Should firefighters solicit donations while on duty?
Duluth Chamber public policy director Andy Peterson has written a third blog post critical of the firefighters union, scolding them for soliciting funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
"... it is simply wrong to exploit a publicly owned service like the fire department to solicit money," he writes, "First, the department, I am assured, has a strict policy against using fire rigs on non-essential business. Using the rigs as a transport vehicle clearly violates department policy. Secondly, taking twelve fire personnel away from much needed rest could and may endanger public safety. Lastly, leveraging the good reputation of the department to collect charitable money - while at the same time trying to enhance their own image -- is, at best, unethical."
I called the coordinator of the MDA drive who told me that indeed the firefighters were on duty with phones on hand to respond to calls if needed.
EDIT: Firefighter's union president Erik Simonson emailed this response:
This is typical Andy Peterson style; shoot your mouth off without taking five minutes to ascertain the facts. While I typically believe that the likes of Peterson, Stauber and now Ness are not worthy of a comment, I will offer the following facts:
1. Peterson and Stauber repeatedly question the 24 hour shift worked by firefighters; particularly I assume to question its value to the chamber member and/or taxpayer. If either of them took 5 minutes to contact the chief of the department, or anyone else in the professional fire service for that matter, they would learn that the 56 hour work week is the most economical method to deliver service. Changing to a 42 hour work week is something the union would actually support; however administration would likely balk at the increased cost of adding a fourth shift of firefighters.
Regardless of what these two intellects state, 24 hour shifts do take a toll both physically and mentally, and to assume firefighters should work the entire 24 hour shift without taking advantage of sleep when possible at night is ludicrous.
2. The Muscular Dystrophy Association has been the chosen charity for professional firefighters for over 50 years. Duluth Firefighters have been an active partner with the local MDA for as long as I can remember, spending many off duty days holding and participating in fund raisers. I am certainly proud of the fact that fire fighters are the longest and most generous donors to the MDA. No one can argue that the kids and families affected by this terrible disease don't deserve every penny earned.
A new trend of "On duty fill the boot" drives has proven to be very effective at raising significant amounts of money; each penny of which goes directly to MDA. This is Duluth's first year at such an attempt, consisting of a three day marathon session, from 2:00 to 6:00 PM each day, at various busy intersections throughout the city.
Mr. Peterson, had he taken the time to find out the facts, would have learned that this event is being held with the permission of the Mayor, and participating fire companies are positioned in areas so they can respond within their respective districts if necessary. Response times are not negatively impacted, and the public support has been overwhelming. In day one of three (yesterday), firefighters raised over $11,000; all of which goes directly to MDA. Surely even Mr. Peterson is in no position to deny the MDA such an opportunity.
3. Mr. Peterson references firefighters using the MDA to enhance their own public image - and questions their ethics. He should be ashamed of himself and even the thought of such. Again, I challenge Mr. Peterson to contact the local MDA folks, or maybe the state level association and see how much they appreciate those comments. Unbelievable.
4. I see the Chamber is holding a forum about the fire department on September 2nd. To no one's surprise, Councilor Stauber and Mayor Ness are the speakers. If they wanted to truly encourage communication and provide their audience with facts, I would expect to see Chief Strongitharm in attendance. Of course, that would fly in the face of Mr. Peterson's slash and run style of operating. One thing they may want to discuss, as it is the day after Labor Day MDA Telethon, is just how much money the International Association of Firefighters has raised to combat this awful disease. But, that might require some research on his part, so not likely to happen.
In closing, the likes of Peterson, Stauber and Ness can say anything they like about me. But these firefighters work hard for this community, they believe in public service, and they should not be criticized for doing their jobs. In addition, I do not appreciate the negative tone towards MDA, nor the unbelievably caring folks who do so much toward such a noble cause. I sincerely hope that when Mr. Peterson witnessed the firefighters at two separate intersections yesterday, and managed to find the time to actually count them, he also dug deep into his pocket for a sizeable contribution to a worthy cause.
Erik Simonson, President
IAFF Local 101
Posted by: Stahl on 8/21/2008 at 3:22 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
The quotable Todd Fedora
People sometimes ask me why I quote the first district councilor in so many stories. The answer is simple: the guy is a quote MACHINE. Whereas the mayor gives nuanced, complex answers to questions, Fedora just cuts to the chase, saying things that often times others would want off the record. Combine that with Fedora being often on the opposite side of A) a controversial proposal brought by the administration or b) a controversial proposal brought by a city councilor.
On the latter, Fedora will likely be eminently quotable during the council meetings tonight and Monday when he goes after Greg Gilbert's solution to fix the budget crisis. Fedora believes, as does Mayor Ness, that Gilbert's proposal would require breaking contracts.
If the city does that, Fedora asks, why stop there?
"Maybe we should start looking at breaking that AFSCME contract," he said to me this morning. "I'll be asking councilor Gilbert about that tonight."
Posted by: Stah on 8/21/2008 at 11:51 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
One way to raise money: a fundraising drive
Dear Mayor Ness and Councilors,
I wonder if a fund-raising drive, apart from taxes, might be held to maintain some of the services that will otherwise have to close for the rest of the year. I'm thinking in particular of the library. I would think there are many people like myself who treasure the libraries and who could afford to contribute toward keeping the branch libraries open. I would picture something where people made a commitment, whether monthly or lump sum, contingent on whether enough commitments were received to maintain the service.
More generally, I applaud Mayor Ness for making difficult decisions that have previously been postponed and postponed. But I do hope we can all exercise creativity to maintain as many of the services as possible, as well as the jobs of these committed Duluth employees.
Sincerely,
Bruce Mork
Bruce Mork
Sociology/Anthropology Department
228 Cina Hall
University of Minnesota, Duluth 55812
(218) 726-6369
Posted by: Stahl on 8/20/2008 at 1:06 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Russ Stewart on the layoffs
The number of people who tell me that they miss Russ on the city council grows by the day. Not sure why, because I would miss reading his columns.
Please note: linking to his columns on the blog does not mean I agree with them. Rather, they're interesting takes from someone who had a front-row seat to city operations for several years.
Posted by: Stahl on 8/20/2008 at 10:47 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
A library task force?
Dear Councilors and Mayor Ness,
I am dismayed by the closing of the Woodland and West Duluth branch libraries. Do we really want to be known as a city that doesn't care if we read? What does this move say about our willingness to sacrifice to educate our citizens? Why would anyone want to move here and how will we attract new jobs and young professional people? How will our senior citizens on limited incomes and with limited access to transportation get their books?
Please give us more time to find ways to generate an income stream to keep the branch libraries open. Surely library users would be willing to make a voluntary donation to keep these services. We could send out a call for donations in the water and gas bills--it's been done before.
Let's form a committee to research this issue. We could ask former library executive director Beth Kelly to chair the committee. I, as a former library board member, would serve.
Please give this important issue some very deep thought before changing the character of our city in such a drastic way.
Sincerely,
Terese Tomanek and Steve Davis
This line stands out: Please give us more time to find ways to generate an income stream to keep the branch libraries open.
The layoffs hit Sept. 2. There's no more time after that.
Posted by: Stahl on 8/20/2008 at 8:30 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink
City softball leagues gone?
Sometimes it helps to have inside sources right here in the building.
According to pre-press manager and softball fanatic Greg Culver, the city softball leagues (in which he's an active participant) are likely closing next year, as the city is looking for someone else to run them, "like a business." For the moment Culver said that's not looking likely.
The league is currently being run by Missey Hayko, who's independently contracted by the city. Hayko said she relied on city employee Dale Stanek to run the league, but Stanek has been laid off as of Sept. 2.
Hayko said she hopes to notify teams by the fall what the status of the league will be next year.
"Right now," she said, "I just don't know anything."
There's a lot of that going around right now.
Posted by: Stahl on 8/19/2008 at 2:41 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
AFSCME, mayor, to talk layoffs over pepperburgers?
A lunch between the two sides at the Pickwick tomorrow at noon has been in the works for awhile (warning: the pdfs of Labor World are slow to load -- I nearly threw my computer out a window). I was told yesterday that the lunch was still on, even though the mayor has "refused" to meet with them. The timing probably couldn't be better.
But a word of caution to both sides about ordering the pepperburgers: the subject matter alone during the lunch is likely to cause heartburn. No need to make it worse.
Posted by: Stahl on 8/19/2008 at 9:45 AM | Comments (2) | Permalink
A four-day work week at city hall?
That's a what I heard -- from a very reliable source -- that the city is exploring the option at the end of the year to save money. I asked Mayor Don Ness about it, and he said that's not been proposed -- sorta.
If it happened, it would be part of the four unpaid-days off that the city will soon require non-public safety employees to take (and the union will fight). As to how to implement that plan, he said it's still being determined if employees would stagger the days or if the city would close for one day a week.
"It's a logistical detail we'd have to spend some time on," he said.
But the city wouldn't, he said, force the unpaid days off in addition to closing city hall for one day a week.
Posted by: Stahl on 8/18/2008 at 4:54 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
The layoff backlash begins
The media attention will focus today on whether the layoffs were necessary, with AFSCME taking center stage on the steps of city hall at noon.
But one city councilor is also making rumblings about the layoffs, saying "I don't think that's wise policy at all." That would be Councilor Greg Gilbert, who four years ago authored a resolution for "policy against laying off city employees" (hat tip to the Citizens Blog for bringing up that link). The resolution was withdrawn, which may explain why when called Councilor Gilbert this morning he could hardly remember bringing it forward. Would he bring another resolution forward again? He said he wouldn't, but he said he disagreed with the layoffs and said he would look into alternate ways to raise money for the city budget crisis.
Gilbert said the $661,00 in savings the mayor projected for the layoffs wasn't worth the cuts.
"If that's all we're saving," he said, "that's atrocious. We can come up with the money in a variety of other places."
He said he wanted some time to speak with the city administration and look for other funding sources.
And so the mayor who all but begged and pleaded last week for support from the councilors on the layoffs has another fight on his hands.
Posted by: Stahl on 8/18/2008 at 11:10 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Layoff news
Is here. But if you're hearing anything about an employee or service being cut, feel free to email me at bstahl@duluthnews.com.
Posted by: Stahl on 8/15/2008 at 3:36 PM | Comments (2) | Permalink