Two weeks ago, on Jan. 25, this paper published an editorial supporting our proposal to turn the old O.H Booth fire company into a museum of firefighting history and fire safety education center. Two days later, on Jan. 27, our association sent a letter to Union President Sal Mauro seeking his union’s support and requesting a sit-down meeting to discuss our plans and any concerns they may have and to ask for their cooperation. To date, we have still to receive a response, yet one week ago Mr. Mauro felt it urgent enough to publicly post a column in this paper full of grand opinions and yes, misinformation. As a union leader, city resident and city employee, he ought to know better. He ought to also read up on his facts before making ill-will statements. So perhaps the question should be asked the same of Mr. Maruo – what is your hidden agenda?
It seems that presidential politics have now gone local. Attack your opponent on opinion and misrepresent their stated beliefs. So let’s get to the real facts and get a few housekeeping items out of the way first. 1) The Exempts have no desire to form a volunteer fire company, although that line made for some good chuckles at our club. We respect the fact, (again, not the opinion, Mr. Mauro) that we are provided great fire protection services by a career staff. and as our letter dated Jan. 27 stated. “We 100 percent support our local fire department.” 2) It has been injected that the building under our ownership would be off the tax rolls. This is far from the truth; in fact, the Exempts pay taxes on its current property. Also neglected in your column was the fact that on Dec. 15, we published a full-page ad in this paper and stated that we would pay taxes on the building if we obtain it. So where’s the beef, and why continue making statements against what we have factually stated? 3) We have no desire to do the job the career firefighters currently do. In fact, all we want to do is assist the fire department in promoting a safer community. We should all be able to agree on that. Shouldn’t we? Think of our volunteer help, like what happens when a third alarm fire occurs in Poughkeepsie. The surrounding volunteer fire companies are called in to man the firehouses and back the city up and do so professionally and effectively. 4) Another social club? Again, read our proposal. It is again disingenuous and alarming that our plan has been printed in this and other papers and yet you continue to try to “spin” the facts in your favor. We have no desire to open another “social club,” but do have a desire as a firematic charitable organization to preserve a great old building that has deep roots with us and promote a safer community.
So really what is all this about? Is it that the career staff has never supported volunteers at any level since the 1970s, when volunteers were faded out? Why is it that the City of Poughkeepsie is the only place in Dutchess County that doesn’t allow its residents to volunteer? Beacon does, Arlington does, everyone does, except Poughkeepsie. The great old American tradition of volunteering in your local fire department has been shut out to thousands of city residents. That should speak volumes of the ill-will that has existed between the volunteer force and career staff – long before my time. But 30 years later we are still wiling to work together for a safer community. The question is … are you? We’ll be watching our mailbox. In the meantime, let’s stick to CNN for politics.
Chris Petsas is the president of the Exempt Firemen’s Association.