Cuts will jeopardize public safety in Salem

By Robin Chitwood

Salem city leaders claim they can’t afford to keep your fire stations open. The truth is that they can’t afford to close them because slashing public safety resources will end in tragedy.

In an economy like this, we must consider all measures to manage costs. That’s why firefighters have proposed numerous measures to save money, but our fire chief and city manager have ignored our proposals, even though we have made suggestions that save money and ensure that all Salem fire stations remain open.

Salem firefighters take their duty to protect life and property very seriously. Our fire chief and city manager must share the responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone in this great city by making a commitment to maintain public safety resources. Closing fire stations does not represent a commitment to public safety. It does not represent a commitment to Salem residents or business owners. Having the right number of firefighters on the job, with the right training and the right equipment so firefighters can respond safely and effectively to any emergency at any time will ensure your welfare.

This is not the time for dangerous ideological experiments in public policy. Supporters of the dangerous plan to close fire stations clearly have not thought their proposal through. These bureaucrats have not assessed the risk associated with their proposal. And they are simply wrong if they believe that closing stations will have no impact on public safety.

The residents of West Salem and North East Salem deserve better. Residents in the rest of this great city deserve better.

Closing stations in West Salem and North East Salem will put residents there at risk by increasing the length of time it takes for fire fighters from other stations to respond. And when firefighters from other parts of the city are called to respond to an emergency in West Salem and North East Salem, other neighborhoods will be left without proper coverage.

Our chief and city manager have gone too far with this dangerous proposal.

The priorities of Salem bureaucrats may not always match the priorities of the men and women of the Salem Fire Department who are sworn to protect you. But we will fight tooth and nail for your safety. We will fight to keep all stations open. We will fight to ensure that our neighborhoods, schools and businesses don’t have to settle for good public safety, but that they receive great public safety.

While the chief and city manager have lost focus on Salem’s priorities, your firefighters remain focused on what’s important – the people we protect.

Tell city leaders to work with firefighters – not against us. Tell them to work with us to find ways to save money and keep all of your fire stations open.

Robin Chitwood is president of Salem Firefighters Local 314.