THE MAYOR OF NORTH PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, IS ADAMANT in his quest to eliminate 25% of the city’s fire department. Citing a consultant’s report that was released to the city council only hours before last night’s council meeting, Mayor Charles A. Lombardi said that he will be closing one of the city’s four firehouses on Thursday morning.
North Providence FD Douglas Ave. station
(WPRI-TV image)
More than 70 off-duty firefighters showed up at Tuesday night’s meeting, along with many concerned citizens, and rallied the city council to protest the mayor’s planned closure.
WPRI-TV was at the meeting last night and filed this video report:
As you saw in the video, Mayor Lombardi insists that closing the fire station will have no effect on public safety. (Firegeezer adds: I think I have finally found somebody to buy this bridge stock that I’ve been selling.)
The IAFF Local’s president John Silva vowed to seek a court injunction to halt the closing until the decision has been properly debated by the council and the union has presented a response to the plans.
The Providence Journal has a good report on the meeting last night HERE.
