Guest Opinion: Mayoral mismanagement created this FRFD crisis

James Mellen

Posted Mar. 12, 2014

I am a member of the Fall River Fire Department and I would like to respond to Mayor Will Flanagan’s Facebook statement regarding his plan which will decimate the FRFD. The mayor states that keeping 200 firefighters was the target of his administration, but the budget climate would not allow that.

Mayor, tell us, what suddenly changed in this climate? A landfill that has been closing for years? City employee contracts that your administration negotiated? Two years to prepare for this and at the 11th hour you propose a 34 percent cut?

The first part of your plan has already fallen through. Our federal delegation has informed you that an increase in the current SAFER application will not happen, confirming what we expressed our sources had told us. If it was “critical” to join you in this effort, we are now beyond critical. What is your new plan?

If level funded local aid was used to “calculate” the 153 number, will all increased aid be funneled directly to this problem? Will you publicly commit to that?

We have explained to you, and our local delegation has confirmed to you, that your home rule petition for early retirement will not pass the Legislature. Posting this as part of your solution after being told this merely detracts attention from serious solutions.

TO READ THE ENTIRE GUEST OPINION: CLICK HERE