Ch 17 Reports

The facts are that this city is burning down and we're decreasing fire protection I don't say we the mayor is decreasing fire protection and it shouldn't be done. We need we need to at least hold our own because we felt that what the remaining companies they could more than adequately handle the loss of their lives to well companies. And you feel that the people in these neighborhoods. I'm not going to get less fire protection. Absolutely. Channel 17 reports this week we'll examine the red hot issue involving cutbacks in the Buffalo Fire Department which is raging between city officials and the men who put their lives on the line fighting the city's fires. And we'll explore the decisions

to close down two fire houses shrink the ranks of battalion chiefs dismantle fire car boxes and reduce the taxes that help pay for fire protection. The long simmering feud between the ten hundred fifty member Buffalo firefighters local 282 and the Griffin administration heated up this past week on several fronts. The most critical issue was the closing of engine 18 at 10:30 Fillmore Avenue and engine 30 at 131 Southside Parkway Whose decision was it the closed due to fire hoses and right here my decision. Well because we want to reorganize the fire department. As well reorganizing the license of the inspections and in fact going to transportation. But the advice of Fred Langdon we found that we could do without the two fire houses as we did without engine eight or two years ago and this is an administrative decision. I responsible for it and I make the decision.

Why wasn't the council notified of this prior to your question is not their decision it's mine. They were they were notified when the engineer was called stater. I'm outraged that this was done it was an unnecessary thing to do at this time and I feel that it was done without any knowledge or input of the Common Council when it really should have been done after all taxes were raised to provide the service and to keep those companies open. We were assured by the administration had budget time during budget hearings that if we provided the utility tax increase and provided the budget which the mayor asked for it there would be no reductions in fire service and that no fire houses would be closed and those turned out to be empty premises as you know because engines 18 and 30 have been closed in the 5th Battalion. Let me say that aside from the constitutional problems which I have with it the real problem is that I don't think of my neighborhood. I'll speak for my neighborhood is well protected from the ravages of fire as it was a couple of weeks ago when engine 30 was open. I hate to see that station go I think it was a. Good station.

30 percent of the calls. Were what they called our first aid. And lie and lie just like in my area where the station was closed. I was a good 70 percent of the people are. Senior citizens. And I feel that was a good station out there where they could respond immediately. To majority of the elderly his specially. And I thought that was a very good station to have out there. I don't I don't deny that we don't have. Many false alarms. But what doesn't. Can say I wasn't surprised something was coming down the coast of houses. But I think he is stepping in to file his bankers by making these moves and all the stories making the firefighters more hostile toward the closings I think right now we're not calling city officials feel that the closing of these houses will save money and add more money to the budget. Well this is

excuse for closing but he's cost the city money. Mayor Givens got one better interpretation the fire department. He believes when a fireman is not out that he is costing the city money. The truth of the matter is when a fireman is not out he's making the city money because one firm is not fighting a fire. He has not taken a piece of crap you have to tax rolls people and it's increasing the tax rolls. We looked at reduced housing stock in asserting. This in the face of falling down. Under the last four years. And for twenty five hundred or twenty nine hundred times that we want to respond to a fire and in particular voting to reduce population since the last census was part of it. The reduced responses first aid calls have been reduced by 6000 here since we put in change and no responses

from the scribes vehicles to the Parkers anticipated reduction in force trying to force us to attend rising last year just on the time it's just a weekend when they are 80 percent or more. The reduction of the fire houses from 25 to 23 sacrificed the levels of fire protection enough along not one that goes up those locations will be covered by the other to the other inches in the area. For instance in June 18th district will be covered by inches 21 33 3 22. And 31 and engine 30s district will be covered by four twenty five thirty five and thirty two. No let down and fire protection whatsoever. Engine 30. Total four hundred forty three hours of work time in 1981. 130 injured 30

closed the three remaining companies would have a total of approximately 2.7 hours increase in workload per week. And that's less than one hour per purpose to put on what engine 18 closing they had a total of a thousand twenty three hours of work time in 1981 and it came out to one hour and 20 minutes per patrol. So you know that's way the reasons why we close them because we felt that what the remaining companies they could more than adequately handle the loss of those two well companies. And you feel that the people in these neighborhoods. Are not going to get less fire protection. Absolutely and they're absolutely the response will be enough to ensure our safety. More than enough the same thing that happened in engine 8 at Chicago street when we closed that and the people who are getting just as fine a protection hours they got before. Have you had fires since they closed.

Yes we had two fires in salt bottle since they closed in June 30 and the fire department had great difficulty at both fires one was at 368 real street and the other one was a 140 Tuscarora. And in both cases the companies which responded to those fires had to come from a greater distance than they normally would have come in as a result I think it was greater damage to the homes. And you had a fire out there just recently in the neighborhood. Was the response time from the other companies. What a difference. Got me burning even higher when I when I sing that. $35000. And I believe. We got a response. Three four minute. Damage. Thousand dollars. And that would have been a good savings right there. And no one in the building no one was hurt or no one was killed. Many feel the extra three or maybe four minutes every time.

That's the case 30 or. 35 if there's a fire right next door. There's going to be a minimum time Suffolk Avenue. No engine for being there just as fast as 30 there been seven recent fires a neighborhood where fire houses have been closed down. Don't you feel that there would've been less damage if those fire houses were intact. Well I don't think so I think in the case of softball all three fires that we had out there since a closing at thirty were an engine for first and destroyed and we all know that you're getting three engines to a fire in two trucks and a rescuer every day and proscribed and taking food from.

I think that. So far flows out of three. I'm hoping that we can get something across to the people that they are being kind. But the problem is with the citizens they were paid $20 to go to. Say Disneyland for a day of enjoyment. But it hurts in the pay $20 to protect their children's lives or their own lives. Still another front which is expected to produce much fireworks is the upcoming showdown between the Griffin administration and Common Council majority leader James Kane in the city hall chambers. The battle is over King's resolution dealing with the firehouse closings again sponsored city charter amendments that would require a return to twenty five engine companies in the fire department. And given the council final authority over their numbered location and manning levels of fire units and he is calling for the rolling back of the buffalo utility tax to 1 percent on the grounds that the hike to 2 percent last May was based on no reduction of firehouses. Both bills have been referred to committees.

While I voted against the utility tax regionally. I feel that before a decision such as this is made that the council should be fully aware of what impact it would have in order to reduce the utility tax and in terms of layoffs because I think that the consolidations and the moves that the mayor are making now there are going to be a number of layoffs. I would like to know what impact the utility tax is going to have. And I think that if it goes to legislation or finance there should be a full public airing of that. Who originally proposed for 2 percent you totally tax us figuring that that additional monies are being used for fire protection is that it. That's right it is not being done. What's happened to the money. Well I talked to the mayor in his office and he told me that he had savings now are going to go to create a surplus so that when he goes down to Albany on the next budget and ask for money that if money isn't good to him he has something to fall back on. But that doesn't wash with me and the reason it doesn't is that you're not going to be able to go down and tell the legislators down in

Albany that you need money when you have a surplus. They're not going to leave you. They're going to say what's the poverty problem if you have a surplus. I was assured by Commissioner plain ASCII that all vacancies would be filled and the fire and police departments if we increase the utility tax. I was assured by Commissioner Langdon and by the way commissioners Langdon Hall ask your spokes persons for the mayor during budget deliberations. I was assured by Commissioner Langdon that if the utility tax were enacted there would be no fire houses closed and I was assured publicly as well as privately during budget hearings the commissioner Commissioner Langan made that statement before the body of the Common Council. Consummate kina is boiling mad because you promised not closings last May when he pushed for that 2 percent utility tell you don't promise anybody anything. He seems to think you know that. So Jimmy thinks what he was thinking. Where the money's go from this increase in taxes. Where the monies go. Was this supposed to be for

additional fire and police protection. No we kept a right at the well right at the level it was before. Seems to me that they were under the impression as to Kean and co. that. The monies. Gathered from this increase from 1 to 2 percent would assure the city of Buffalo that they. Have continued to fire service and no closings cutbacks. Best fire service in a country known to best police service in the country right now is a lack of communication somewhere. Oh yeah get off that door's always open. Well he seems to feel that this is where the monies were supposed to I can't help but Jimmy seems to feel the facts are that he comes in and he asks the Council for a certain budget level and he comes in and asks for a certain tax increase with promises that a certain level of services are going to be delivered of that's done and then he undoes that later. The real problem of course being. It's going to be right around the corner this real problem is that what's he going to say next year when he comes in who's going to believe the commissioners when they come in

and they say you have to provide me with a tax increase you have to provide me with a certain budget. If you don't I won't have this level of service. We're going to say we don't believe you anyway even if we provide the tax even if we provide the budget they're going to make cuts anyway and not come back to the council for permission. Now there's concern that you won't be credible next year. When you promise certain levels of services in return for a tax increase. Well. I never lie to anybody. And it goes back to my days at superjet school. I learned you don't lie. To my credibility has never been questioned. It's been brought up now by saying Well Jimmy knows better. You're all buddies we're friends. We're going to disagree and I hope he he realizes that. Just because we're friends it doesn't mean that we have to agree with each other on a percent of the time. If people think that way then they your just can each other there is a resolution being proposed

by council claims to gain roll back that to 1 percent. Are you in favor of that. Definitely definitely is for one thing I feel. Like I said the people don't mind paying a utility tax whatever attacks. If people get the service. And. People want is to rock the streets for it when their home is protected as far as the fire occurrences or so forth. And I would definitely support. The decrease in the utility tax from 2 percent to 1 percent. If passed by the consul would you veto this measure and well. Jimmy should realize that if he wants to keep that level of fire service the way he wants it then you have to have more money. Repealing a 1 percent utility tax across the city 4.7 million dollars so if you do that way you're going to get the 4.7 million dollars more layoffs.

I've been in the fire department I was there five years my brother is a battalion chief who's been on the department 20 years. I have another brother was a lieutenant in the fire department. He's there 20 years I had a brother killed in the line of service who was on the department 16 years at the time he was killed. My other brother who Dick who was a state of the state assembly was on a leave of absence from the fire department. The Canes know the fire department. And I've talked to many many chiefs and people of higher rank than the commissioner and longer experience than the commissioner and they think he's crazy. They think closing these companies is a very very foolish move but nobody's asked them their opinion. And look at Fred Lang. You didn't want to make this decision Frank. FRED LANG it was told by the mayor that you make some cuts in the fire department he provided the the the companies he identified which companies are going to go. But you can't tell me that any commissioner wants to live with those kind of cuts. I would have to have five men and in Chicago and six on a truck it would be ideal situation I'd love the fire company and every corner. But we have to face realities and this is the decisions we have to make or running out of.

With regard to the number of houses that have been demolished in the city the reason that those houses have been demolished is because they were on fire. Fifteen hundred houses over the last four years have been demolished in the city of Buffalo. Virtually every one of them saw fire. And that's why they were demolished. The facts are that this city is burning down and we're decreasing fire protection I don't say we the mayor is decreasing fire protection. And it shouldn't be done. We need we need to at least hold our own. I believe the city's contention is that thousands have moved out of Buffalo in several structures have been demolished yet those that I've talked to and the councilman feel that. In their neighborhoods especially where there were the two fire houses were closed. The reason those buildings are demolished because you're burned. Well we the city. In the four years I've been mayor. We have demolished twenty nine hundred homes in a city of Buffalo. I haven't seen a was 15:00 until they just got the report from Matt Barreto yesterday for the four year report. Twenty nine hundred homes were

demolished and as you mentioned we lost 80000 people between 1970 and 1980. So when you put those two things together you have to realize that the fire protection that we have is probably. More than enough. But out of these demolished buildings I wonder how many of them were. Arson fire although quite a few of them. But you also have to realize that the city of Buffalo has the best arson conviction rate in the country. So we're doing a pretty good job and some of these bombs burned up torching your homes for profit. And you know that's these are things that I went into the consideration of closing these two houses. Still another battlefield pitting the city in the Firefighters Union was Supreme Court when Captain Joseph O'Connell of ladder truck nine refused to work as an acting battalion chief he was suspended for 30 days. The union obtained a show cause order linking a three year old court order barring fire officials from

forcing firefighters to work in jobs not covered by their formal titles. You know that wasn't a quarter or the quarter was a particular order based on several men and I mean they were writing less and I wasn't filling vacancies at the time. We just got in the office and there was a dialogue about reorganization there that it was time to do this for the right to die and over our order. Vacancy. These were permanent these were vacancies over a period of time kept him because he was a temporary assignment officer covered both tracks and often is covered in section 6 to 1. The city just likes to interpret the law any way they want to target at their convenience. First of all the Deputy made an illegal suspension you're just on suspension suspend

him give a sentence out. It's like someone commit murder you don't say give him the chair and then later we'll have the trial so that's what the deputy did because he was refused by the refusal he just says I'm going to suspend you for 30 days he doesn't have that right he doesn't have any right and now what they're in here trying to do is to correct a wrong as. Judged oil reserve decision our application to punish the city for contempt we indicated then although technically we were there to seek punishment for contempt. What we really want is that the city comply with. I judge that his decision a couple of a couple years ago and then we'll be happy you feel that the court order has it was violated I had but I don't think is any question about it and I think at that time we were. We made it clear that what was going on were that individuals are being forced to take out of title assignments or be punished. That's exactly what's happening in the last week or two. Firefighters are being told they have to assume

positions of high responsibility and run the risk of their performance won in those titles or if they refuse them they'll be suspended like happened because it was a victory for the union came late yesterday when just the stall rule that Ricardo was within his rights to refuse working out of title because no emergency existed at the time. If the city doesn't appeal he will be reinstated. What are your feelings on the. Proposal to shrink the ranks of being a battalion chief. I think it's dangerous extremely dangerous. One thing that you've got to understand about fighting a fire is that you need supervision at that fire battalion chiefs provide that supervision. They're like a general in the field of battle. We bring all the companies together and give the orders out when you're going to fight a fire. Each company has its own work to do and they need a general who's a battalion chief to tell them what to do and what's going to happen now with less battalion chiefs spread around the city. It's going to really reduce

the amount of supervision in a fire I think it's critical. I don't support a battalion chief it's probably the most important function of fire. This man knows his area has been he knows refined the liquids are stored in those different structures of construction. When he pulls up to a fire he knows it. Say a two and a half story frame has fire stops and he can tell by the construction of the knowledge of how it was built. He also knows. Many times that more time in advance how many times a building say had arson two or three fires to what he should know is district better than anybody. He does make these inspections and this is a management decision we feel that breaking a city and exception the Chiefs can adequately cover them. Also I took the chief's office of answering cos alarms so that will reduce your calls by ten thousand divided by 5 now and. I feel that. With them or their ministry to do with the less

running. Plus or minus 20 times and I think I've been proven right that and years to years to come that five or ten years why don't we start right reduce the ranks of battalion chief because we don't need a. The union contends that. A battalion chief is probably the most important manager at a fire alone. Well he is inspects the buildings he knows which buildings have been weakened from previous arson fires he knows where all this. Stands are. Kept and should be able to do the same thing. We get too many chiefs and not enough Indians. That's why I want to get rid of sort of the talent uses as well some police inspectors we had just going to the police department for a minute. We had fourteen hundred men. Years ago we had two inspectors and we got a thousand men we had night inspectors we don't need a battalion chief. What about your decision to dismantle eight hundred fire called Access thing going other

cities have done it before us. It's going to save an awful lot of false alarms. The first batch we took out was in a mastering district and one year there one box along at a hundred thirty one false alarms. And that cost a couple hundred bucks every time an engine goes out in a fossil are the cities that already closed or eliminated the fire alarm boxes. San Francisco Rochester Denver Chicago Sherry Q's Jersey City shot Lake City in Culver City. So if you were not the first one to do it. But the most. Serious problem I forsee with this is Buffalo has always been proud of its background. We are probably where the most heaviest populated cities in the world. We have the Poles the Italians the Hispanics whatever. Well these people can't speak English. Do they are they schooled enough to go to a telephone and how to report a fire in their excitement. If they did get on telephone would they be able to speak clear enough to tell the dispatcher where the fire is. And my second concern is with the problems we're having in some of our

inner cities streets is how many people would open their doors at 3 o'clock in the morning he said. Let someone in that was frantically screaming at the door that they want to call the fire department so they would know that someone put on an act just to get in the house. So there's going to be problems and I don't think these rash decisions should just be made I think that over the years everybody realizes what a lot of problems they have been and it seems that even though we've taken some of the boxes out that real pain and that fact as well we were responding kind of 12 times and I you know I was just telling who's boss. Still increased and instead of going to the boxes that we pull out to go to our house for us down the street or whatever now wearing an apparatus we have one man killed several men injured on the fossil evidence just doesn't make sense to have. What you've got now is a fire alarm system that really exists for the guy who pulls the

false wire and you can as you know when when a fire company is on a call for a false alarm. It is not available for the real McCoy. And with the elimination of firebox you will now have companies in service for when the real fire occurs. Who should have the final authority over the the location and number of fire pieces and manning levels of the fire units as city administrator comic con.. At one point I used to feel that the city showed. Just the opposite. After this occurrence that happened just now. I think I think that the council should. Should have the authority to those who are putting the money into the budget. I think we should have control of the fire department and the police department by putting money and protection we're getting the kind of support you have in a council on the rollback of the utility tax to 1 percent I think the council are being very very cautious we're going to have a public hearing with regard to how that might damage

revenues due to the city. Now maybe we will roll it back. To 1 percent maybe we'll just roll it back. The amount of money that was saved in the closing of fire companies. You know if there's really been a savings in in regard here in regard to the fire houses if there's been a one million dollar savings or two million dollar savings maybe we ought to roll that particular portion back. I see that you don't tax people for a service for a phantom service if you're going to tax them for a service giving the service if later on you decide to cut the service getting their money back. And the people have to realize that in time to come maybe not the next three or four years but maybe we will have to make some other changes because we have to do with the money that we have and the things that are coming from Washington right now. The city of Buffalo lost 30 million dollars as of October 1st when a no federal budget went into effect. And now he's talking about giving no food stamps back to the states. He's talking about these service cuts that he's going to be making in

the guide it's going to be realizing this other guys in local government. So the people have to realize in order to keep our heads above water we have to economize. And that might be the same. We're not going to regen ice. We're going to economize.