Russian Roulette in Buffalo

[rangerjim93]

Mayor Massiello went and did it. He shut down Ladder 11 and who knows what other BFD companies to save money and risk people's lives. If he wants to really save money, why not shut down the entire Buffalo Fire Department and the Police Department? That is the kind of logic being applied to this bankrupt Western New York city by a morally bankrupt mayor. I have been around Buffalo enough to know how critical response time can be. A few years ago a man died in a housefire because the nearest firehouse to his home had been closed and by the time crews from a still open house got to the scene, it was too late. Why is it that the fire companies and/or houses in the poorer parts of the cities are the first ones targeted for closure? Are the people who live in these neighborhoods expendible? Most politicians seem to think so and Mayor Joseph Masiello of Buffalo and Michael Bloomberg of New York City are no exception. If these guys thought they could get away with it, the poorer neighborhoods of Buffalo and New York City would be stripped of all fire protection in the name of economy.These two mayors have been taking after the example set by the Reagan administration, which to me, was one of the most corrupt since Warren G. Harding. They tried to cut off everything to the poor and these guys are trying to cut off their fire protection. Too many FDs are understaffed and people are dying because of it, both firefighters and civilians alike, all because of political shenanigans at City Halls in Buffalo and New York and other cities.How would these mayors like a taste of their own medicine? Even though the film Backdraft was a good movie, there is a heck of a lot of truth in the story that Ron Howard tells with BACKDRAFT, perhaps more truth about the true cost of political hanky panky than any of us realize.

[Local719]

I her what you are saying. My department is looking at a 25% reduction in staffing, but you won't hear about it on the state level or the IAFF level because its only 12 guys. Your 150-160 guys that you will lose over the next 4 years is alot more union dues then our 12 guys. We will be forced to respond to fires with 4 personnel if we lose our minimum manning. Good luck in Buffalo.