Command Post Editorial
July, 2010

PLANNING FOR THE LONG HAUL
In this column we have discussed your position of leadership in your department and the fact that the firehouse IS a place for politics. We may not always agree, but let’s face it; lately what we’ve been hearing from the citizens and elected officials is a damn slap in the face. The day after 9/11 they where slapping us on the back and offering us the world for a photo opportunity that they could use in their next election campaign. And now the tide has changed and lately it’s something else that’s in our backs. All over Bergen County I have witnessed politicians, civilians, and other so called well intentioned experts that are now looking at their local emergency services as targets for financial cost cutting.

On a rare weekday morning my wife and I were having breakfast in a little corner bistro, no kids, no phones (actually left them in the car, the phones that is, anyway you get the picture), and here comes the owner/chef with a fresh pot of coffee and a sob story about the new dumpster the town is making him buy. “They should privatize the cartage in town” as he fills our cups, “and get rid of all the DPW workers.” You know the drill.

“But, what about everything else the DPW does in town?” I ask, as my wife gives me that “here we go again stare.” “What about the fact that the DPW workers are all members of the Volunteer Fire Department?” So with that this hash slinger, who is really just concerned about the continuation of free trash removal, proceeds to tell me that I’m confused and trash and fire are two different departments and in fact we should get rid of the firefighters too, can you image what salaries they make and how much that would lower taxes. Amazingly this self-appointed critic had no clue concerning the budgets, responsibilities, or history of either one of these valuable departments within his community. Nor did he know that across the street from his front door was a monument to the half dozen firefighters that in the last 150 years had given their lives in defense of his precious greasy spoon. As we walked out the door, my wife had already made the assumption, “another place we’ll take off the list”, she said.

QUESTIONS
Everywhere we go we’re being asked the stupidest questions. Why do you need hose? Why do firefighters need to wear oxygen tanks, are there sick people in that building? Why do you need so many firefighters riding on a fire engine? Why do you need a 250 foot ladder on top of your fire engine (no that’s not a typo someone actually ask why we need a 250 foot ladder), and my personal favorite why does Bergen County have more fire apparatus then New York City?

For the nine hundredth time, we, the Bergen County fire service, do not have more fire apparatus then FDNY and we don’t have as may firefighters either and the difference in our budgets is about a billion dollars ( yes that’s a billion, with a B). Ask them for the proof or the source of their whimsical notion. I can give you the proof to support my statements.

You know what we do have? Career firefighters being threatened with lay-offs and even lower staffing on every shift. We also have heard questions concerning volunteer firefighters and their meager requests for necessary equipment, and the great concern of all firefighters continually being asked to do with even less and less and less.

PRE-PLANNING
Right now is the time for you as the leader of your department to take the long view and begin pre-planning your response for Election Day 2010 and beyond. November 2 will be here in a heart beat.

When major polling companies release their findings, the most trusted professionals in any community are firefighters. In fact, second place isn’t even close, and in Tulsa, Oklahoma firefighters are asking the public to trust them.

A friend in Tulsa sent me a newspaper clipping about firefighters going door-to-door in a bid to sway voters to remove three council members who apparently didn't want to protect the public. Some will question the firefighter’s right to campaign, but it’s legitimate. You have to be on your own time and I would suggest you don’t use any city equipment. But you are participating in the process. Tulsa politicians now know what political history has said all along. You can't run against the safety of the public.

DEVELOP YOUR PLAN
Weather or not your political leadership is or is not working with you the first step you need to take is to circle the wagons, gather your membership. Get every member registered to vote and make sure they participate in every election. Make a list of all your members that can vote and then add everyone their connected to, wives, husbands, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, anyone that they are related to and make sure they’re registered. You need to do this 30 days before the election. So mark the end of September on your calendar to complete registrations. Then get them to the polls on Election Day.

Registration is easy these days the forms are downloadable from the County Clerks web-site go to the link for Services or go to http://www.njelections.org/form_pdf/09-voter-regis-forms/bergen-voter-reg-form-080309.pdf

Each and every firefighter, from Chief to probie needs to become familiar with and observant of their political leadership and their record on the issues that impact your department, and community. Consider that record from your unique position as emergency responders and your position on the frontlines of protecting your community. Samuel Gompers once said, “Find the people that take care of us, and take care of them. Find the people that don’t take care of us and take care of them.”

So find your friends in politics and take care of them, get them elected or re-elected. Find those politicians that are not your friends and vote them out of office. That’s what elections are for and your department and the friends of your department can have a decisive effect on Election Day.

Every firefighter and their family members need to be given the talking points concerning the issues your department selects. These issues can include your local, county, state and federal points of view for we are impacted from all levels. But let’s face facts. Our, or your, greatest influence will be on the local and county level. Remember you don’t get into politics to win every race," said Stan May, the president of Tulsa Firefighters Local 176. "You get into it to influence decisions of the politicians now and in the future.”

Every effort must be made to control your message so that it is professional, diplomatic, and in a manner befitting our noble profession.

Every response must be carefully and diplomatically thought through. Will a demonstration be couched as a temper tantrum? How will a comment be misunderstood? When and who will twist and shape our concerns to look hollow, thoughtless, greedy and insensitive?

Our calling is the protection of life and property, the safety of the citizenry of our communities. We need to organize and remain vigilant within the political process of this great land as part of our noble calling.

Stay Safe,
Pete Hodge

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