Anyone know why Boston fire applications are down 85%?

[Jedimike007]

Any idea's other then an age cap or fallout from 9-11? (Those are two reasons already stated in the article)

[DaSharkie]

***** ***** NOTICE ***** *****
These are strictly my observations and are not meant to start a war. Just a few observations and opinions.......

Well, Let's see.........

Boston has a 50% minority hiring Quota imposed in teh 1980's. That's 50% of the graduates from the fire academy. This is imposed until the BFD reaches a certain percentage of minority firefighters. In Massachusetts, only Blacks and Hispanics represent minorities. No asians, No women. This makes a lot of white males not want to take the test. On top of this you have to live in the city to work for the department.

The one thing that the article does not state is that the civil service exam is not only for Boston but is statewide for those communities that use the civil service system. Only 350 people from the city of Boston have signed up for the exam.

BFD has also received A LOT of BAD press in the last 2 years. A lot of racial tension, a lot of problems over some nasty union negotiations, a turf war over EMS, and it is still seen as a "Good Old Boy network."

The last civil service exam here had a lower turnout as well and the state had to extend the deadline to get a lot of applicants. Overall, there usually is not a shortage of people who take the exam statewide. I know that a lot of firefighters keep on taking the exam even after they are hired just to keep options open. Boston, Worcester, Cambridge, and Springfield are about the busiest departments out there and that's where a lot of guys want to get on. I just think Boston has lost a lot of its luster due to the bad press.

[DaSharkie]

[ 01-25-2002: Message edited by: Da Sharkie ]

[toneloc177]

Jes, no wonder! Anyone imagine what would happen to the FDNY if they imposed a 50% minority hiring out of the academy?

" . . . chico mcnaulty, pablo mcouwn, busta mckenzie . . ."

(just for laughs)

Is this a form of 21st Century Affirmative Action? What in the hell is going on up there in bean town?????

[firemedic53]

Just a guess but I think the age cap coupled with an extremely high cost of living - housing in particular - makes it tough for someone to move in town for the residency requirement. Of course with the Big Dig going on, maybe applicants just can't find their way in.......

[bfd1071]

Ladies and gents...Do not believe everything you read. We have a recruitment team in place to go out and find top quality people to hire.

The racial make up of this team is 95% Black or hispanic. The Bfd Has i think 12 members, 11 Black or Hispanic and 1 white female. Not very diverse is it?

They only go to area's in the city where the majority is Minority Races. I have yet to see this "diverse" team in my area of the city.

When all is said and done we will have over 3000 applicants for the dept, the only applicants that will be down will be Minority recruits. It's funny how they play with words, and numbers.

Affirmative action.....I could go on for days, let me leave with this Famous Quote

".I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character".

Boy....what does Affirmative action do?? Think about it, As you do Martin Luther king rolls over in his grave.

[ 01-25-2002: Message edited by: bfd1071 ]

[Fire139Engine12]

bfd1071 I go a question. What kind of leadership do you guys have? Would you say the people who made up the recruitment team had any brain. I like to hear about your department because I think its neat. I wouldn't doubt bad press with teams like the recruitment one. Also what kind of government is in your state? They seem crazy to have this 50% minority entrance. They should take who is best qualifies and is best for the job. You guys over there write to your government? How can your chiefs just say OK and stuff? What do the people of Boston say?

[truckie_ladderco_147]

Mama said never talk about religion or politics(sorry mom )Look at the make up of Mass.Most of the rep's from there are liberal.Ted Kennedy ring a bell?They will not be happy until their idea of right is in place.Remember we are just people that have no clue how to live.They think we thank the grace of whatever non denominational non threatening religious personna everyday for their august leadership
There was a editorial from James Page in Fire Rescue about seperating the men from the boys.Go look it up cause it sums up my feelings on the whole matter.And it fits with this topic so well.Stay safe.

[E229Lt]

toneloc,

I would respectfully suggest you edit your post. If you are indeed part of the FDNY, you're sticking your neck out a bit.

Ask Billy Mirro

[bfd1071]

FF139

We are currently under a new Commish. The Jury is still out, but the firehouse talk says, If we have our way he will not be around long. He crossed our picket line last year, and we do not FORGET!!! Nothing has changed for the better or for the worse, He's more worried about changing the patch then anything else.

The recruitment team is made up of people who want nothing to do with fire duty. They send out orders to join the team and they pick from the applicants. When your on the team you are off you company for 3 to 4 months. Who wants that??

Every class that gets hired have a bus load of affirmative action Lawyers going over the recruits wondering why the dept did not hire more minorities. There are law suits pending, And progress has been made toward disbanning the AA. A few years ago a Hyde Park lawyer took a case to court for his daughter that was denied Admission to Boston Latin due to her race. To fill you in, Boston latin is an Exam school, they only take the best and brightest. It's the only hope White middle class kids Have to get a good education in Boston without having to pay for it. She was by passed for 149 other students.....with lower test scores. 103 of these students ...were black.

He won his case and had the courts rule that they could not chose by race, so he's taken the fight to disban AA thru out. The mayor can bring it to court at anytime, but when 51% of your so called voters are effected by this court ordered welfare, it's political suicide.