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Morning Lineup – November 13

9 comments

Ah, yes….. another Friday the 13th.  This is one of the few years that had three of them, the other two months were February and March.  The last time we had this triple-curse was in 1998.  The next one comes around pretty soon, though in 2015.  After that there is another long wait until 2026, if you really give a whit about it.  At least it’s a good lunchtime trivia morsel to toss out.

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STATter911 posted a story overnight that makes you wonder how some people ever achieved their lofty positions of leadership.  The story that you can READ HERE tells of a firefighter in Hartford, Connecticut, that was banned from parking his car on FD property while he’s a work because he has bumper stickers that portray a political viewpoint that differs from the city’s mayor and/or fire chief.

Now, as you’ll see, there is nothing obscene or immoral about the stickers.  It’s just that they don’t agree with the city’s official line.  And I’m thinking to myself:  Just how blindingly stupid can some people get?  There is no question that what he is doing is expressing his own opinion in an acceptable and legal way.  But somebody up the chain of command has taken upon himself the duty of thought-policeman and ordered the FF off the property.

The firefighter, Mike Di’Giacomo says that he was told that the union, corporation counsel, and “downtown” were all in agreement on this decision.  You know that’s a bunch of hooey in the first place because no union would accept that sort of discipline.  And you can bet your bippy that the corporation counsel never said any such thing.  When it’s over, Di’Giacomo will get to park behind the firehouse again, but will the force ever learn who it was that came up with this gem of a decision?  Now that the fire chief has caused a national embarassment for the city, he will not doubt be invited to a private meeting with the mayor.

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Have you been following the adventures of the trans-oceanic medics?  Justin Schorr (The Happy Medic) and Mark Glencorse (Medic 999) have gotten their reporting in high  gear now, posting their daily activities on both of their blogs and now video journals, too.  They’ve built up a Twitter following of over 1,000 so far.  It’s a fascinating story they’re telling, and from two different viewpoints that start out only a couple of feet apart.  So be sure to click on the links that I just gave you and then each morning go to FireEMSBlogs.com and launch your reading from there.

Ok, it’s time to get this equipment checked out now.  I’ve got to get some more coffee started and we’ll send the rookie out to get rid of the black cat.  See youback  in the day room.

  • NeilMcD

    Bill, I think the “line” here is the fact that the guy is parking his vehicle *inside* the firehouse.

    If they said he can't park outside the firehouse, that's one thing but parking a vehicle inside a firehouse festooned with any type of political sentiments may be the issue here.

    -N

  • firegeezer

    I noticed that they said “inside the firehouse,” but I have to presume that their local jargon refers to the property.  I can't imagine a muncipal FD permitting firefighters to park inside the building itself.  (just how much space would be in there, anyway?)  But I could be wrong, though.  Maybe we'll hear from somebody there who can enlighten us.

    ________________________________

  • MNChief

    We actually had this discussion in my Executive Development class at the NFA. The example used involved the use of the Confederate Flag, supposedly one firefighter complained that it was racist and the city upheld the complaint and told the offender he couldn't park his vehicle on city property. According to the case study the city was legally able to enforce its decision.

    Didn't make sense to me, but I suppose that's why I'm not a lawyer.

  • Dal90

    Oh no, they mean inside the firehouse.

    Not uncommon practice in Hartford from what I understand, particularly when you have a house that was built for multiple companies and now only houses a single. Off going shift pulls out, incoming shift pulls in.

    Otherwise your car is put up on blocks and stripped.

    Inside or out of the firehouse shouldn't matter. It's either city property or not, the fact that there is a roof over it shouldn't impact the decision making.

    > Just how blindingly stupid can some people get?

    It's Hartford. Never underestimate the ability of that city's politicians to amaze you with profound dysfunction.

    The Mayor was arrested in January on bribery charges (pretty solid evidence…a city contract renovated his house and never billed for the work…until two years later they heard there was an investigation and invoices and checks started to be written).

    He was arrested again in September on extortion charges.

    Trial to start soon…

  • Dal90

    Ah…

    Here's a labor grievance from 1979 that dates the practice (for Deputy Chiefs) of parking their POVs inside firehouses at least back to 1969.

    The Union lost that time, but was seeking in part of the grievance to expand the practice to allow any member and not just Deputies to park inside.

    http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/csblr/decisions-pd

  • Dal90

    Oh no, they mean inside the firehouse.

    Not uncommon practice in Hartford from what I understand, particularly when you have a house that was built for multiple companies and now only houses a single. Off going shift pulls out, incoming shift pulls in.

    Otherwise your car is put up on blocks and stripped.

    Inside or out of the firehouse shouldn't matter. It's either city property or not, the fact that there is a roof over it shouldn't impact the decision making.

    > Just how blindingly stupid can some people get?

    It's Hartford. Never underestimate the ability of that city's politicians to amaze you with profound dysfunction.

    The Mayor was arrested in January on bribery charges (pretty solid evidence…a city contract renovated his house and never billed for the work…until two years later they heard there was an investigation and invoices and checks started to be written).

    He was arrested again in September on extortion charges.

    Trial to start soon…

  • Dal90

    Ah…

    Here's a labor grievance from 1979 that dates the practice (for Deputy Chiefs) of parking their POVs inside firehouses at least back to 1969.

    The Union lost that time, but was seeking in part of the grievance to expand the practice to allow any member and not just Deputies to park inside.

    http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/csblr/decisions-pd

  • Dal90

    Oh no, they mean inside the firehouse.

    Not uncommon practice in Hartford from what I understand, particularly when you have a house that was built for multiple companies and now only houses a single. Off going shift pulls out, incoming shift pulls in.

    Otherwise your car is put up on blocks and stripped.

    Inside or out of the firehouse shouldn't matter. It's either city property or not, the fact that there is a roof over it shouldn't impact the decision making.

    > Just how blindingly stupid can some people get?

    It's Hartford. Never underestimate the ability of that city's politicians to amaze you with profound dysfunction.

    The Mayor was arrested in January on bribery charges (pretty solid evidence…a city contract renovated his house and never billed for the work…until two years later they heard there was an investigation and invoices and checks started to be written).

    He was arrested again in September on extortion charges.

    Trial to start soon…

  • Dal90

    Ah…

    Here's a labor grievance from 1979 that dates the practice (for Deputy Chiefs) of parking their POVs inside firehouses at least back to 1969.

    The Union lost that time, but was seeking in part of the grievance to expand the practice to allow any member and not just Deputies to park inside.

    http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/csblr/decisions-pd