hear the details about cuts to 5th District services -- Fire Stations 18, 19 and 5; Patrol officers and Juvenile Cars; Downgrading Bach Library to a reading room; Eliminating recreational services at Heartwell, Pan Am and El Dorado South.

The public is invited -- even if you do not reside in the 5th District.

How Facts Get in the Way of Political Agendas

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 03:33:00 +0000

Click on the this link to read a national study done last year about how reducing first responders (firefighters and paramedics) is not a good thing in terms of outcomes for rescues and trauma.

Facts, facts, facts. Don't you just hate how they get in the way of political agendas?

They are at it again -- 27 firefigthers to be cut -- Station 18 to be downgraded

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:58:00 +0000

Please get involved to stop the horrendous cuts being proposed to public safety by the Mayor and City Manager.

The 2012 Budget has been given to the City Council by the Mayor and it contains 27 firefighters being eliminated, 13 police patrol officers and 3 branch libraries beings reduced to "reading rooms."

I am hosting a Community Conversation on the budget, on August 29th at 6:30 pm at the El Dorado Community Room at 2800 Studebaker.

Click here to read the budget documents so you can be prepared for discussions.

You Did It -- Fire Station 18 Will Remain Open

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:26:00 +0000

Thanks for the wonderful participation of residents in the 5th Council District who called, sent emails, signed petitions and turned out for the open house last Sunday at Station 18 -- the Council on a 9-0 vote approved restoring Firestation 18 and several other cuts to fire, police, library and recreation services!

Your efforts are most appreciated.

The work on the city's financial situation is far from over. We still need to look to remove inefficiencies, redundancies, and out dated services, programs and personnel in all city departments.

I am hopeful Mayor Bob Foster will not veto the restored cuts.

Thank You for Turning Out Today -- the Irony of 9-11 Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:31:00 +0000

Thanks to the many who packed Station 18 to meet firefighters and to sign a petition opposing cuts to services.

It was great to see so many people turn out today. The message was clear from everyone who came -- no cuts in services for fire and police and especially on the eastside.

Residents also got to see firsthand the living quarters and operations of the fire station - something many had not seen before.

Many people remarked that Station 18 had saved their life or the life of a spouse or neighbor.
Others remarked that they were angry the mayor and city manager would propose cutting fire services on the eastside and they were tired of the eastside paying property taxes and then being offered up for cuts. Several people said they thought it ironic that elected officials would attend 9-11 ceremonies and talk about the bravery and importance of fire fighters and then propose cutting these services in Long Beach.

What is Light Force?

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:20:00 +0000

I have scoured the internet looking for information on what is a light force configuration in a fire department.

What I found is a very interesting news article which I am linking to that pretty much explains it as sending everything you've got to a call for service.

Click here to read the article about a city that uses it. http://www.thedailysentinel.com/story.lasso?ewcd=91a4b12257d15a15

Open House at Station 18 on Sunday, September 13

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:40:00 +0000

Come show your support of Station 18 and its firefighters this Sunday, September 13 at noon til 2pm.

Light refreshments will be served and you will get the opportunity to talk with firefighters and to view the equipment they use to save our property and our lives!

Stop by and say thanks for their recent efforts on the raging fires in Southern California.

Preliminary Votes Show Support for Restoring Station 18

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:31:00 +0000

Last night the city council finally had the opportunity to propose restoration of cuts made to the City Budget by Mayor Foster and City Manager West.

It looks like there is support to keep Station 18 by doing a a slight revision in staffing at Station 19.

Fire Department management and the LB Firefighters Association assure me that this is doable and that keeping Station 18 open full time is important.

The budget will not be final until next Tuesday, September 15th.

Please keep calling Mayor Foster stating your opposition to closing Station 18 during the day!

No Action on Restoring Cuts

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:16:00 +0000

You really have to ask yourself why the City Council has yet to have a budget hearing at which time council members can vote to restore cuts to services?

Could it be that by stalling a hearing, that it makes it easier for the Mayor's cuts to go through because with a deadline of September 15th looming, we don't have much time?

See ABC News Story on Save Station 18

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:06:00 +0000

Click here to see http://www.lbreport.com/news/aug09/stn18b.htm and ABC Channel 7 story on Save Station 18.

Please keep contacting Mayor Bob Foster and let him know you oppose the cuts to the Fire Department!

Get the latest on Southland Fires -- Long Beach Fire Fighters are Assisting

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:33:00 +0000

You can check out the California fire situation by going on line to:
http://www.fire.ca.gov/downloads/incidents/StatewideFireMap.pdf and
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21436901/

Please note that the Long Beach Fire Fighters and Police have been assisting in the local fire suppression and evacuation of residents in those cities.

Again I would ask: how can the City of Long Beach even consider cutting police and fire services?

Press confirms 2/3's of Station 18's Calls for Service During the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:52:00 +0000

The Press Telegram did a records request and found that 2/3's of Fire Station 18's calls for service happen during the day -- the very same time the Mayor and City Manager want to close the station.

The City Council met last week to discuss cuts to fire and police. Because it was not a hearing, Councilmembers were not allowed to bring actions to the floor during the discussion.

But several of us are working on a number of recommendations that would help restore the cuts.

Stay tuned. This isn't over.

Long Beach Fire Fighters Fighting Fires in Palos Verdes

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:20:00 +0000

As I write this post, our Long Beach Firefighters are helping our neighbors to the west in Palo Verdes. The area is a blaze. To the north there are fires in La Canada Flintridge and Azusa. To the east, a fire is raging in Hemet.

Does anyone doubt for a moment that we need more firefighters in California?

Seems ludicrous that Long Beach would be discussing cutting fire services.

Resident Comes to City Council and Questions Concern About ISO Rating

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:25:00 +0000

During public comment last night a resident came before council and questioned my previous mention and concern that closure of Station 18 and other cuts to the Fire Department could harm our rating from the ISO -- which is used to establish fire insurance premiums.

The City is rated as a Class II Fire Department and ratings of 3 or higher increase the rate of fire insurance first for commercial and multiple dwelling buildings and then residential.

I stand by my concern and am still waiting to see written confirmation from our Fire Chief that our ISO rating won't be impacted.

Also, the resident said that maybe an analysis of fire calls for service would show that the department is primarily responding to medical calls and that should impact how many stations we need.

I responded that until we have such an analysis, it is not prudent for the Mayor and City Manager to be proposing cuts for fire services. We can't operate on an oooops principle where we try something and then find out it was a dangerous mistake. Do the analysis, then make the changes. Not the other way around.

5th District Budget Hearing Wednesday, August 19th at 6pm

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:18:00 +0000

Please attend the 5th District Budget Hearing this Wednesday, August 19 at 6 pm at the El Dorado Senior Center, 2800 Studebaker Road (near the El Dorado Library).

City Manager Pat West and representatives from City Departments will be on hand to explain the proposed budget and to answer questions from residents.

Your voice on the need to stop the cuts to fire and police is urgently needed at this meeting.

Fire Station 18 is the ONLY Fire Station slated for closure. Tell the City Manager and the Mayor (who proposed these cuts) "Hell, no."

Council Hears Details about Fire and Police Cuts

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:55:00 +0000

Something is really, really wrong with the fact that Station 18 is the ONLY station slated for closure for 12 hours each day. The presentation yesterday during the Council budget hearing was just off base -- as presented residents of the 5th Council District are most apt to call for services in the night-time. Wrong. I stood out at Station 18 yesterday with Channel 7 ABC at 12:30 in the afternoon and the station received two calls for service within an hour.

During council several people came to the podium and told the Mayor and City Council of their personal experiences of being assisted by Station 18 and how minutes count when there is an emergency.

Come to my budget meeting next Wed August 19 at 6pm at El Dorado Senior Center, 2800 N. Studebaker and give the City Manager and ear-fill about the proposed cuts to fire and police.

Residents Were Asked to Support Proposition H to Fund Fire and Police

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:57:00 +0000

In 2007, voters were asked to approve an oil tax increase with the argument that it would aide Fire and Police. The voters approved what was presented: an increase of 15 cents a barrel tax that would be used for fire and police.

However, what was not told to the voters was the fact that Long Beach's tax is the smallest of surrounding oil cities (with Signal Hill being 60 cents a barrel) and that its adjustment would be on the Consumer Price Index and not the Petroleum Price Index which more fairly indicates the increases and would have resulted in more revenue for Long Beach. (I opposed the tax because it was not adequate and did not use the PPI and I felt it was a deal for the oil companies.)

In the first year or so, the City has taken in over $3 million from this tax.
Despite the tax and the promise that this would help Fire and Police Services, the Mayor and City Manager are calling for cuts in Fire and Police services.

The issue needs to be placed back on the ballot in April 2010 and the tax needs to be increased to at least .60 cents per barrel in order to restore the cuts being proposed to fire and police.

Mayor and City Manager Need to Produce Evidence Closure of Fire Station Will Not Impact Residents' Fire Insurance Rates

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:35:00 +0000

Fire insurance rates are established by referring to the Insurance Service Office (ISO)'s "Public Protection Classification" and "Fire Suppression Rating Schedule" ( see http://www.isomitigation.com/ppc/2000/ppc2007.html).

If a Fire Department does not provide the staffing, equipment and response time at the highest levels, the rating which goes from Class I to Class 10 is impacted. The insurance industry rates fire premiums based upon the PPC of the Fire Department. Class 1 and 2 are rated similarly. Class 3 and above start to increase insurance rates.

There are 12 Class 1 Fire Departments in California. Among them are: Santa Ana, Stockton, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Beverly Hills, Vernon, Glendale, Torrance, Arcadia, Culver City, Stockton.

Long Beach lost its Class I rating several years ago and is currently a Class 2 Fire Department (Class 10 being the worst rating).

Closure of Station 18 during the day gets the City of Long Beach further away from regaining its Class 1 designation and may impact its current Class 2 status.

Unless the Mayor and City Manager proves that the closure of any fire station in Long Beach does not seriously hurt our Public Protection Rating and possibly our fire insurance rates, then the closure must be stopped.

Real Budget Information

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:51:00 +0000

The recently released proposal by the Mayor and City Manager to close Fire Station 18 during the day was based upon facts that need to be corrected:

The budget refers to reductions in the Fire Department's number of positions from FY 04 - 09 -- but never mentions that the Fire Department has lost 24 sworn positions during this time. The remainder were non-sworn. Fire sworn positions have been cut to the bare bones.
The budget states the Fire Department has grown by 14% but fails to point out that this was mainly due to the implementation of the Basic Life Support Program which added 26 civilian Ambulance Operators, 1 Asst. Analyst and on sworn position. This program pays for itself and actually makes additional money for the general fund.
The budget fails to mention that the only way the City was able to re-implement Truck 14 plus 12 full-time firefighters is because of Prop H oil taxes. No additional funds were taken from the general fund.

I have been also told that the current level of staffing for our fire department is the same as it was in 1970; except that in 1970 they had 5,000 calls for service and in 2008 they had 50,000. That makes no sense to cut then, does it?

No News From Mayor or City Manager How They Propose to Keep Public Safety Sound

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:03:00 +0000

Despite the outcry of public safety officials and residents that the City of Long Beach cannot afford to cut public safety personnel , Mayor Bob Foster and City Manager Pat West, who have proposed cutting police levels and closing Fire Station 18 during the day have yet to respond about how this moves the City away from its core services to provide public safety.

I cannot believe these cuts were even placed in the budget that was recently presented by the Mayor. Three years ago the campaign theme was more police and adequate fire staffing and replacement of aged facilities. This budget is a 180 degrees in the opposite direction.

Save Our Station 18

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrie Schipske) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:56:00 +0000

The first time I heard that the Mayor and City Manager were proposing to close Fire Station 18 during the day was when I attended the Mayor's press conference announcing his budget for FY 2010 the first week of August. That was the day the budget was to be presented to the City Council.

The announced closure of Fire Station 18 should not have happened at the press conference. I should have been told by the Mayor that he was proposing the closure before the press conference and given the opportunity to discuss it with him and perhaps convince him why the idea is bad. (see my blog http://www.gerrieschipske.com/2009/07/im-mad-as-helland-so-should-you-be.html)

But because I couldn't imagine the Mayor proposing closing any fire station, I angrily responded in the room: "Over my dead body."

The closure of Fire Station 18 would be harmful to the neighborhoods it serves. Accidents, calls for paramedics, fires, etc., don't happen on schedule and certainly many happen during the day.

As a Registered Nurse Practitioner and someone who started in health care as an Emergency Medical Technician at St. Mary Medical Center, I know that when someone has a heart attack every minute counts. And if paramedic response is delayed, that could be deadly.

So while everyone had a chuckle when I said "over my dead body" it is time to get serious and save Station 18 from closure. I need your help.

Contact Mayor Foster and City Manager Pat West and let them know that you do not want Station 18 closed.
---Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske