BACK IN 2002, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, VOTERS approved a $159 million bond issue to build new and upgrade other police and fire stations in the city.

One of those fire stations needing renovation is Fire Station #2, currently the oldest firehouse still being used by the FD.  It was built 60 years ago and expanded in the 1980’s.  It is also the city’s busiest fire station, running 4,500 calls annually.  But by waiting so long to begin some of the projects, the costs have increased by $6.8 million overall.

In order to be able to complete the modernizations, the Mayor has proposed reducing the spending levels in some projects, including Station #2.  Now instead of spending $9.5 million on #2, the city staff wants to get by with only $7.1 million.

Enter the city councilwoman who represents the district where the fire station is located.  Since it serves a largely-hispanic section of the city, she wants to get in the mud and play the race card in what is no doubt a grandstanding attempt to garner votes.  Never mind that the city is also building a brand new fire station in the same area and is nearly completed.

The mud-fight is just getting started and the San Jose Mercury News brings you up to speed with the latest HERE.

To view images of the station over the years, click on the thumbnails:

Photos courtesy Santa Clara County Fire Dept.
For more Station #2 history click HERE.

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