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Council member pushes for increased Fire Department funding
3:39:13
ยท
102 sec
Council Member Ariola challenges the OMB Director's budget figures and insists on the need for additional funding for the Fire Department.
- Ariola argues that the presented budget figures are not new allocations
- She reiterates the need for $1 billion in new funding for the Fire Department
- OMB Director Jiha maintains that the discussed funds are currently in the Fire Department's budget
Joann Ariola
3:39:13
Indulge me one more moment, please.
3:39:16
So the money that you're talking about, Shock, that was money that was already promised because those are numbers that I've already heard at these types of budget hearings.
3:39:23
There's nothing new.
3:39:25
There's no increase.
3:39:26
That's number one.
3:39:27
Number two, I've never heard that less firefighters are better at fighting a fire.
3:39:32
So, you know, it is proven statistically and in action that the fifth firefighter is needed to get that hose over to the fire so quicker so that the fire can be contained and put out.
3:39:44
So I think you better go back and look and that is a that is a that is an unacceptable answer because maybe you should take a look in the daily news today because what was written is the actual truth.
3:39:54
And when I went to each and every firehouse this year, each and every one of them had rigs that were very old and they were frontline.
3:40:04
So you're absolutely wrong.
3:40:07
And I'm telling you that because I went there physically.
3:40:10
Jacques, we spoke about it.
3:40:12
1,000,000,000 new money, not old money, not promised money that they never got.
3:40:18
This is these are numbers that we've been getting at each budget hearing.
Jacques Jiha
3:40:23
This is money currently in their budget now.
3:40:25
It's not promised money.
3:40:26
This is currently in their budget.
3:40:28
It is not like we promised them.
3:40:30
This is currently exist in their budget.
Joann Ariola
3:40:32
But it already existed.
3:40:33
It should have been there already.
3:40:35
We need more money for the
Jacques Jiha
3:40:37
fire department.
3:40:37
Trust me.
3:40:38
I do That's my last one.
3:40:39
Trust me.
3:40:40
I understand.
3:40:40
Everybody wants more money.
3:40:41
Trust me.
Joann Ariola
3:40:42
No.
3:40:42
But they need it because they have been flatlined for the last three years and not gotten the money that you've already noted noticed us on.
3:40:50
We need more money for the fire department.
3:40:52
Thank you.
Amanda Farias
3:40:52
I hear you.
3:40:53
Thank you for the consideration.
Jacques Jiha
3:40:54
Thank you.