Of course, the only modest proposal is to privatize the fire department in Lawrence, MA. As the response to the natural disaster in the Gulf of Mexico proves, market forces are best poised to respond to disasters. Further expanding public firefighting is creeping socialism. I have no personal financial interest in the matter, my father having retired from firefighting years ago. Critics should heed my impeccable Swiftian logic. Along these lines,I also think residents of my town can safely ignore this manufactured “state of emergency” next door, because the market will respond.
July 9, 2010
By Mark E. Voglermvogler@eagletribune.com
LAWRENCE — Citing this week’s layoffs of 23 Lawrence firefighters, the Boston-based Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts is calling for Gov. Deval Patrick to declare “a public safety state of emergency” in the city.
“Without immediate state and federal financial resources, the Lawrence firefighters will be playing a game of ‘Russian roulette’ with each call and/or emergency that they respond to,” Robert B. McCarthy, president of the statewide organization, said in an emailed statement last night.
“When a fire happens, seconds not minutes, can be the difference between life and death,” he said.
The group, which represents 12,000 union firefighters across the state, planned to rally at the Statehouse this afternoon to urge the governor to call the emergency so the city can receive state and federal money to help restore the jobs eliminated by Mayor William Lantigua to balance the city’s budget.
“I urge the Governor to declare a “STATE OF EMERGENCY” so that the City of Lawrence can avert a further public safety crisis,” McCarthy said.
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