Click here to follow STATter911.com on Facebook (hit "like")
This is what it has come to around the country. Firefighters in San Bernardino, California are so fed up with cuts and the related politics from City Hall they think the way to remove or reduce the political factor is to have an elected fire chief. While the ballot initiative IAFF Local 891 wants to propose to the citizenry is still a work in progress, what they are talking about seems to be the kind of structure that provides the kind of autonomy an elected sheriff usually has.
In recent years San Bernardino has seen 25 firefighter positions vanish and minimum staffing drop from four to three.
The firefighters will need 12,000 signatures if this idea is to make it on the ballot. Under this early version of the proposal, the first chief would be elected in the 2014 general election and would run the department without interference from the mayor or city council. The chief would also have the power to appoint some key staff members.
More details from Joe Nelson at Redland Daily Facts:
"Too often, the current administration at City Hall has injected politics into the management and operations of our Fire Department," said union President Scott Moss in a statement Thursday.
An elected fire chief, Moss said, would remove the taint of politics from decisions affecting hiring, promotions and fire protection policies at the department.
Sixth Ward City Councilman Rikke Van Johnson said he is unaware of any municipalities in California that have an elected fire chief, and that only 4.5 percent of city firefighters reside in San Bernardino.
"Out of 179 fire firefighters, there are only eight that live in the city. That's problematic to me," Johnson said.
Do you want to sell a rig? Click HERE to find out how with SellFireTrucks.com.
Also on STATter911 …
- San Bernardino helmet-cams: The people & the stories behind the videos. – April 28, 2012
- Helmet-cam: Roof ops at San Bernardino, CA house fire. – April 22, 2012
- Helmet-cam: San Bernardino firefighters find victim in house fire. – March 27, 2012
- Helmet-cam: San Bernardino County house fire with partial collapse. – November 22, 2011
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
It's my understanding that elected department heads still have to deal with funding from political agencies, so the political factor may be reduced, but not totally removed. If you're running on a tax base, you're controlled by politicians. And I'm talking federal-level politicians, since we all enjoy having grant monies to work with. Sad state of affairs, but it's life in America.
Wow, a radical concept. Unfortunately, there will still be politics involved. Any elected position involves politics, there may just be not as much interference from the Mayor and Council. The Firefighters must really be frustrated. I can tell why by Councilman Johnson's comments in the newspaper. If he thinks the Firefighters are just another "special interest group", his words, we can all guess his mindset towards public employees. He should remember that this particular "special interest group" are the people who respond when he dials 911 and needs help.
I bet if DC did this they would get rid of Ellerbe PDQ!
Be carefull what you wish for. There are always unintended consequences of legislation. Let's say the "opposition" finds someone who's platform is a Public Safety Dept., privatize, bring back the volunteers or a CAL Fire contract. Have a look at the issues in Lake County CA with the elected Sheriff and his alleged lack of qualifications. In one instance the CHP refused assistance at an unconstituntional road block. How about a Fire Chief that is doesn't know how to ask for Mutual Aid? Happened in Oakland in '94. Its good to think out of the box, but ……
very good post. Who bankrolls the campaign? Unions, developers who want a smaller tax liability, the citizens who are receiptive to volunteers services? Slippery slope..
Wait… so the answer to remove politics from the fire department is to make the fire chief a political position? What happens when the politician fire chief needs to take time off to run his reelection campaign? Furthermore, what's stopping anyone else from running for fire chief? The firefighters are vastly outnumbered by non-firefighter voters.
Isn't there more politics in a political election…..
what a dumb idea. Did the local think this out first? So…taxpayers (not the firefighters since they don't live there) get to vote in the chief? Ok. Times are tight. Taxes are up and suddenly the chief is on the hot seat. The mayor is throwing his department under the bus for the city's problems. Suddenly, the "elected fire chief" is looking to save HIS job…not Yours. Yep, that's a great idea. A professional chief…whether or not he/she is home grown or not…is trying to do the best for the department based on circumstances at hand. He/she isn't trying to get elected. stupid. stupid. stupid.
Dimwits. The usual career firefighter criticism of volunteers involves electing chiefs instead of a selection process. The Chief who is currently appointed via selection is under the control of elected officials. What do the Union geniuses want to do? Cut out the middle man?
Its not a radical idea. All the Sheriffs in the state of California are elected by the voters. I sympathize with the Berdo brothers. Run down area,Medical calls galore, burning all the time, reduced staffing, getting their crap pushed in so to speak….
If you look at the sheriffs that have been elected here in california, yes they still deal with politicians, but 9/10 times they stand up for their dept and fight against cutbacks. Unlike most Fire chiefs who answer to the city managers and council.
Hey, nothing is working for them right now, why not try it? It may work
Sherriffs are traditionally elected officials across the United States. However, you are just as likely to get a person who doesn't know squat about law enforcement. All Chiefs or department heads stand by their departments. What you have to remember is that ALL of them get their money from someone's budget. It doesn't matter if the chief is appointed or elected…if the mayor/city manager is cutting you take of the dough then you are going to have to cut something. A professional chief has one person to keep happy…his/her boss who usually is the mayor. An elected chief has EVERY taxpayer who put him there to keep happy. It is a can of worms that does nothing to improve their situation…especially since nearly all them live out of county and don't vote there.
Frustrated, yes I can see their point, but this is an ill conceived idea apparently by a union that knows little about how a fire department runs. This could be a disaster when the wrong person gets elected. Could take years to dig out of the mess they could put you in. Voters are fickle. Might want to rethink!