Atlanta City Council To Consider Reopening Historic Firehouse

July 23, 2008
The city council will consider whether Atlanta's oldest firehouse should be reopened.

ATLANTA --

The city council will consider whether Atlanta's oldest firehouse should be reopened.

Fire Station Number 7 has served Atlanta since 1910 and is also one of the city's busiest, handling more than 2,000 calls per year.

Councilman Cesar Mitchell proposed a measure this week that would pay for the firehouse with funds from the general account.

The city is facing a budget shortfall, and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has made more than $14.5 million in cuts, eliminated 165 jobs and ordered a $4.7 million cut to the fire department, which included closing Station Number 7.

Hundreds of citizens signed a petition opposing the decision and dozens booed the mayor at a protest earlier this month.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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