The Murder of the Newton Fire Department: Part 4

After realizing I could not ameliorate the Newton Fire Department's political issues, I read a Boston Globe article in November of 2006 that reported a 2002 Newton FD sick leave rate of 14%. This percentage was compared to a 5% rate for police, DPW, and other city workers. 

One thing I knew for sure about firefighters; they love their jobs, and they wouldn't abuse their sick leave. Sure, there are always a few bad apples in any group, but 14 percent? This could not possibly be correct, and I had to get to the bottom of it.

I called union president, Frannie Capello to ask if it was true. "Of course not," he responded. He suggested I speak with Lt. Rich Geary at Station #3, one of the nicest firefighters I would ever meet. After spending a couple of hours going over records with Lt. Geary, I went straight home and wrote a letter to the editor of the Globe:

To the Editor: This letter is in response to the article by Connie Paige concerning the Newton Fire Department. (Globe West, Nov. 23).

The Firefighters Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating substandard conditions at firehouses, while also working to assist firefighters affected by 9/11. A few months ago, I was alerted to problematic circumstances in Newton, and decided to investigate.

In her article Ms. Paige states that “in FY 2002 firefighters called in sick 14 percent of the time they were scheduled to work, compared with 5 percent for police;” and other city employees.
I have reviewed the “Recommended Budget City of Newton Revised”. There were 175 firefighters, each one working 91 tours – a total of 15,925 tours. Using Ms. Paige’s own numbers that there were 964 sick days taken in that period - it comes out to a sick leave percentage of 6%, for 2002.

This is an amazingly low number, considering that the conditions under which they perform their jobs are abominable. Firehouse infrastructures are falling apart, the firemen have to provide their own equipment, and their dispatch systems fail regularly.

The question that should be asked is why the city is compromising the safety of both firefighters and residents over a sick leave issue that simply does not exist; unless, of course, you want to include the manipulation of figures.”

Finally, I felt like I had done something to help the Newton firefighters. However, I then got a call from the Globe Editor, who said they were unable to publish my letter because it directly contradicted the figures given to them by the Mayor's office.

“Well,” I said, “isn't that the point of a letter to the editor?" He said they would investigate further, and if my figures were right, they would print a retraction. My figures were right, but where were the mayor's calculations?

It seemed Ms. Paige had assumed the accuracy of the city’s figures, but had not actually seen anything on paper.

And there was one other part of this that continued to bother me: If anyone should know the sick leave rate of the Newton Fire Department, Chief Joseph Lacroix should. Why wasn’t he defending his department against these false accusations?

(to be continued...)

The Murder of the Newton Fire Department: Part 3

After finishing the tour of the deplorable conditions at Fire Station #7, I sat down with the firefighters to further discuss their needs. It was important to understand the history of the situation, and it was disturbing that Newton residents, who demand the very best in the way of education and other services, would allow their first responders to be subjected to such unacceptable working conditions.

After taking seats around the kitchen table, more firefighters came to join the discussion. One by one, they began to contribute their experiences – a laundry list of broken equipment, failing apparatus and dispatch failures. Many were purchasing their own flashlights and PASS alarms because the equipment issued by the City was either broken or unreliable.

As the interview continued, anger and frustration poured out about mandatory doctor's notes, alleged sick leave abuse, three years of working without a contract, and a mayor who continued to hold a grudge over a ride in a fire engine.

Finally, I asked: "Who fights for you? Where's your chief?"

Silence. They shrugged. Through my experience with the FDNY, I knew that these firefighters would not go against protocol and speak badly of their officer to any outsider. I pushed a bit more. "Isn't it the job of your chief to fight for his fire department?"

Again, silence. Moving away from this line of questioning, I explained to them that the most I could do for them would be to write a letter to the local newspaper. If residents could understand that firefighter safety directly affected their own, they would surely call upon their elected officials to do something.

The levels of stress and anger I had just witnessed were certainly upsetting. I had a sense that someone wanted these firefighters to suffer. The cumulative effect of these negative experiences spoke of a problem that was more by design than neglect.

I wrote the letter to the paper, noting the failing equipment and deplorable conditions I had seen. At the end, one question remained. "What political agenda does this address?" I hoped the residents of Newton would care enough about their own safety to get involved.

As for me, I was relieved to be done. I work in the healing arts; I help people get well, and to achieve peace and harmony in their lives. This was a political mess. I hate politics, but I hate confrontation even more, so was determined not to get involved in this.

Then, an article came out in the Boston Globe that did everything to change my mind.

(to be continued...)

The Murder of the Newton Fire Department: Part 2

August, 2006 - Arriving at Fire Station 1, located in Newton Corner, I met union president, Frannie Capello. I told him of my association with the FDNY, and explained to him that the local hardware store, Swartz True Value agreed to donate screens for the station house. Frannie thanked me for my efforts, but then explained that accepting the screens would effectively release the City of its obligation to provide decent living conditions for firefighters, which would include screens for the windows.

I learned from the FDNY that if you wait for the City to act on such requests, you would be waiting a very long time, perhaps forever. But Frannie said that they needed to hold the City accountable.

Two reactions came to me: Sadness that they were going to be without screens, dealing with mosquitoes and, second, a bit of relief that I was no longer responsible for the situation. Working with the NYC firefighters was taking a lot of time and energy, and I didn't know how I could possibly extend myself further. What if I wrote a letter to the local paper about the conditions; would that help? Would the comments of a non-Newton resident be more effective?

Frannie assured me that a letter would be appreciated, and that if I wanted to assess the conditions of other fire houses, to be sure to visit Stations 7 and 3.

The next day, I went to Station 7, and found another ordinary brick fire house on Elliot Street. I parked and walked to the back of the station, and entered the garage where mechanics were working. I introduced myself to the mechanics, and explained that I was there to evaluate the conditions of the building.

One of the men handed me a piece of concrete and pointed at the ceiling. There were huge cracks, and many places where more concrete had fallen away. I asked if I was standing beneath a 20-ton fire truck. The mechanic said yes, and was amused when I moved toward a supporting wall to continue my interview. In New York, the floors of the older fire houses have jacks beneath them, as many as 50 in some cases, to support the weight of the fire engines. There was nothing about that ceiling that made me feel confident.

I walked up a small hill to the front of the station, where two firefighters stood in the open bay door. I told them their union president had sent me, and they invited me in for a tour.

The building, as predicted, was in very bad shape. Immaculately clean, but extremely shabby, in desperate need of paint. Tiles were missing or completely worn through from years of foot traffic. Toilets were broken, leaking through the ceiling to the apparatus floor. Water dripped and poured from countless faucets and shower heads (it would later be calculated approximately 200,000 gallons were wasted each year). The firefighters told me they had been leaking for years. They had given up writing reports about it, because nobody cared. The furnace broke down repeatedly in winter. The firefighters had to provide their own air conditioners in summer. And; no screens.

It was worse than anything I had seen in New York. But what bothered me was: This was Newton, one of the richest cities in the country. Why would their firefighters be living in such deplorable conditions?

(To be continued…)


































The shower that never stopped leaking....

Quote of the Week:

"You have to do something in your life that is honorable and not cowardly if you are to live in peace with yourself, and for the firefighter it is fire." ~Larry Brown

Help Firefighters Through GoodSearch & GoodShop: It Doesn't Cost a Thing!

GoodSearch is a search engine which donates 50-percent of its revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. It's a simple and compelling concept. You use GoodSearch exactly as you would any other search engine. Because it's powered by Yahoo!, you get proven search results. The money GoodSearch donates to your cause comes from its advertisers — the users and the organizations do not spend a dime!

In 2007, GoodSearch was expanded to include GoodShop, an online shopping mall of world-class merchants dedicated to helping fund worthy causes across the country. Each purchase made via the GoodShop mall results in a donation to the user's designated charity or school – averaging approximately 3% of the sale, but going up to 20% or even more.

Please go to www.goodsearch.com and list Jessica Locke Firefighters Fund as your favorite charity!

Events

Local Restaurants and The Firefighters Fund Come Together to Create Firefighter Appreciation Day

September 11, 2008 – Newton/Watertown, Mass.: Local restaurants and The Firefighters Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting and supporting firefighters have joined forces to honor these heroes on the anniversary of September 11th.

“It is imperative that we never forget the daily sacrifices that firefighters and other first responders make in every community,” explained Jessica Locke, Director of The Firefighters Fund and a Watertown resident.

The Sheraton Newton, The Newton Marriott, Capital Grille, Bakers' Best and Cabot’s provided  meals to the 42 firefighters on duty at six Newton firehouses. Porcini’s, Stellina’s, and Not Your Average Joes sent 22 meals to the Watertown Fire Stations.

“The response from the community has been overwhelming. Each restaurant we contacted was an immediate ‘yes’,” Locke continued. “I know it will mean a great deal to these firefighters to know that people are thinking about them on this historic day.”

Ms. Locke created The Firefighters Fund in 2006 to offer alternative medical care to firefighters suffering from the emotional and physical consequences of working at Ground Zero. She has provided Alexander Technique sessions to hundreds of first responders in New York City since 9/11 and more recently started a program in Newton. For several years, Ms. Locke has also worked closely with the Newton Fire Department to educate local residents about aging and unsafe equipment, substandard living conditions and other problems affecting the health and safety of firefighters and the community.

"People don't know how difficult this job is; the stress these men and women are under, and the challenges they face on a daily basis. We need to let them know they are appreciated,” said Locke.

The Firefighters Fund hopes that an annual Firefighter Appreciation Day will be created and celebrated in more and more communities each year. "We are planning a much bigger outreach for 2009," says Locke. "Please contact us if you would be interested in setting up a Firefighter Appreciation Day for your city or town. We'll be glad to help."

Quote for the Week:

I can think of no more stirring symbol of man's humanity to man than a fire engine. ~Kurt Vonnegut