Here are recent Fire Chief's columns from
The Arizona Republic
City
of Phoenix Public Information Office - News Clippings - azcentral.com
- November 15, 2008
Fire Department Officials Feeling Burden During Lean Times
It is hard to avoid the economic downturn when discussing current events. It is overshadowing a Presidential election, the World Series, and even our good weather. As City of Phoenix employees, we feel the crunch on a number of levels. Our firefighters, dispatchers, fire inspectors, support staff, and their significant others are just like everyone else. They have bills to pay, kids in school, mortgages, and the day-to-day expenses of fuel and food.
A City of Phoenix goal is to make sure they understand what’s happening with our budget and at the same time keep an eye on them and their call to duty. The work they do is dangerous and personal distractions could impact even the best of folks working in the Phoenix Fire Department.
We are fortunate to work in a city that is not timid about delivering news that impacts its employees. It is a difficult time four our City management team who has to share the ramifications of Wall Street with over 13,000 City employees. This must be a daunting task for any individual or group of individuals.
In a series of meetings we held in October I sat down with over 300 company officers, command officers, and staff to discuss current events and how the budget could potentially impact our fire and medical services. I asked for their feedback and insight on critical issues in this fire department. To say the least it was a sobering experience for all of us.
In fact, this is the worst budget crisis in the history of Phoenix. These men and women who manage our engine companies and this fire department were attentive and grateful to receive the information no matter how difficult some of the news was. They were also well aware of the fact the cuts would run much deeper in non-public safety departments. They were asking if there was anything they could do to help, and they committed to sharing this information with the firefighters at their fire stations and with those working in areas that support emergency service.
For people at home, our job is to respond when someone is having a bad day and that can come in the form of a car wreck, a child drowning, or a house fire. It is incumbent for us to work through this difficult time and still provide you with the highest level of service we can. I’m confident that this group, along with my command officers and executive team will work through this crisis with the different labor leaders, elected officials and civic groups to ensure that at the end of the day we are making the best decisions on behalf of this community.
The Arizona Republic will follow the progression of this crisis and after the first of the year, around mid-January, the City Manager will have public hearings to review the final draft of the budget. My hope is that we have feedback and positive suggestions that lend themselves to a strong plan that gets us through this situation.
I was reflecting on my mom and dad, and how when I was growing up they must have worried about similar issues. Things like taking care of their parents, paying their bills, the Vietnam War, Watergate, the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. Or that Citrus, Copper and Cotton were losing their economic punch and moving to South America. They must have had some sleepless nights, and some intense conversations. Does this seem to have a somewhat familiar ring?
Well, now it is our turn, and I’m confident that, like our parents, we too will get through this crisis. That is what makes America great. Keep the faith. Be safe!
Send comments to Bob Khan at firechief.pfd@phoenix.gov or call (602) 26-CHIEF.