By Andrea Isom
MyFoxDetroit.com
DETROIT — Emergency response time can be a major problem for people living in the city of Detroit. Now, budget cuts could force the layoffs of more EMS workers.
“City Council, we supported you. We were there for you. We voted for you. We expected you to do the right thing,” said EMS Union President Wisam Zeineh.
Detroit City Council is trying to come up with ways to save cash, so it’s looking to the Detroit Fire Department to give up some loot to the tune of $3-million. The target of the biggest dividend dive is EMS.
“We have to give up $1.8-million of the three million,” said Detroit EMS Superintendent Jerald James.
Wait a minute! That’s no fair said the superintendent.
“It’s demoralizing. It’s devastating,” James said.
So, what does this mean to Detroiters and even to those who reside in the suburbs? Consider this if you ever step foot in the city of Detroit.
“It will result in us not being able to respond to calls for 911,” said James.
“Not enough ambulances, not enough paramedics, people will die because they will not get help when they call 911,” Zeineh said.
The exact numbers are rough, but it could mean 33 EMS techs laid off, 40 open positions not filled and from 22 rigs on the road down to a dismal 13. Some say it could also mean people clinging to life, laying in the city streets waiting for service that will never show up.
“How can I look a family in the face and tell them I’m sorry your loved one has passed, but I know because of my profession that if we would’ve been there in time, there may have been a chance to do something,” said Zeineh. “I want to vomit. I’m ashamed of the government in the city of Detroit. I’m ashamed of the management of the Detroit Fire Department.”
Right now, firefighters have not been touched, which has some folks fired up. So, what says Fire Commissioner James Mack?
“These cuts come from City Council, not from the mayor’s office or my office. I had no say in who got cut and how much. My vote was that nobody would be cut, and I went before Council and Budget and told them that,” said Mack. “I even personally went back during executive sessions and told them that.”
The union’s top dog, oh his temper is way beyond flared. The reason for his passion is the people.
“Just for the children alone, this is an absolute travesty. We have numerous, numerous solutions to these problems. We have been screaming on deaf ears for years, and if you’re a citizen in this city, if you have family in this city, if you even visit this city, you need to do something about it yourself by calling City Council and letting them know how disgusted you are with this,” said Zeineh.
The superintendent and the union president want to sit down with City Council and talk about better and safer ways to solve this problem. We tried to reach out to several members of City Council Wednesday night and, in all fairness, it was late in the day and none of them were available for comment.
Republished with permission from MyFoxDetroit.com