We Already Have Mutual Aid – Letter to the El Segundo Herald by Michael D. Robbins

The following letter to the editor was published in the El Segundo Herald newspaper (HeraldPublications.com) on Thursday, March 21, 2011 in the Letters section on page 3. The El Segundo Herald has a strict 250-word limit.

We Already Have Mutual Aid

The March 13 emergency response to the helicopter crash into Raytheon Building E-1 in El Segundo proves two significant points. First, it proves our existing Fire Department mutual aid system works exceptionally well. El Segundo Fire Chief Kevin Smith answered questions during a press conference attended by ABC, KTLA, and FOX television news, and myself.

Chief Smith stated that 70 firefighters responded to this incident, including mutual aid from the L.A. County Fire Department and all South Bay fire departments, including Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance.

Second, the quick and effective emergency response by 70 firefighters proves that Measure P, the firefighter union’s initiative, is absolutely unnecessary because we already have effective mutual aid. It shows how deceptive the firefighters’ claims are. It debunks their fundamental ballot argument claim that Measure P will “put 72 firefighters on call” (including out-of-town stations). Interestingly, Chief Smith signed the ballot argument for Measure P, along with the only (or one of two) firefighter union member who lives in El Segundo, and Councilman Don Brann, the most enthusiastic advocate of tax and fee increases on businesses and residents.

The other claims in their ballot argument are equally false. Measure P is a permanent takeover of our Fire Department by L.A. County that eliminates paramedic ambulances and local control, insulates the firefighters from accountability to any city official, and protects their wildly excessive and unsustainable $150,000 to $350,000 salaries, benefits and pensions that caused El Segundo’s budget problems.

Michael D. Robbins