Thank you for doing what the rest of the press and media had been afraid to do for the last year. Up until now, no newspaper or radio program has addressed the real issues, and Chief Forte was well aware that if he did not comment on policy/politics, the local papers would not take him to task. It had been intimated that unless he would give the press his side of the story, they would not address the issues. Your article [“Is 911 a Joke?,” August] was on the money. I have attended meetings in the past, and, as you pointed out, Chief Forte “controls” the numbers quite well and masterfully dazzles the crowds. When questioned by someone who understands or has researched the facts, he has responded by attacking the individual’s motives (in the case of a firefighter at a community meeting) or telling the group that the facts were incorrect (as he did to me even though I had documented proof from the National Organization of Fire Chiefs). I encourage readers to look up an article entitled “Death by Staffing” on www.firehouse.com. It details the risks to citizens and firefighters when staffing falls too low. It also documents the liability to a city budget when deaths are caused by reduced staffing. The City Council should have read this article since it was forwarded to them prior to the budget-cutting vote. Knowing that there is danger and not acting diligently could cost the taxpayers millions more than we have saved by axing the firefighters.
Bob Nielsen
Minneapolis
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