Connecting You to Your Community
Lodi, California •

Indexes

November 2nd, 2009
November 6th, 2009
November 5th, 2009
November 4th, 2009
November 3rd, 2009
November 2nd, 2009
October 31st, 2009
October 30th, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT

Lodi can't afford to lose four firefighters


Wednesday, June 10, 2009 6:20 AM PDT

I am writing on behalf of the Lodi firefighters. I am concerned not only for the safety of the community of Lodi and my family and friends, but first and foremost, the firefighters who serve the public on a daily basis.

My husband and the father of my children is employed by the city of Lodi as an engineer with the fire department, and has been a strong force in the department for eight years.

He is the man who gets up in the middle of the night to visit your parents or grandparents at Ashley Place and Delta Convalescent; the one who, with all the love and compassion, helps to reassure them that everything will be all right and things will look better in the morning; and the one who, with his crew, helps your aunt who has fallen in the bathtub and can't get up — showing her as much respect and privacy they can considering the circumstance. They are also the ones who are on call when your wife has locked the keys in the car at Wal-Mart with your new baby and your 3-year-old inside in the summer heat.

The city of Lodi and its budget shortfall is affecting your public services, the services your taxes pay for.

The fire department has already given to the city in the form of a pay cut and browning out a fire station 70 percent of the time — meaning if you had a fire in your home near the Turner Road area and Station 1 (Downtown) is browned out, you will have a fire company responding from possibly near Harney Lane. What condition do you think your home will be in when they finally arrive? Also think about your medical issues.

Now the city is asking for more — four firefighters. I think that is a safety issue for you and the firefighters.

I am asking you, as taxpaying citizens of Lodi, to do your part. Contact your council members and make your opinions known or attend the City Council meeting today. It is not OK to jeopardize your public safety and the safety of the firefighters of your city. They need your help.

Kim Allen
Valley Springs

Reader Feedback

what22 wrote on Jun 18, 2009 12:35 PM:

" and we know who you are your friends so called let it out of the bag thats funny "

what22 wrote on Jun 18, 2009 12:34 PM:

" cogito who cares "

Cogito wrote on Jun 17, 2009 10:40 PM:

" Reading, you fired the first volley by saying my friends would be "laughing at me". Try and keep up you dullard. You don't know my friends on the Dept. and my relationship with them. So you really should just shut up. What22, it's called "punctuation", take a class and learn how to use it. If you're trying to look smarter than someone else, punctuation is important. Seriously! Reading, good post, at least you showed some intellectual ability. I didn't know about the eureka funds. My bad. "

reading wrote on Jun 17, 2009 8:20 PM:

" Cogi...

Try to at least stay current on what happened 7 days ago before you type...it will help your posts look a bit less stupid.

That said, as of a week ago, it looks like the firemen and the city found some ways to "afford" their employees thru a series of cuts and compromises. Very old news. I guess all your firemen buddies left that out of your conversations. "

what22 wrote on Jun 17, 2009 4:12 PM:

" cogito if you have no idea what your talking about why comment on here why dont your worry about consumnes charging you for fire service instead of worrying what happens in lodi lodi fire doesnt charge and some fire departments only have two guys respond yet again your blabbering about something you have no clue about . "

Really wrote on Jun 17, 2009 1:04 PM:

" Cogito
Im not going to trade bashes with you its very juvenile
the fact that you told me to shut up show just how immature you are, Doesn't feel good when someone singles you out and bags on you now does it?
The bottom line is the Firefighters and I highly doubt you are on expert on the field, I have been directly involved with fire departments for the last 18 years
lets just say we will agree to disagree. "

Cogito wrote on Jun 17, 2009 9:46 AM:

" Really, I doubt it. The truth, in a nutshell, is Lodi can't afford to keep these 4 firefighters, end of story. So if you agree that this is such a big problem, why don't you and your like minded friends pony up some of your personal funds to pay their salaries and benefits. That way you get the satisfaction of putting up, instead of what you really should do, and that is shut up. "

really wrote on Jun 16, 2009 2:54 PM:

" Cogito, your sense of humor leaves something to be desired, If you really knew Ron, Pete, Jack, Jim, and John
They would be laughing at you not with you.
I would pick your job apart but I have more integrity than that. To each their own, no go worry about your own. "

Lodian wrote on Jun 14, 2009 11:45 AM:

" Robb: Gator has said that he lives in Nampa Idaho. "

Robb wrote on Jun 13, 2009 5:08 PM:

" Yea, gator... good luck with that...

I have no idea, whether there are real firemen in brooklyn, just not in lodi, that's my point...

Lodi firemen are over rated, and need to be held to a higher standard for what they make... "

Lodian wrote on Jun 13, 2009 2:28 PM:

" Gator: Transplants from California? Yep, gangs are everywhere. When people say they don't have a gang problem that means they must live on Mars. "

Cogito wrote on Jun 13, 2009 7:51 AM:

" Come on people, don't you guys have a sense of humor? I was only bagging on the dept. Letterman style on the last entry. If my friends on the dept. Ron, Pete, Jack, Jim, and John were in my house right now, I'd be saying things unfit for print here, way worse than that, and they'd all be laughing. Mainly because they'd know I was right. "

Gator wrote on Jun 13, 2009 6:57 AM:

" WB-inlodi, I believe I said the Boise area which includes Nampa, Eagle, Meridian, Kuna, Emmett and Caldwell.. Funny thing WB We have been here 4 years and I haven’t seen One skinhead. On the other hand the Caldwell police just put away
13 of the Eastside Locos, most all were transplants from California, ring a bell??
Friends of yours??? "

reading wrote on Jun 13, 2009 6:36 AM:

" Co-gee,

You got me there...I do tend to quickly skim over the redundantly stupid, therefore missing your location earlier.

Whatever your animosity stems from, it's not the problem of the Lodi taxpayer. Perhaps a return to drug use and some anger management will help brighten the sky in your world.

The LNS has a nice big article about the Galt Boys and Girls club today. Maybe you can inflict your endless knowledge there, and someone from Galt will actually believe you. "

illegalinLodi wrote on Jun 12, 2009 10:38 PM:

" Gator, I thought you lived in Nampa, not Boise? I hear the skinheads keep the firefighters busy there in Nampa putting out arson fires of those who don't pay their protection dues to the various Aryan organizations. "

illegalinLodi wrote on Jun 12, 2009 10:34 PM:

" Cogito, you sound like you're juiced again already and it's not even 9 yet. Maybe those firefighters need to haul you back to the ER to get you another dose of pain pills. "

Cogito wrote on Jun 12, 2009 8:50 PM:

" Kp, I guess I could start badmouthing you because you can't spell "credibility". And, I enjoy picking on people like you. I consider it sport. I wonder why you, or anyone like you, would consider the FD exempt from budget cuts. Besides, when's the last time Lodi had a major fire? Best I can remember it was a big warehouse, and the whole thing burned to the ground. They might as well stayed back at the station, watching "Backdraft" and high fiving each other. "

Gator wrote on Jun 12, 2009 8:40 PM:

" The reason they show up my friend is 9 times out of 10 they are there first and in that case they start treatment… I would prefer that the Fire Department ran the Ambulance service…It’s the same scissor bills complaining now that had a cow when LFD went south to LA to fight fires, It’s called mutual aid. Here in the Boise
area California sent 10 crews to help out in 2007 and last year we sent 7 engines and
75 fire fighters to help out Southern California… That’s how things work amigo!! There are many ways to cut funds with out jumping on emergency services "

kp wrote on Jun 12, 2009 8:08 PM:

" Cogito, you have already lost your credability, so you might as well hang up trying to get over on Lodi FD, I don't even know why you would waste your time trying to bad mouth them or anyone else, do you have nothing better to do? "

Cogito wrote on Jun 12, 2009 6:25 PM:

" Reading, never even once did I say I was from Lodi, or that the Lodi FD picked me up. Plus, If you read these blogs so much, how did you miss the fact I'm from Galt? I mention it all the time. You call yourself "reading", but you obvoiously lack comprehension skills. Talk about pathetic. By the way, in Lodi, if the ambulance service is private, why do the fireman have to show up if not for the fact that they have nothing better to do. "

Gator wrote on Jun 12, 2009 2:56 PM:

" Fat finger it's "or" not ore!!!! "

Gator wrote on Jun 12, 2009 2:55 PM:

" A fire can go from a little amount to nothing to a 5 alarm in the blink of an eye, that is why you always roll with a full complement.. I got the same load
of Bull when I worked on a line Crew for PG&E, how come so many guys,
well I made a difference twice when I pulled linemen out of hot wires and
saved their lives, if I hadn’t been the fourth man on the crew someone would have died.. When one talks about a trade you know little about you had best Have your facts straight ore mums the word…. "

reading wrote on Jun 12, 2009 1:45 PM:

" EDIT;

Make that, "I've seen..." "

reading wrote on Jun 12, 2009 1:43 PM:

" Cogito...

I seen you post mostly negative comments on almost EVERY blog the LNS posts, and that has been over a long time period....so your credibility is pretty low to begin with.

Now that we know you're a Galt resident, whatever issue you have with them has nothing to do with Lodi, and it makes your statements even more ridiculous. Try to pay attention to which city you are talking about first, then get your story straight... before you post.

Good luck. "

kp wrote on Jun 12, 2009 12:49 PM:

" Cogito, you talk in your own langauge, were we NOT on the subject of "LODI", you shouldn't even be comentting on this letter you live in GALT! Wasn't that another issue of the letter, that she didn't live in Lodi, you get a clue! "

Gator wrote on Jun 12, 2009 12:44 PM:

" Hey Robb, I would pay good money to see you say that to one of the men at
Engine 82 in the South Bronx , real good money!!! Or maybe the guys from
Rescue 2 in Brooklyn, they lost half the house in 9/11... A statement like yours could only come from a gutless wonder… "

Cogito wrote on Jun 12, 2009 11:43 AM:

" No suzain, you are wrong. I happen to live in Galt. The ambulance was from consumnes fire dept. The bill was from the same. Fire dept.s are fire dept.s. "

KG wrote on Jun 12, 2009 10:39 AM:

" As to my comment about remembering what happened on 911 that was to those who make comments about firefighters just to have something rude to say like "Robb" who wrote "There are no Real Fireman anymore just Hose Jockeys" & "real one" who aired his personal issues with a single firefighter over a real estate deal gone bad. Neither comment had anything to do with the city budget or Kim Allen's letter to the Editor. "

KG wrote on Jun 12, 2009 10:36 AM:

" To Eastsider: I meant no disrespect to your dad and with no mention of his passing in your earlier comment I had know way of knowing. As for him being a decorated hero way before 9/11 I commend him for that. "

suzain wrote on Jun 12, 2009 10:32 AM:

" Cogito- they (i am assuming you mean fire department) did not bring 5. AMR brought 2 and fire brought 3. you probably were in so much pain from your bad back you did not realize that you recieved a $1000 bill from AMR and not fire. Just trying to clarify some of the incorrect statements you made. "

Eastsider wrote on Jun 12, 2009 9:49 AM:

" TO KG: I would ask my Dad - but unfortunately, he's dead. He was a decorated hero, way before 9/11. "

Gator wrote on Jun 12, 2009 8:21 AM:

" It’s very simple the last cuts made should be emergency services, every thing else is open to cuts.. As for being self employed that is a personal
choice and no sick or vacation time goes with the territory. As for the
four Firefighters sure they are not needed every time but when they are
they make a difference, A house burns to the ground, a major fire downtown
Or a Death or two could be the end result then again cogito you could
volunteer and pick up the slack… "

Cogito wrote on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM:

" KP, they brought 5, they used 2, the other ones joked and stood around. Lodi can do with 4 less firefighters without a problem, trust me. If not, what other programs would YOU cut? Whose other jobs would YOU take? Budgets have to be met! Get a clue about fiscal responsibility yourself! For the record I have a job, I don't get vacation time because I'm self-employed. And, when I'm gone, my work just piles up until I get back and can get caught up. That goes for sick days too. "

kp wrote on Jun 11, 2009 6:39 PM:

" cogito, do you have a job? Do you get vacation time? On any given shift there are 3, sometimes 4 fire fighters on duty these people all serve a purpose and yes when there is someone off on their earned vacation someone does need to fill their position. Assuming you work when your off dosen't someone have to make sure your work continues? Just remember next time you have a back ache and you need someone to pick you up, each one of those people have a job, they have to stay together, lastly the next time you fall off your high horse you may have a different issue and you may need all of them to lift your presious butt up on the gurney. IMHO, you do not even have a clue!!! Eastsider, you made yourself look completly disrespectfull to your dad, you know the man who fed ya'all on that fireman's salary, and uneducated, and as far her paying your city taxes for her husbands paycheck, I bet if you called in the middle of the night and needed his help he wouldn't ask you to pay him! ya'all think!!! "

Gator wrote on Jun 11, 2009 4:24 PM:

" Here is a little clip on the NYFD pay close attention to the very first part about being a fireman.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znUEwqEMcxw&feature=related&pos=15 "

Gator wrote on Jun 11, 2009 4:18 PM:

" SOSDD, Whine and complain and what for, life is tuff but no one promised it would be easy!! Here is a golden opportunity for all the complainers, get your lazy butt off the couch and become a volunteer Firefighter then you can see if it’s such a cush job…I’ve said it before that Lodi is very lucky not
to have the fires other cities have.. Here in Boise we have structure fires in
spurts, sometimes 5 or 6 a month then none, Last summer we had a wind storm come up and wires down 13 homes burned but 40 were saved, sorry to say one person died…50 mph winds and sagebrush burning but those greedy fireman saved the day and 40 plus homes.. My point don’t criticize what you know nothing about… 118 Metro firefighters and 26 Wild land Firefighters died on the job in 2008... "

suzain wrote on Jun 11, 2009 12:38 PM:

" 2 quick thoughts:
1-Cogito your full of it the fire department never charged you anything for your sore back thats pure BS and I hope that is was a true emergency.
2-the fire fighters were willing to do their part with the budget. The problem was 4 months ago we were asked to give back $342,000. We also knew that the city would be back for more when the new budget came out. We were not able to come up with that amount in a few months so we came up we a plane to give back $648,000 for 16 months. The city could not show us were that extra $306,000 went. That is how we got to where we were last week. "

Cogito wrote on Jun 11, 2009 7:56 AM:

" KG, I'm sure nobody here has any grudges against the firemen themselves. It's just a simple fact that budgets have to be met. When you count the number of fire stations in Lodi, and the amount of firefighters in them, 4 less firefighters will not be noticed. Really. I know firemen in Lodi who always tell me you can get all the overtime in LFD that you want, because there is always someone taking a day off. Why is so much time available for days off if they're so sorely needed? "

KG wrote on Jun 10, 2009 9:48 PM:

" And in closing to those of you who hide behind your screen names and feel it necessary to make rude un-warranted comments about firefighters in general I would just like to say this...
"Shame On You!" How soon you forget about 911. Best Wishes to the Lodi Fire Department. Kelly Gore "

KG wrote on Jun 10, 2009 9:40 PM:

" To those of you who posted comments on Kims letter I would like to say for the record that I know Kim very well and she in no way wrote the letter out of concern for herself. It was written in support of 4 dedicated men that work with her husband. Kim's letter not only showed support for her husband but also support for the department or
"The Brotherhood" as many of you have called it. To "Eastsider" the daughter of a 30 year veteran for the Stockton Fire Department if your really wondering if it takes a fire engine and four firefighters in uniform to buy dinner at the store why don't you ask your dad! I'm sure not much has changed since his time and in regards to your comment about calling a lock smith instead of the fire department to get a child & keys out of a locked car I would like to just say to you...I hope you remember that when it's your child in the car for hours while you wait for that lock smith. "

dogs4you wrote on Jun 10, 2009 6:47 PM:

" A bit off the subject: Kim Allan at one time lived in Lodi and now resides in Valley Srpings, I am a resident of Lodi that at one time lived in the "Spring`s". Several things made me move, much higher prices, the water rates are out of sight, and hopefully Kim`s septic system will continue to operate. Rattle snakes and ticks were everywhere, to damn hot in the summer as there is no Delta Breeze to help cool off at night. Maybe getting older and the idea of taking care of a 1/2 acre got to be more work than I cared to do. Good luck to you Kim, concerning the Fire Dept. at VS, they show up in time to save the foundation. "

backatu wrote on Jun 10, 2009 3:28 PM:

" To everyone who has spent the entire day back and forth over this, I would like to let you all know #1 that the Fire Dept. did not ask me to write this letter, I wrote it of my own accord as former resident of Lodi and a current resident of Valley Springs, who does as much of my spending in Lodi as I can and as most of you should know Valley Springs is a small town but please realize that the people of this community have to come down to your community to spend their money (usually). #2 I also want to let you know that my husband is NOT ONE OF THE "4" FIRE FIGHTERS!! I am not trying to have a pitty party on my behalf, it was just information thats all!

Thank you for the time you spent on this today.

Kim Allen
Valley Springs "

Robb wrote on Jun 10, 2009 3:21 PM:

" There are No REAL firemen anymore..

Just hose jockeys... "

backatu wrote on Jun 10, 2009 3:16 PM:

" To everyone who has spent the entire day back and forth over this, I would like to let you all know #1 that the Fire Dept. did not ask me to write this letter, I wrote it of my own accord as former resident of Lodi and a current resident of Valley Springs, who does as much of my spending in Lodi as I can and as most of you should know Valley Springs is a small town but please realize that the people of this community have to come down to your community to spend their money (usually). #2 I also want to let you know that my husband is NOT ONE OF THE "4" FIRE FIGHTERS!! I am not trying to have a pitty party on my behalf, it was just information thats all!

Thank you for the time you spent on this today.

Kim Allen
Valley Springs "

backatu wrote on Jun 10, 2009 3:15 PM:

" To everyone who has spent the entire day back and forth over this, I would like to let you all know #1 that the Fire Dept. did not ask me to write this letter, I wrote it of my own accord as former resident of Lodi and a current resident of Valley Springs, who does as much of my spending in Lodi as I can and as most of you should know Valley Springs is a small town but please realize that the people of this community have to come down to your community to spend their money (usually). #2 I also want to let you know that my husband is NOT ONE OF THE "4" FIRE FIGHTERS!! I am not trying to have a pitty party on my behalf, it was just information thats all!

Thank you for the time you spent on this today.

Kim Allen
Valley Springs "

Cogito wrote on Jun 10, 2009 2:55 PM:

" Come on people, do you know how many Stockton firemen live in Lodi! "

Whoa Nellie! wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:43 PM:

" Patton1 is right, had this letter come from a Lodi resident it would have had more impact.

As Observer pointed out earlier, our papercutting taxpayer lodieye is back as illegalinlodi. aka eyewhitie in stkn. doesnt he drive big green 18 wheelers off Hwy 12? His venom for HSS was my clue. all that rage cant be good for his blood pressure.

I'd like to thank JIMP & PEEK in the other fireman story today for hitting home runs with their comments. "

Cogito wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:21 PM:

" I mean, they charged my private insurance company. "

Cogito wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:21 PM:

" Billy, the benevolent Fire Dept. charged me over $1000.00 for their little visit and a ride. That's a pretty good deal for the taxpayers if you ask me. "

pooh-75 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:11 PM:

" FYI, the firefighters have already taken one paycut to help the city budget for this year. They have never asked to be treated as the "sacred cow". They are just trying to keep our city safe. We are already running a whole engine company short 70% of the time!!!! And just so everyone understands, if they went to an 8 hours schedule, as one person suggested, the city would have to hire MORE firefighters!!!!! "

jimp wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:10 PM:

" Billy, Billy, Billy. In your narrow minded world you seem to have lost focus on the issue at hand. I don’t think anyone here has anything against the firemen. They do provide a critical part of having a safe city in which to live. The point here is their greed. There is no reason that they can’t give a little in order to save the jobs of their fellow brothers. It’s funny, no it’s truly sad that the “brothers and sisters” act as one when they are all getting something, but when it comes to having to give something back to save a few it’s hell no. We want ours and the ones slated t be laid off can fend for themselves. We all know they are over paid. True firemen used to do it to help people, now it seems to be all about the money and their FAT retirement. If they truly cared about the community they would suck it up, take a temporary pay cut, and act like the rest of the city employees that have had to give something back. Not a bunch of gloom and doomers that try to scare people like you. "

patton1 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:09 PM:

" My point is pretty obvious. Having a letter writter and siging it from Valley Springs doesnt have the same impact as one from here in Lodi. I hate to see all of the controversy here. This is Lodi's first layoffs and most cities have been doing layoffs for over a year. What until the state taxs our property taxes, those layoffs will make these four look like Disneyland. "

Eastsider wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:01 PM:

" TO IllegalinLodi: If you actually read my posting, you will note that I did not advocate ANYONE being "fired"...I also asked a question that no one seems to want to answer. Again, I have a huge amount of respect for firefighters but in this economy to think anyone is a "sacred cow" and immune from the pain is sticking his/her head in the sand. And I don't care who lives where - I'm just a little tired of the scare tactics like "your house is gonna burn down and there won't be any firefighters around." Balderdash! I think YOUR statements are "utter nonsense," and you and others like you don't even comprehend what other people may be saying, or care about having a reasonable discussion. We ALL have a right to our opinion, last I heard. And I agree with Patton1 - very poor PR for the LFD for this letter to come from out of town. "

Billy Rubin wrote on Jun 10, 2009 12:40 PM:

" And Safeway, next time you're choking on a hot dog (geez, how many cases of frozen dogs you got left to eat your way through? 46? 45?), call Cogito and you guys can have a big laugh about how many firemen you didn't call. "

Billy Rubin wrote on Jun 10, 2009 12:34 PM:

" Hey, Safeway, I see you ordered some pretty big photo prints of Jerome Kinderman. What are you planning to do with all of those? Paper a room? "

Billy Rubin wrote on Jun 10, 2009 12:31 PM:

" I hadn't seen it your special way, Cog; thanks for pointing out my error.

The firetrucks and firefighters are THE SINGLE REASON the city budget is unbalanced. We will simply HAVE to raise taxes because, in your opinion, there were too many firemen that came to help you when you called 911 - because your back was sore.

Well, next time, Coggie ol' boy, why don't you save some tax-payer money and call someone ELSE when you're sore? Maybe you can call t jefferson or jimp?

And tell me, do you plan on calling the Fire Dept. if your house is burning? What will make you happy then? Will you be happy if one fireman shows up in a taxi?

Yeah, Cog, now that I think of it, I want the truck with ALL the stuff in it at my house fire - you can let yours burn and save us all a bunch. "

lodisafeway wrote on Jun 10, 2009 12:12 PM:

" Now it's blatantly obvious. Those who troll this forum leveling the "hate" label on those who simply have a different opinion seem to have no other purpose. There's been no hatred here regarding the numbers of fire department personnel or how they perform their duties. But to hear the select few who obviously lack the ability to view anything outside of their own hate-filled and hateful worlds, not thinking as they do automatically makes one as hateful as they are.

That being said, the author of the letter also makes it seem that only firefighters are compassionate as they do their jobs (which they are aptly compensated for, by the way). We should all remember that no one is forced to perform a job that is inherently dangerous as being a firefighter and policeman often are; and they should be respected and appreciated. But it is by their choice that they hold these positions.

Yet to insist that economics should not be used to determine the numbers of these employees required is nonsensical on its face. No one and no position is indispensable. "

Cogito wrote on Jun 10, 2009 11:25 AM:

" So, when your city can't balance the budget, or when your taxes get raised, and when businesses won't open here due to high costs, you got tour fine thinking citizens like Billy and illegal to thank. "

illegalinLodi wrote on Jun 10, 2009 11:10 AM:

" Patton1, why do you make such an utterly ridiculous statement? You certainly must be one of those 3 old fools with talk like that. Justify your statement. I guess it would be OK if she lived in Galt or Stockton? "

illegalinLodi wrote on Jun 10, 2009 11:07 AM:

" Those three old fools on city council will assure the upper echelon gets their slice of the pie first. Haven't they already shown with their 3 controlling votes that they're just wasteful old idiots who have no idea of what they're doing? Would anyone that isn't a fool or an idiot spend money they don't just because it is someone elses? "

illegalinLodi wrote on Jun 10, 2009 11:03 AM:

" Amen, Billy. And, eastsider, how many other workers here in Lodi live in Stockton, Galt, Morada, and all surrounding communities that aren't Lodi residents? Check out the LEUD, city staff, manager King's communication specialist, BC/BS employees, General Mills, Boys and Girls club director, school board administration and faculty, on and on and on? Do we fire all of them? Isn't city hall overloaded with admin? And LUSD? So why lay off essential services when the cuts need to come from the top? Your statement is utter nonsense. "

real one wrote on Jun 10, 2009 11:01 AM:

" Tough times for all! Being a local real estate agent whom worked with a fireman for quite some time to purchase a home in Lodi, he did not think twice about going behind my back to get the house without me. He got the house and cut me out of my pay check- and left a bad taste in my mouth. "

patton1 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 10:40 AM:

" The fire department could have done much better by having a resident who lives in Lodi write this letter. "

Billy Rubin wrote on Jun 10, 2009 10:26 AM:

" I don't care if they drive up in a hook and ladder truck and wouldn't care if they drove up in THREE H&Ls. There can be TEN firefighters at the scene - I don't care; as long as they have what they need and everyone they need when they need it.

When the truck is blasting through town with lights and sirens, they're rushing to help someone - a friend, relative, neighbor or stranger - in distress, WHATEVER that distress may be; but they are hurrying with all speed to do what they can.

The haters here can let their house burn rather than call the man from Valley Springs, they can die of injuries rather than have an extra fireman on scene - I don't care.

I want them available when they're called. "

IMHO wrote on Jun 10, 2009 10:18 AM:

" Kim, seriously, the firemen here in Lodi have the easiest jobs. How many multi-levels, all floors occupied building is in Lodi? Two, three? Uh-huh. Now let's compare their jobs to S.F. firefighters, or L.A., or San Diego, or Sacramento. Yes they have a higher population per capita, so those cities need those employees. But Lodi, naw, four less jobs isn't going to have the catastrophic loss that you’re attempting to claim it will.
And I agree with a lot of the other posters, why do you whine about our Taxpayers money here in Lodi, when you choose to live in Valley Springs? Why not move here and hey, your tax dollars can help pay your hubbies salary? "

peek wrote on Jun 10, 2009 9:34 AM:

" Hansen and Hitchcock hit the nail on the head when they asked the firefighter at the last CC meeting who was targeted to get laid off about how HE feels about the firefighters union not giving up what the city asked for to save HIS job! His responce? You need to talk to someone from the negotiating party. No you knucklehead, he's saying that the city had demands that would have saved your job. But your "brothers" are selling YOU out!!! Sugar coat what you want, it all falls back on greed of the "brotherhood". So Kim, you are fighting the wrong battle. You need to be fighting your husbands union to accept the City's demands. "

jimp wrote on Jun 10, 2009 9:28 AM:

" That was unresponsive old man. I'm mad about all this. "

jimp wrote on Jun 10, 2009 9:08 AM:

" OK Pooh, the only thing that most of us hate here is the greed and arrogance that the firefighters have now days. It’s a friggin joke when the giant hook and ladder truck shows up for an unresponsive old mad. Where was he, up in a tree? Give me a break. "

Eastsider wrote on Jun 10, 2009 8:43 AM:

" As the daughter of a 30-year veteran of the Stockton FD I have total respect for firefighters. That being said: I agree with all the comments, and would like to add a few more. As a resident of Valley Springs, the letter writer does not pay City of Lodi taxes or utility bills, but would like us taxpayers to dig into our Electric Utility reserves to keep her husband's paycheck going. Ma'am, we already pay some of the highest electric rates in California...maybe ya'all should move to Lodi and pay taxes and your electric bill here if you want to keep your job. Additionally, does it really take a fire engine and four firefighters in uniform to buy their dinner at Smart Foods each day? Are they on a "break" or on taxpayers' time? And I really believe the ambulance service is perfectly capable of getting someone out of the bathtub, and Paul's Lock and Key does a great job of unlocking vehicles. Question: when an ambulance and a fire truck show up at a trip/fall at Walmart - insurance pays the ambulance...who pays the firefighters? Just askin'. "

pooh-75 wrote on Jun 10, 2009 8:40 AM:

" This is sad......nothing but a bunch of haters. Maybe, you should all come to the council meeting tonight at 7pm and see just how selfish these men and women are!!! Kim, thank you for the letter and the support you give to your husband everyday. And thank you to all the City of Lodi Firefighters and their families for sacrificing pay, retirement, and allowances to keep our city safe. "

stucknlodi wrote on Jun 10, 2009 8:23 AM:

" If you truely cared about this community then why do you live in Valley Springs. You just care about a pay check, that is all. Everyone is taking pay cuts and or layoffs. So the fire department and or the police should have to make the same sacrifice as everyone else. I took a 20% pay cut over a year ago, and my family is doing fine. "

Cogito wrote on Jun 10, 2009 7:33 AM:

" I had my back seize up a couple of years ago and couldn't move. After 16 hours of not being able to move, I called the fire dept. No less than 5 guys showed up to put me on the gurney, it only took 2 to do the job, the others were just spectators. I think we could do with one less spectator without anyone noticing. "

real one wrote on Jun 10, 2009 7:33 AM:

" Totally agree with both comments and why does this family live in Valley Springs and spend the money he makes in our city somewhere else? "

jimp wrote on Jun 10, 2009 7:12 AM:

" Not surprising this comes from a fireman's wife. HEY, DON"T CUT MY PAY. "

t jefferson wrote on Jun 10, 2009 6:03 AM:

" Come on, give me a break, the city can get rid of 4, 8, 16 firefighters and not effect service.

Better yet the first thing they should do is move to 8 hour shift, get rid of the 24 shift non-sence. Other business are staffed 24/7. This would make sure that there is no time lost waiting for the FF to get dressed "in the middle of the night". Probably would force a lot of the 2nd busnesses these people have to close, but so what. "

Comments on this story are now closed.