Click here to watch the entire hearing. Chief Rubin’s testimony begins at the one-hour mark.
“I do take exception to you saying things in such a negative tone and in a negative way”. The words of DC Fire & EMS Chief Dennis Rubin as he scolded Councilmember Phil Mendelson for his line of questioning at a hearing earlier today on the department’s overtime spending. The two have clashed many times in the past and today was no exception.
Mendelson has long complained about Chief Rubin greatly over spending his overtime budget. The chairman of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary has held monthly hearings focusing on OT and has proposed greatly slashing next year’s overtime budget. The chief believes such a move will mean fewer firefighters, EMTs and paramedics on the street to answer calls.
Today was their first public meeting since Mendelson sent a letter requesting Rubin be investigated for over spending his budget and the chief’s emailed response to the department listing his concerns over the councilmember’s preliminary cuts to the FY 2011 budget. You can read both documents here.
The flash point today came over the department’s upstaffing during the blizzards of the past winter. Chief Rubin took offense to Mendelson calling the snows an ”orgy of opportunity”.
The D.C. Council’s Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary has approved an initial budget that would cut $5.2 million in overtime pay for the fire department, or an 82 percent decrease from the current fiscal year. The move comes in response to projections that the fire department is on track to double its current overtime budget of about $6 million.
Rubin said his department is short-staffed by more than 170 employees, and there is “nothing that anyone can do besides fill the seats with overtime or close a fire company.”
“That’s not a threat … but it’s a statement of fact,” Rubin said.
Nonsense, said Committee Chairman Phil Mendelson, who has been an outspoken critic of the department’s chronic overtime problems.
“It’s a management issue,” Mendelson said. “He doesn’t need more money.”
Also on STATter911 …
- ‘FEMS’ name topic of hearing. DC Chief Kenneth Ellerbe questioned by City Council over logo change. Also, questions about NFPA compliant uniforms come same day five firefighters are burned. – April 8, 2011
- Dennis Rubin sues DC over retirement. Councilmember Mendelson scoffs at The Rube wanting more money. – December 7, 2011
- The latest from your Nation’s Capital: Mayor backs fire chief after article on sexual harassment claims. $70,000 in shirts that are safer for firefighters but have the wrong logo sit in warehouse. – March 8, 2012
- Does overtime use equal abuse? Dave takes on a reporter’s claim about the DC Fire & EMS Department. Plus, Chief Ellerbe pushes forward with his shift change plan. – October 7, 2011
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Those poor BFC’s & DFC’s that make 90-100K a year….Same old same old…..I’m watching it live now…is that mini me behind Kenny Lyons right shoulder…lol
I watched the conclusion and it looks like the only thing Mr. Mendelson is going after is anyone with two crossed bugles and above. Rut Rho Shaggy!
Why do you think that is??? Perhaps there are too many???
Looks like he needs to implement a physical fitness program for himself and staff, that doesn’t include endless servings of DCFD BBQ
Why would anyone in their right mind want to be the chief in DC? Must be a glutton for punishment.
The majority of the OT cost for this year can be attributed to the 40 plus Over Time opportunities/works that the new EMS Captain Battalion Supervisors have had in the last 7 weeks.
Statter, try to get a copy of the WDO opportunity list from Telestaff. The top OVER TIME spots are from the new EMS CAPTAIN positions not BFC’s and above.
Is it really a hearing if it’s just once councilman sitting at the table?
Look at some of the salaries… in the $100,000 range. With this publicity, I don’t see the firefighters getting a pay raise anytime soon. How can they, when the public finds out how much they are making, base salary in addition to the overtime. In these austere times when everyone, well just about everyone, has to make sacrifices to put food on the table and these firemen are making all this money, the public is going to go ballistic.
FIREFIGHTER/EMT,
Ah….DC Fire. Problems with care? Blame EMS. Problems with staffing? Blame EMS. Problems with budget? Blame EMS.
Well, at least the message is always consistent.
If you are paying ANY administrative employees overtime you are setting yourself up for failure…wait for it…whether or not they are on EMS or Suppression. I know it is shocking but it is true.
$340,000 for salaried managers? All of that is for EMS managers, right? Seriously, let’s be honest. What about the two fire fighters with $100,000 in OT!!!! How do you justify that one?? I bet they were forced to be on an ambulance by those evil EMS employees, right?
$1.1 million in OT for one pay period? All the EMS guys didn’t come to work, right?
Don’t defend poor management because in the end he is screwing the rank and file to benefit a few.
The DCFD and it’s members did a great job during the two major snowstorms we faced in a 5 day period. If the agency didn’t enact the increased staffing etc. which was done during that time things would have been a major mess. The city would have been completely crippled if not for the FD during those storms and the their aftermath.
Being removed from this situation (thankfully!), and after watching numerous videos of these “hearings”, I don’t get it. Can someone intelligently explain to me the apparent animosity Councilmember Mendelson has towards Chief Rubin? I mean, my Chief Officer bias aside, and my understanding that the oversight committee needs to balance the DCFD budget, it seems Councilmember Mendelson get pretty damn personal with Chief Rubin. I don’t get the hostility.
Chief Dennis Rubin…”illegtimi non carborundum”, and God Bless!
Ben,
The firemen’s union shouldn’t be punished for Rubin’s inability to manage his own department. Fenty allowed him to swoop in here like some almighty angel with an open checkbook. The members of this department didn’t want what he has brought. Rubin forced it on every one of us. Now he’s in a mess he can’t dig his way out of. It’s not the firemen’s fault.
Desert Deputy:
Just by your comment about thankfully being removed from this situation tells me you’ve been personally involved with this whole mess at one point or another. If so, no one should have to explain Mendelson’s aggrevations toward Rubin. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The man has done nothing in his tenure but practically bankrupt a city, tax resources to it’s limit, and create department wide burnout. His “World Class EMS System”….as only he calls it, is a joke. There is absolutely no excuse for those engines and trucks to be running up and down the streets on medical calls the way they do. It is by far the biggest waste of resources and tax payers dollars anywhere in the city. This city is busy enough, both fire and EMS, to justify the existence of separate Fire and EMS divisions. You take away all of the medical calls and DC will still have engines and trucks that are far busier than the national average of a fully staffed apparatus. The problems Rubin alone has created are far deeper than anyone could ever type on here. You could only be actively working on the streets in DC to see what he has done. And that is exactly why Rubin will never be able to fix it. He sits in his nice air conditioned office, travels all over the country charging insane amounts of money to speak about how great he is,and does nothing more than come up with new band aid policies to fix whats broke. At no point in time has he ever worked under the conditions he has created. He is so far removed from reality of what it’s really like that it will be impossible to fix anything.
This department once was and could be the greatest fire department in the nation. I truly do believe that. However, the longer Dennis Rubin sits on the throne the farther from that greatness this department will become.
Stuart,
Let me straighten it out for you…It’s not EMS that’s the problem. It’s the man who is implementing how EMS is run that’s the problem. That’s because we have a fire chief that wasn’t even a basic EMT when he accepted the responsibility to create this “world class EMS joke”. When you have a 2000+ man fire department there will always be troublesome employees. And in the Nations Capital there will always be negative media coverage ready to pounce on any poor judgment or degrading actions of it’s employees. However, ultimately, DC has some of the most dedicated and aggressive firemen with some of the strongest written SOG’s in the country. And that was in place long before Rube and his “rules” showed up. Bottom line, if you’re looking to pass blame on overtime, don’t look at the firemen. First blame Fenty for hiring an unqualified chief, then blame Rubin for not swallowing his pride and accepting that what he is doing doesn’t work. The firemen are just filling in the gaps the chief himself has created. And don’t forget, the firemen’s overtime wage is NOT time and one half like the rest of the country. It’s straight time. That was a benefit the union gave up years ago to HELP save the city money. So imagine what Rubin’s spending would be like if the firemen never gave up that benefit.
Desert Deputy….Not sure if you viewed the same hearing as I did, but I think CM Mendelson held his composure quite well. Now the clown at the table is someone that is supposedly a public speaker, took his angry tone toward Mendelson to another level, continued to talk over the Councilman and while his BP was still rising, kept interupting Mendelson.
That is the councils chambers, not Rubin’s and I’m really suprised CM Mendelson didn’t slam his gavel down and tell Bubes to calm down. Though the snowstorm issue was a mute subject and clearly was going nowhere, Rubin is the Fire Chief and supposed to be the example. Anyone who knows this clown would never follow in his lead. Because of his so called world renoun speaking, he has developed of followers that have no idea and I mean no idea who this clown really is.
Mr Mendelson might seem to be harping on the snowstorm, but he’s at the end of his rope with this man. Just because he isn’t focusing on the unfunded positions to Rubins unbudgeted expenses, don’t think for a minute he isn’t aware of those issues. I have a copy of the breakdown in the 09 Budget and you would be quite suprised at what this man spent as well as the individual expenses of some others. What your seeing in these hearings, is nothing compared to what’s not being discussed and that is the stuff that isn’t known to the rest of the viewers and especially the ones who chime in to tell BUBES to hang in their, because they paid money 1 time to see him talk about how great he is and how he can take a lemon and make lemonade..What you lemonade lovers see on the outside is totally different than when he isn’t spewing his garbage in front of a camera…….
Maybe Dave will have time when he leaves WUSA9 to look into the NREMT Cheating scandal from April 2009 and why nothing has surfaced from the investigation for over a year now….After I submitted a FOIA request, as to the status of the investigation, the IG told me its still being investigated…cough cough BS cover up….Mayor Fenty controls the IG and everything else that would make him look bad for hiring a corrupt Fire Chief….Naw Dave….forget that, nobody would be interested in a story that involved a coverup by Dennis Rubin….
Anonymous,
I appreciate your insights but I am only taking a jab at repeated DC fire fighters who always seem to blame the problems on civilian EMS employees and/or EMS as a whole. (ie: the OT problem is because of EMS captains but not the BCs)
However, please believe me that I am not against the fire fighters either. I think both sides are getting screwed by the crazy situation that Fenty and Rubin have created.
I think the best thing that could happen is for Fire and EMS-including the single role EMS providers-to get together to make BOTH their situations better.
I work for a department that has similar organizational features to DC. We have firefighter medics and single role medics on ambulances. We are all represented by the same union and basically want the same things. EMSers don’t want to be forced into or out of positions, and Fire doesn’t either. We have common goals. If we maintain mutual respect and see that both sides are vital to making the department work…then we will be successful. Fire guys don’t like making medic runs but it is a fact of life. EMSers gotta appreciate the FFs efforts and assistance…and if they get sent with us on BS calls then we gotta cancel them as soon as possible instead wasting their time. If we get an ALS rear-kicker then all hands in and everyone do what they are trained to do no matter what truck they came on.
I guess the short answer is…don’t blame THEM or THOSE GUYS…blame the administration that caused it. THOSE GUYS from on the other side of the table are just doing their job, just like you are. You might not like it or agree with it but respect it. Both sides do your best and take pride in your roles. Everything else will have to take care of itself.
I really don’t know or care what the problem is of most people on this thread, but please let me make a few observations.
Fire Chief Rubin may travel the country making presentations about firemen and the DC Fire Department (what’s wrong with that?) but he also does a good job speaking with many of our civic groups in the District. I’ve seen him at mine twice and each time he’s done a fine job of explaining the functions of the department, how it’s operated and why things are done the way they are done. At one meeting, Councilmember Mendelson showed up and started the same rant he’s doing on TV now, all about how DCFD is mismanaged, spending is out of control and Fire Chief Rubin is the problem. When I asked him if it was true that the Fire Department had more than 150 empty positions and that his committee had cut money from the budget compared to what the Mayor had proposed, he admitted it was true only when I pressed him. So how does the Councilmember think the fire department cannot pay overtime for empty positions while still providing fire protection to the community when he is cutting your money? That’s the day he lost my vote.
I also think many of you firemen are very disrespectful to Fire Chief Rubin. From meeting and speaking to him, he seems very nice and I think he has our residents genuine interests in mind. I have followed the stories on this website for years and have seen just about everything concerning DCFD. That includes a prostitution ring in the fire houses, firemen avoiding calls and hiding out in ambulances, cheating on tests and leaving little children to die at home? Are these the things you are blaming Fire Chief Rubin for? Well if you are, shame on you because it seems to me that its the men (and women) in the fire stations doing these things, not the chief. You firemen behave like teenage boys and girls and now are blaming your boss for everything? Who in the public that lives in the District and pays the high taxes we do are you trying to convince? Do you think we are stupid?
I watched the overtime hearing at home the other day on channel 13. All I could hear was the fireman’s union president and the paramedic’s union president go on and on about how you guys are not getting enough money. How you should be paid overtime for anything you work over and how you have this grievance about pay or that grievance about pay. I think the big problem with the firemen and paramedics is that all of you are greedy. I know that DC Council is trying to pass a law that anyone making more than $60,000 should live in the District. Then I heard them say “except firemen and policemen.” Really? Why are you men exempt from that? I think all of you should live in the District because you certainly complain enough to and I intend to call and tell Mr. Graham that.
I appreciate the job all of you do. I will support DCFD every time I can, but you firemen saying what you do in this blog is not impressing me. It’s time to grow up and stop behaving like children. I’d also suggest you stop sounding like Councilmember Mendelson because it’s us taxpayers that will vote him right out of office if he keeps doing what he is.
Dear DC TAxpayer: Thank you for voicing your opinion and taking an interest in the services that affect you. DC is predominantely a white collar town where the interests of the blue collar employee are relegated to the unimportant (unless YOUR life and property are at stake). You are correct on some things but ignorantly misinformed on others.
The history of the fire and EMS in Washington which this current admin is a part of is still relatively short lived – unless Fenty survives this next election, where the rank and file firefighter and paramedic can expect more of the same. “More of the same” means a lot of good and bad from the standpoint of a person such as yourself but certainly antagonistic from a labor/management standpoint which is not a positive situation for the next few years.
I wish I could spend the time to explain my feelings on the subject and address some of the falacies that tend to be manipulated by different political agendas and then presented in the media out of context. In a workforce of over 2000 responding to well over 150,000 calls for emergency service a year, most of what you reference is an aberation.
I will say if you think we behave like teenage boys and girls it is only because the rank and file within the organization has been treated that way for decades. Inconsistant hiring practices and employee variability has caused mentality and behavior of the officer cadre to be punitive and uneven at times alienating the purposeful and mission oriented employee. An”I got mine” or “I can do it because of my power” attitude has continually prevailed under this administration. This is consistantly reflected in the Office of the Mayor under the guise of accountablility.
We could go on for quite a while; Rubin is probably one of the best fire chiefs from the standpoint of the citizen (which is good). However, the internal customer has lost all faith (which will effect the public in the long run – you will see it shortly).
Hey DC TAXPAYER,
While you’re at it how about VOTING Fenty out too!!!
DC Taxpayer…..I’m guessing while you were sipping Lemonade with Dennis he asked you to write this or your a resident in Ward 4, because I’m most certain Dennis Rubin has not attended any civic or ANC meetings east of the Potomac River. Its easy to say someone is a nice person when you’ve only met them or heard them speak a few times. Bernie Madoff might be a nice guy, but he’s also a crook.
Unless you have it on paper or recording, I highly doubt your recollection of what CM Mendelson said at your meeting was close to the truth or that he was even there.
Next time you want to express your love and devotion to Dennis Rubin, may I suggest you do some research. You say what’s wrong with Dennis Rubin speaking around the Country. First off his bio which is attached to everyone of his speaking engagements, says he MANAGES a budget of over 180 million dollars. Hmmmmm doesn’t say anywhere in there that he’s exceeded that and gone over the allotted overtime budget the council proposed or does it say the millions spent in unfunded positions he’s created or the millions in unecessary expenses that weren’t in the budget….I’m no mathmetician, but when your told this is your budget for the year and spend like you had an unlimited budget, then yes you are mismanaging the budget within your agency.
His bio goes on to say how Rubin is responsible for protecting such landmarks as the White House, US Capitol etc…. If you knew how much this clown was out of town, you wouldn’t think he could protect his own apartment in Northwest.
Since your a DC Taxpayer, you should be concerned with what the leaders of each agency are doing. After all its YOUR tax dollars paying his salary. I guess your saying a as a taxpaying resident of the District, its ok for Dennis Rubin who makes well over 100K a year, to travel 2-3 times per month to different areas of the country and outside, while getting paid for each of his appearences? Let’s see he’s already been to Canada this year and many other places throughout the US and your to tell me he’s protecting the citizens, visitors as well as the National Landmarks in the District while he’s out of town promoting himself…Wow your tax dollars are being well spent and your saying the rank and file are greedy?
Oh and please tell the average salaried fireman in the District what $60K a year will buy them in DC….it may look like alot of money to some, but when you take taxes, health insurance, retirement, union dues etc….your not left with what you might think ones left with.
Back to the whats wrong with Rubin speaking around the country….Here’s some reading material for you and after reading this, maybe you can repost your comments about what an agency head in the District Government is allowed and what his or her is not allowed to do….So that you know beforehand, Dennis Rubin is not a private speaker at the many Expo’s conferences, lectures etc he’s asked to speak at…He speaks at these events as Dennis Rubin, Fire Chief of the DCFEMS Department and guess what? He doesn’t do it for free……Kinda hard to protect the city when your never in it….
http://www.ocf.dc.gov – read Employee Standards of Conduct & Campaign Finance Guide Section 11 Public Officials and Conflict of Interest.
If after reading this, your still convinced Dennis Rubin is you and your constituents savior, then you must not be sipping the Lemonade, you are introducing it to your bloodstream intravenously.
WOW! Biting my tongue as long as I can stand it! First you have the 3 union guys that make no sense and only want money. The one guy with the tumor growing out of his right ear really dressed for the occasion and represented you fine union workers well. I just kept waiting to hear “Gobble,Gobble” come out of him!This hearing is a prime example of whats wrong with our country UNIONS!!! I was born in the District and come from 2 generations of DC residents. This is a prime example of why my father, now deceased, said to me in 1969, Cuba will be the 51st state before the District. I don’t think morons like Mendelson could up the chances for the city to 61st! Rubin, You sound like a good man. Keep your chin up!! When I got into the fire service, it wasn’t about money, it was about an honorable profession! NOT A UNION MEMBER!!
I’m so PO’D right now, Did I hear correct? You (FF) get paid to take exams for promtions to advance your carreer and pay grade????? As a taxpayer that outrages me!!
Try that in the private sector!!
Fire21, we dont get paid to take the promotion exam we were granted administrative leave. The members that back filled our positions got paid 12 hours over time. I was hired in the department 19 yrs ago with a base salary of $25K with a few promotions and Union pay raises I’m over $85K. With overtime pay I’ve made at least 100K a year for the last 4 years and I going in tonight for yet another 12 hrs OT.
Stay Safe
Fire 21,
You are exactly right, Chief Rubin is a good man. Unfortunatly, the department that he took over is not the same caliber as it was when he left the area years ago.In fact, not even in the same league. Contrary to what some want you to think,the world class fire department that it was, left back in the 80′s. Now ,he has to deal with misfits and malcontents that give themselves childish nicknames.Back when the department was good, noone would question an officers orders in the station or on the fireground. Now, some of these crybabies question everything coming down the pike. It really is a sad situation. At least, he has been able to get rid of some of the trash, but due to bad hiring processes in the past, it will take years for him to right this ship. My bet is he throws in the towel and realizes this could be a lost cause. I know judging by reading this blog in the past, a few people will respond and prove my point. Enough said, they know who they are.
Fire 21….Try commenting on here when your sober OK!!!
Fire Chief Bill Borst…ilstupidis azkisaris..Have a good day.
It’s kind of ironic to see “Hookman” comment on chief Dennis Rubin’s behaviour at the council meeting. After last years performance by hookman at the meeting, he has no room whatsoever to say anything. As I remember correctly, he was shown the door by security due to his childish and threatening behaviour. Another DCFD success story.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…….OT is paid to some members who back fill the positions for the members taking the exam. If it weren’t for the UNIONS, you would not be enjoying the level of service that you have now. Perhaps you were not around when Firefighters were operating in sub-standard equipment, i.e. Apparatus that was falling apart, PPE, first-aid equipment, etc. It was the UNION who stayed on top of the city and forced them (yeah imagine that) to supply us with the equipment to do our jobs safely and effectively.
Now as a TAXPAYER, if all you expect from a Department Head is their ability to speak properly, and blow smoke up your ass then Rubin’s your man.
To those who replied to my request for someone to explain this situation to me: thank you for taking the time to do so.
And yes, Anonymous, I have been involved in many such budget-related hearings/discussions, including those involving overtime and staffing issues (READ: shortages).
I’d do some deeper research into this siutation with DCFD and Chief Rubin, but I think I’ll just continue to thank my lucky stars that I’m not involved, and hope that maybe Dave will have enough time in his retirement to create a story for this site about the situation, explaining the ins-and-outs.
Stay safe brothers and sisters… wherever you are.
Hey Hookman. I thought we had an understanding that you were going to stay off this board for awhile atleast till you went to the K-Mart school of firefighting. You make a mess of things when you get on here and make yourself look like the fool you are. Ol son you need to learn to get along with the big boys. You always come off as a child wanting his own way. Grow up, Man up, and stay away and let the real firemen post here. Do us a favor and change your name to Dork!
Flash, Mrs. Schultz, Boo, Mrs Lee or whoever your posting as now…. Don’t we sound a bit sour on the blog today.
Haven’t you realized by now, that if your gonna come at me and try be the one to show me up…please and I say please….Come at me with something that doesn’t sound as if you paid a 6th grader to say… One more thing boo, if you stop eating lemons you won’t be so bitter…..
Hey Flash,
Amen and well said.
OK Enough Already. ie;Hookman and the rest of you constant complainers. You donot represent the Professionalism the DC Fire and EMS Dept. has known/established. Bottom Line here you are just predjudice against Chief Rubin. He brought change to our Nation’s Capitol Fire Dept. The head of Local 36 Sneed can’t even speak in complete sentences. The head of the civilian EMS personnel doesn’t have enough knowledge. Everyone involved should have a Basic Body of Knowledge within the concepts, Operational Goals a Fire Dept must exercise at all times. Mendelson is an absolute clueless mental midget moron. He relies upon the tattle tale children who pit one parent the Fire Chief against the supposedly Governing Body who funds the DC Fire and EMS Dept. Yes there is going to be Overtime. That is cost of doing Business 24/7 365. perhaps each of you winey wimps have forgot the Public Servant you are sworn to uphold for the Taxpayers of the District of Columbia. To each of you
climb out of your sandbox, recess is over. Mendelson you need to Learn how to Manage as a Professional Governing Authority. Each one of you make me sick. One can only imagine whoever the next Fire Chief Appointed will have to go through the juvenile
criticism by the immature children who run to Mendelson. Altogether they all have lessened and continue to take Decent professionalism earned and Respected by those real DC Fire and EMS Professionals who everyday know their job, and they do it well.
Thank You
No one needs to “run and tattle” to Mendelson. The Fire Chief does that on his own by requesting additional funds to run a Department that was giving enough funds to begin with.
The Chief was given the money to fill the vacant positions but spent the money on other positions. What part of it are you not understanding? He has constantly overspent his allocated budget.
Anous. Try limiting your comments to just yourself, rather than posting as 3-4 different people to make it look like people support the Wubezy. After reading the rally around Denise letter and viewing this hearing, its quite obvious no one supports this clown.
Well Mr. Hookman, it seems that you have quite the reputation for posting on this blog, or should I call you “Chris” as Mr. Statter does? I did a little checking on you over the weekend. I printed out a copy of these letters and stopped by my fire station on MacArthur Boulevard to ask who you were because I wanted to know. A nice fireman who was leaving said you were no longer with DCFD. He gave me his card and sent me an e-mail with a link from a March 4, 2009 council hearing.
http://oct.dc.gov/services/on_demand_video/channel13/march2009/03_04_09_judici.asx
He said that you were the man at 4 hours and 1 minute into the video that Councilmember Mendelson was yelling at?
If this is true, what I don’t understand is why Mr. Statter, who is supposed to be a reporter, hasn’t said anything about who you are when he lets you say all the things he does about Fire Chief Rubin on his blog. I counted more than 100 posts by you on this website and almost all of them have something bad to say about Fire Chief Rubin. That seems to me to be unfair to Mr. Rubin because Mr. Statter knows who you are (he calls you by name), still lets you say what you want, and does so without disclosing why you may be saying what you do.
That’s not right and I’d like to know from Mr. Statter why he lets it continue? According to the Society of Professional Journalists the beginning of their Code of Ethics says “..public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalist is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of events and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist’s credibility.” A few weeks ago, Mr. Statter, questioned Fire Chief Rubin about telling the truth. So why hasn’t he told the truth about who is posting on his blog and why you might be doing it? Or do “journalists” just get to write about ethics but don’t have to follow them?
I might add, Mr. Hookman, that I drink coffee not lemonade and that the man at the fire station had plenty to say about you. I’ve read your posts and watched the video above. I think you may have some serious problems and its no wonder why you are no longer with DCFD. I think the stuff you say and post about Fire Chief Rubin could only have been got by stalking him and if you had been doing that to me I would have called the police. I know I wouldn’t want you coming to my house and I hope most fireman are not like you because some of what you’ve said on this blog has been very rude, including what you said to me and I don’t even know you. Not everyone in the District hates Fire Chief Rubin like you do, Mr. Hookman.
As far Fire Chief Rubin asking me to write about him, I can assure you he didn’t. Both he and Councilmember Mendelson first spoke to me at the Palisades Citizens Association in December, 2009. At that meeting Mr. Mendelson was trying to say the Chain Bridge Road fire was Fire Chief Rubin’s fault. Mr. Rubin gave us a letter he sent to Mr. Mendelson about the fire that I never saw reported by Mr. Statter or the media. All of this information and Fire Chief Rubin’s letter is still on the association website (Google “palisades citizens association” and “rubin”) but I doubt that you will check because you don’t believe anything I tell you anyway.
I certainly hope most DCFD firemen are better than what I experienced here. It’s very disappointing to constantly read this negative stuff and be treated so poorly.
To DC TAXPAYER:
Thanks for taking the time to share your views and reading the blog. You may have noticed when searching Chain Bridge Road and Chief Rubin on this site that I have probably written more words about the incident than any other reporter. I was also familiar with and had written about many of the issues well before the fire at the Cafritz home.
I would love to have had Chief Rubin’s written response to Mr. Mendelson for this site. I like all of the raw material I can get my hands on so our readers can form their own opinions. I am not sure why Chief Rubin or his staff didn’t see fit to share that letter. If they did and I overlooked it, then it is clearly my mistake. I should point out that is also around the time when Chief Rubin pretty much ceased any communications with me except through his staff.
As for Mr. Sullivan, AKA Hookman, you might want to do a little more research before you start citing the SPJ code. We covered the hearing before the council where Chris Sullivan spoke. You can find that in this story: http://statter911.com/2009/06/09/worst-kept-secret-discussed-at-city-council-hearing-pio-pete-piringer-headed-to-dc-plus-hear-for-yourself-the-critics-of-a-big-city-fire-chief/
I call him Chris because I know him. We have had a number of conversations on the phone. Often I am explaining why I am not posting one of his comments. I don’t think because I fail to provide a history for each of the people who comment on the site that I am unethical. But you are entitled to your opinion and I am glad to post it, even without a bio of you attached. By posting the comments of Hookman or anyone else it doesn’t mean I agree with them.
You also wrote: “A few weeks ago, Mr. Statter, questioned Fire Chief Rubin about telling the truth. So why hasn’t he told the truth about who is posting on his blog and why you might be doing it? Or do ‘journalists’ just get to write about ethics but don’t have to follow them?”
You will have to fill me in on where I questioned Chief Rubin about telling the truth. If it the one about Rube’s Rule #7, you might want to read it again. Also what truth am I not telling about who is posting on my blog? For the most part, I have no clue who is providing comments.
This blog is always open to Chief Rubin or his representatives. If there is something they want to talk about, correct or dispute, I am glad to run what they have to say.
Thanks again for your input.
Dave Statter
DC Taxpayer,
I assure you, 95% of all of the men and women in the DCFD are professional and would treat you, as a citizen, as such. Please don’t paint us all with the Hookman brush. He happens to fall into the other 5%. Thankfully, Chief Rubin is working on getting rid of that 5%, and has been succesful with this guy. In fact, this guy is an embarrassment to firefighters everywhere.
As far as Hookmans lack of respect,lack of good manners,pitiful decorum and couth, I can only guess it must have been from his upbringing. We have all seen his claim to fame, the infamous dustup at the council meeting last year. It was a disgrace. But he seems to be proud of it. That says it all.
“Anonymous
That was a benefit the union gave up years ago to HELP save the city money. So imagine what Rubin’s spending would be like if the firemen never gave up that benefit.”
This is not totally accurate. The union did give up time and half for OT for one year in the late 90′s to avoid station closures. The time and a half was returned the following year, but then when the Control Board was created they forced the FD to go back onto straight time for OT.
When the Control Board left office things changed, and in 2001 the FD should have gone back to time and a half for OT. The firefighter’s union won a grievance regarding this a few years ago, and this is currently going to court as the city appealed that ruling.
“DC Taxpayer
All I could hear was the fireman’s union president and the paramedic’s union president go on and on about how you guys are not getting enough money. How you should be paid overtime for anything you work over and how you have this grievance about pay or that grievance about pay. I think the big problem with the firemen and paramedics is that all of you are greedy.”
You did not hear clearly when the firefighter’s union president spoke. He was complaining about the pay problems that the members of his union are dealing with. That isn’t greed, that is simply wanting to be paid properly. Yes there have been grievances filed in some cases, but that is because the city continues to fail to correct these wrongs. And pay problems in the FD have been an issue for quite some time too. There’s no excuse with all of the technology we have these days and the amount of employees this city has that there should be so many failures in properly paying your employees.
And our members should be getting paid OT when they work over their regular work hours. There is an arbitrator’s ruling stating the same which is currently being appealed by the city.
“DC Taxpayer
I know that DC Council is trying to pass a law that anyone making more than $60,000 should live in the District. Then I heard them say “except firemen and policemen.” Really? Why are you men exempt from that? I think all of you should live in the District because you certainly complain enough to and I intend to call and tell Mr. Graham that.”
Why should we be exempt from that? Simple. Because we live in the United States of America. And in this country we are free to live wherever we want. Forcing people to have to live somewhere due to their job, status, pay, etc. is un-American. Freedom is wonderful thing, and it should not be tread upon.
To DC Taxpayer, Schultz, Lee, Rubin and followers..Just as you are given the right to voice your opinions, concerns etc., I too have the right to express my opinions on here. I comment in my own unique way, so whether you percieve my comments to be negative or positive, they are mine and mine only.
Out of the many conversations I’ve had with Dave about how he runs this site, I’ve always ended them knowing this is Daves Blog, not mine and I respect him for that. If something isn’t appropiate for this blog, I can assure you Dave will not put it on his site.
Dave might not agree with everything I or anyone else says on here, but allows me, as well as the rest of us to comment and express our opinions on the many stories posted on here.If posting ones actual name was a requirement to post on here, it would
1. Be known to all.
2. We would all know everyones name.
3. The majority of people that. post as Anonymous, would not comment on here.
One of the many things the First Amendment offers people as it relates to Internet forums, blogs etc., is the right to post anonymously and to voice ones opinions without fear of retaliation from employers, individuals etc…. However, the negative side is the many people who have a hard time reading comments about certain people, seem to go to extreme lengths to find out who that anonymous person is.
If a person chooses to not remain anonymous and wants to let the world know who they are, that should be their choice. If a person has defamed someone or is subject to a libel suit, then that person can file a subpoena in court to get the ISP to release that persons name and go from there.
If you don’t like what I say about Chief Rubin and feel this sudden to urge to march up and down McCarthur Blvd and find out who I am, that alone shows the type of insecure person you are. You might not like what I say, but my work ethic was never in question, as I always performed my job to the best of my abilities. People just don’t talk about this guy in a negative tone without having a reason. I have better things to do with my time then to even give 1 second of thought to these individuals. However, its important to keep letting those like yourself, know there is 2 sides to these people you seem to hold such high regard for and expose that side which has affected the morale of the department and more important, the livelihoods of many. Remember, I’m not a Public figure who’s subject to critisism and the many other things that come with being a public figure.
Before Statter911 and other sites, I’ve posted as HOOKMAN because it was the name I chose, not the name I would use to hide from the comments I would make. For those that actually know me, know I would say the same things openly in public, therefore, the name HOOKMAN is merely a name to post under.
Since its known who I am, it seems everyone who has an issue with something I say, feels its there mission to come at me, but usually have nothing to back up why I’m this or why I’m that. Since the responses back to me have nothing to do with the information or subject matter, its quite clear I’ve gotten under the skin of the very people I’ve spoken about and their having a hard time accepting what I know and speak of.
And guess what? Maybe if those I talk about followed the rules & regulations they expect everyone else to follow, these blogs and other forums would be quite dry and boring.
Along with Dave’s blog and being a reporter for many years, I’ve learned from him to report or in my case, comment on what I know to be factual and truthfull. This comes from having the actual information, researching that information and confirming it with multiple sources. I can assure most, though I post in my own way, I have backed up my comments with FACTUAL & TRUTHFULL information.
I’d love to tell everyone what I have and what I know, but I don’t feel like obstructing Justice at this present time in my life. As for the people who want to say I’m not a fireman or I don’t represent the 95% of the Department, that is your choice to say, because you know who I am, yet you continue to post under anonymous or other names to protect your identity. From reading comments on here and other forums, I would fall under the 95% of those that oppose Rubin and staff,fall under the 1% who choose to stand up to this corrupt dirtball, with the 4% remaining representing the people who have managed to dismantled the image and tradition of a great Department. And due to what happened in my case, people are careful about what they openly say about Rubin and his cronies, because they fear the same retaliation I received by these same people. If such retaliation didn’t exist, the District of Columbia wouldn’t have one the toughest Whistleblower Preotection Acts in the Country.
Mr.Taxpayer, when I return to work, I will assure you that if I show up at your house for whatever Emergency, I will perform in the same professional way I have always done.
Whether I speak my mind in person, make comments on here or on any other forum, doesn’t reflect on the person I am away from all of this. You mentioned in your previous comment, I hate Chief Rubin. That comment is based on your perception of me, as I have never stated on here or anywhere else, I hated Dennis Rubin. I may show my dislike for him in a way you don’t like, but I don’t hate anyone.
And unlike the few insecure people on here, I’m pretty comftorable with myself, the direction my life is going and don’t feel the need to drop by the Palisades Safeway to find out who you are or anyone else. I hope the negative comments made by the person you spoke to at your local firehouse, told you I drive to fast when someones house is on fire, that I raise the 100′ aerial ladder to the roof too quickly and that I utilize my saw in a cowboy like manner so I can open up the roof to vertically remove the intense heat and toxic smoke built up inside.
Have a nice day…
HOOKMAN
The DC Fire & EMS department lost Ms. Cafritz-Cooper’s house because:
1. Prior to Chief Rubin’s arrival, the department removed all LDH (4″ diameter supply hose) from it’s engines. The department should replace the hose, this time with 5″.
2. Prior to Chief Rubin’s arrival, the department has relegated fire training to a company level function, while spending millions of dollars on EMS training, at the agency level.
3. The department is inconsistent in it’s firefighting performance – those companies that are busy are excellent at firefighting. Those who are not, are not. There is little to no training to make up the difference.
4. Even the busy fire companies would be hard-pressed to deploy 2500 gpm to a building fire on the initial alarm. More so, if the water supply is more than 300′ from the building.
5. The department is over-focused on politically-driven mandates for ALS response times.
6. The department is under-focused on basic fire suppression skills: water supply, exposure protection, fire prevention.
7. What firefighting training and preparation is done by the department, is done at the company level, and focuses on stretching a 1.5″ hose faster than the next due company. 1.5″ handlines do not put out extensive fires in large buildings.
8. The department does not leverage the strength of dual-role personnel by using the first due firefighter-staffed ambulance for firefighting staffing on the first alarm. Using the firefighters assigned to the first due ambulance could effectively increase the staffing level of the first due engine by 50%. The recent NIST report discusses the benefits of 5 & 6 person companies in high-risk buildings.
9. The department does not empower or encourage it’s company and battalion level officers to plan and prepare for hazards specific to their response areas. There is no one person responsible for water supply and firefighting on Chain Bridge Rd until you get to the #2 man in the department, who has many more things to deal with.
10. The department has had no major operational changes, nor training policy changes, since the major fires at Eastern Market, Georgetown Library, Mt. Pleasant, 4th St, or Chain Bridge Rd. Contrast this with the changes made to EMS after the incident on Gramercy St., and the death of Stephanie Stevens.
dennis rubin is indeed a punk if you doubt that go and find the wsb tv news the day video when he was dying to get his self in the news the day brian nichols done the killing at the fulton county court house looks like a scared minion