Janet Long says firefighters have 'taken advantage' of Sept. 11

[closetkd]

From the home page of the Tampa Times "Ex-Rep. Long rips fire unions." On the eve of Spt. 11th ex state representative running for county commission.....I'll let you read the article the title says it all:

"Janet Long says firefighters have 'taken advantage' of Sept. 11"

Link to the article:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgo...ept-11/1250816

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

From the home page of the Tampa Times "Ex-Rep. Long rips fire unions." On the eve of Spt. 11th ex state representative running for county commission.....I'll let you read the article the title says it all:

"Janet Long says firefighters have 'taken advantage' of Sept. 11"

Link to the article:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgo...ept-11/1250816

It is the politicians who take advantage of us... enough said!

[scfire86]

Says it all:

As for Long's comments, Newton suggested she is upset because Pinellas firefighters have endorsed her opponent, Neil Brickfield.

[Bones42]

You guys won't like it....but to a point....I agree with some of what she said.

There are departments out there that have used 9/11 events as a justification on why they have increased budget demands and added equipment and specialized training.

"It could happen here".

[FWDbuff]

I wonder what the IAFF has to say about the FPF endorsing a republican over the Democratic candidate.......Interesting.

[BLSboy]

Guys. Today we remember our fallen Brothers. Can we table this until tomorrow?

FTM-PTB-RFB

[closetkd]

Good point, my county.

Irked me, wanted to share.

My bad.

[scfire86]

I wonder what the IAFF has to say about the FPF endorsing a republican over the Democratic candidate.......Interesting.

I would bet they say nothing. The union Board in my old department routinely supported republicans over Dems. Especially at the local level.

[Jasper 45]

I wonder what the IAFF has to say about the FPF endorsing a republican over the Democratic candidate.......Interesting.

Who cares what the IAFF has to say about who any local chooses to endorse. The IAFF has proven over the past couple of years, to me, that they are all talk.

[Jasper 45]

You guys won't like it....but to a point....I agree with some of what she said.

There are departments out there that have used 9/11 events as a justification on why they have increased budget demands and added equipment and specialized training.

"It could happen here".

This is the problem with politics. She is also wrong for using the statements that she chooses to. Unfortunately, there are many politicians who are using our words and tactics to fight for appropriate staffing against us. An engine company is browned-out and a nearby fire death occurs. As a local, we use it as an example of what happens when staffing levels are reduced, and politicians such as this woman will blast us for "grand-standing" and using a tragic event for our gain. It galls me to no end that this is what politics has sunk to in this country.

If we don't use events that have happened, as a way to improve the levels and styles of service we provide, people will die. That is a fact. We would never have improvements with anything we do. If we just sit back and take reductions in service, that is on our shoulders, as well. Some people are going to hate us no matter what. This also includes a certain, small segment of society that politicians, such as this woman are trying to appease and cater to.
My conscience is clean with regard to fighting for staffing, which is what this article is ultimately about.
If you don't plan for it, you will never be ready for it.

[paetsHFD6]

In one of the comments it states that her husband is a retired firefighter. Interesting.

[johnsb]

I wonder what the IAFF has to say about the FPF endorsing a republican over the Democratic candidate.......Interesting.

Why would they say anything? It's a local politician, they can endorse whoever the hell they want to. Do you really think there's a law requiring the IAFF to always vote Democrat?? Do you think even for a second they would endorse that...witch, just because she's a Democrat??

[FyredUp]

Let the politics go for one day...

I remember where I was on this day 11 years ago. I had finished checking out my rig at work and we were all sitting around the kitchen table doing the usual, you know bull ****ting and ball busting, when the bulletin came on the news. The first plane had hit the tower and the speculations were going wild, was it a malfunction, pilot error, or what? No one wanted to believe it was anything other than an accident until the second plane hit. The usual banter ended and we all focused on the news. No one moved and very few spoke as we watched the Twin Towers fall. Finally one guy said "What were they doing inside those buildings?" I have to admit I was angered by what he said and replied "The same God Damned thing we would be doing, OUR JOB!"

My thoughts and prayers are with the 343 FDNY Firefighters that died that day, as well as the 37 Port Authority Police Department Officers, 23 NYPD Officers, 1 member of the New York Fire Patrol, and 8 EMTs and Paramedics from private ambulance services. The sad truth is almost 900 responders have died, and continue to die, since that tragic day from diseases brought on by working in that highly contaminated atmosphere. Tragically, we may never completely know or understand the psychological or physical trauma suffered by those that responded to the towers but a strong indicator may be the mass retirements from the FDNY that occurred afterwards.

Remember the heroes of that day, not only the firefighters, cops, and EMS personnel, but those ordinary citizens that did extrordinary deeds of heroism to save there fellow man from the towers.

[Chenzo]

Finally one guy said "What were they doing inside those buildings?" I have to admit I was angered by what he said and replied "The same God Damned thing we would be doing, OUR JOB!"

This gets me every time I hear you say it. That right there, is why we must never forget. Not because any of them wanted to be heroes, but because they went in to get as many people out as they could, regardless of the consequences to themselves. I have nothing, NOTHING but respect for anyone who did what they did on that day.

[scfire86]

Let the politics go for one day...

I remember where I was on this day 11 years ago. I had finished checking out my rig at work and we were all sitting around the kitchen table doing the usual, you know bull ****ting and ball busting, when the bulletin came on the news. The first plane had hit the tower and the speculations were going wild, was it a malfunction, pilot error, or what? No one wanted to believe it was anything other than an accident until the second plane hit. The usual banter ended and we all focused on the news. No one moved and very few spoke as we watched the Twin Towers fall. Finally one guy said "What were they doing inside those buildings?" I have to admit I was angered by what he said and replied "The same God Damned thing we would be doing, OUR JOB!"

My thoughts and prayers are with the 343 FDNY Firefighters that died that day, as well as the 37 Port Authority Police Department Officers, 23 NYPD Officers, 1 member of the New York Fire Patrol, and 8 EMTs and Paramedics from private ambulance services. The sad truth is almost 900 responders have died, and continue to die, since that tragic day from diseases brought on by working in that highly contaminated atmosphere. Tragically, we may never completely know or understand the psychological or physical trauma suffered by those that responded to the towers but a strong indicator may be the mass retirements from the FDNY that occurred afterwards.

Remember the heroes of that day, not only the firefighters, cops, and EMS personnel, but those ordinary citizens that did extrordinary deeds of heroism to save there fellow man from the towers.

My most vivid memory of that day was turning on a news station that had a crew near the WTC and I could hear all the PDL (PASS) alerts in the background. I was at work that day and I know every firefighter on the planet that heard that noise knew exactly what it meant.

[FyredUp]

My most vivid memory of that day was turning on a news station that had a crew near the WTC and I could hear all the PDL (PASS) alerts in the background. I was at work that day and I know every firefighter on the planet that heard that noise knew exactly what it meant.

That is a vivid memory that you just revived for me...The thought of it choked me right up and the echo of those pass alarms is ringing in my head now. I remember telling someone, maybe it was one of my sons, what that sound was but not what it meant. That thought was too horrible to express.

[scfire86]

That is a vivid memory that you just revived for me...The thought of it choked me right up and the echo of those pass alarms is ringing in my head now. I remember telling someone, maybe it was one of my sons, what that sound was but not what it meant. That thought was too horrible to express.

Then you will appreciate this story.

[FWDbuff]

Why would they say anything? It's a local politician, they can endorse whoever the hell they want to. Do you really think there's a law requiring the IAFF to always vote Democrat?? Do you think even for a second they would endorse that...witch, just because she's a Democrat??

No, there is no law. However the IAFF is historically known for endorsing the Democratic candidate no matter the level of local, state or federal office nor the candidate's records or campaign promises. I remember having a union president that used to chant the mantra of "Vote for the Democrat, do whats best for your Union!"

[scfire86]

No, there is no law. However the IAFF is historically known for endorsing the Democratic candidate no matter the level of local, state or federal office nor the candidate's records or campaign promises. I remember having a union president that used to chant the mantra of "Vote for the Democrat, do whats best for your Union!"

In that locale, that advice may be the best for those individuals.

I do know that here in OC, the GOP wants to blow up the pension plans and some have expressed interest in privatizing the entire entity to a private contractor like Wackenhut or Rural Metro company.

[snowball]

No, there is no law. However the IAFF is historically known for endorsing the Democratic candidate no matter the level of local, state or federal office nor the candidate's records or campaign promises. I remember having a union president that used to chant the mantra of "Vote for the Democrat, do whats best for your Union!"

While it is true the the majority of political candidates the IAFF endorses are democrats, it is not exclusive as you are implying. I have seen many republican candidates get the nod from the IAFF purely because of where they stand on firefighter rights issues, cancer presumptive laws, grant selection and more.

My state union representative makes voting history of local state and federal government candidates easily accessible to us through our member website.

Do you mind if I ask what union you used to or currently belong to, that would say that to one of it's members?