Citizen About Town

By Nancy C. Arcuri, Editor and Publisher

E-mail address: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

Fax number: 626-307-9081

Here we go again our Monterey Park firefighters demand that we give our fire service to Los Angeles County.

The residents won the battle in 1998 by voting NO we did not want to give up our hometown fire department to go with the county.

Residents have long stresses if the firefighters want to work for the county then they should apply for a fire service job with them.

Maybe the firefighters believe that they can be grandfathered into their jobs if they deliver our city to the county.

The firefighters claim that the city will receive better emergency services and save money.

The county cannot beat our four minutes or less response time and provide our same paramedic ambulance services. Just check their response time records and their private ambulance service contracts.

In a letter dated June 2, 2010 from P. Michael Freeman of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department to the firefighters’ request to be considered for the county’s fire service he stated that the City’s voter-approved mandate that “on-duty staffing levels, facilities and equipment shall be maintained” would be a difficult hurdle to overcome. Their fire district would not be able to staff the existing city equipment with the same city staffing level and achieve any savings for the city.

On October 12, 2010 Mayor Pro Tem Betty Tom Chu sent a letter back to Fire Chief Freeman asking the county for re-evaluation of the county fire service on behalf of the City Council.

Some of the Councilmembers did not know she sent out this letter at their request.

We have a lack of transparency in this city because some of our Councilmembers and firefighters want to give our fire service to the county.

On July 19, 2011 the County Board of Supervisors approve a study for our hometown by their fire protection district.

During the January 18, 2012 Council Meeting the Council was being requested to approve an Ad Hoc Committee to review this study and the independent analysis report requested by Councilmember Chu that several Councilmembers and the residents were not aware was being conducted. Our firefighters’ union paid ESCI, the Oregon based company to audit the county’s study.

It is becoming more apparent that Councilmember Chu is favoring our firefighters over the health and safety of our residents, business owners, police officers and general employees.

If our fire service is turned over to the county then we will all suffer.

We will face the loss of our four minutes or less response time.

We cannot afford to jeopardize the health and safety of our loved ones by going with the county fire service.

Before the Council discussed the merits of the Ad Hoc Committee twelve residents spoke on the issue.  Two residents, well-known Betty Tom Chu supporters, defended the Ad Hoc Committee. They claimed it was only a chance to review the county’s fire service.

Ten residents spoke out again starting the committee as the county has already admitted they cannot meet our current service levels and our four-minute response time.

Councilmembers Betty Tom Chu, Mitchell Stanley Ing and Teresa Real Sebastian voted to establish the Ad Hoc Committee to study the issue. They owe they allegiance to the fire unions who helped them get elected into office.

Councilmembers David Lau and Anthony Wong voted against the committee, as they owe their allegiance to the taxpaying residents, who they serve with honor.

During the February 1 Council Meeting I requested the following information from the city at the request of the voters:

The requested information should cover the last five years (2007 to 2011):

The total number of 911 calls for the fire department services each year specified as fire services or emergency medical services.

The annual dollar amount received each year by the city from our Paramedic Ambulance Subscription Service.

The annual dollar amount received each year by the city from our Paramedic Ambulance Service paid for by insurance companies and other interested parties.

The annual base salary paid each year to all of our firefighters regardless of rank.

The annual overtime paid each year to all of our firefighters regardless of rank.

A proposed plan created by the city manager and the fire chief on the feasibility of the city browning out one fire station on a rotating bases that would provide the same four minutes response time and reduce the outrageous overtime currently paid to our firefighters.

This information as well as the County Fire Feasibility Study and the ESCI audit and review of the county’s study must be available in handouts and on the city’s website to all of the interested voters and members of the Ad Hoc Committee.

The taxpaying voters deserve all of the information regarding the county fire service issue to make an informed decision.

Failure to provide this information will add fuel to the fire of speculation that certain Councilmembers are using the Ad Hoc Committee as a smoke screen to force the county fire service issue on the ballot.

Speaking of elections on January 21 Victor Gonzalez, Founder of Charity for Humanity Foundation and Mayor David Lau sponsored a community forum and debate for the candidates of the Los Angeles County District Attorney race.

Candidate Steve Ipsen was the only candidate who attended the forum held at Luminarias Restaurant in Monterey Park.

It seems the other candidates decided to boycott this event.

They missed a chance to discuss their District Attorney agendas with fifty voters in Los Angeles County.

Steve Ipsen from the Antelope Valley office discussed his policies they would prevent a young person charged with a non-violent felony from destroying their future.  He would have the DA interview the offender with their attorney to determine if they could do community service or hold a job for a year and keep out of trouble.  If the young person can become responsible then they would not be convicted of a felony but a lesser charge.

This is just one of his many ideas to change the way the District Attorney does business in the county.

Check out his website Steve Ipsen or call 213-700-4133 for information on this candidate for Los Angeles County District Attorney before the June 5 election.

Please stay informed on the various candidates and issues, as the ballot box is our best system to improve our life in the United States of America.