Mayors praise Cicilline for stand against firefighters
12:27 PM Fri, Jun 12, 2009 | Permalink
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Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Providence Mayor David N. Cicillne made no reference to his battle with city firefighters during a panel presentation on green jobs at the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual gathering Friday morning. Dozens of Obama administration officials are skipping the conference because of the firefighters' protests. But three of Cicilline's fellow mayors broke from their talks to praise the mayor's stand. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter preceded his presentation on making his city the "greenest in America" by saying: "There's a lot going on at the conference. And there is a lot not going on. We owe Mayor David Cicilline a big round of applause and recognition for what he is dealing with. We are going to have a great conference with the folks who are here." The comments were followed by long applause. Michael D. Belsky, mayor of Highland Park, Ill., spoke directly to Cicilline: "We're with you 100 percent in this stuff. Even in our community, we're fighting police and fire unions. They don't recognize we're in a tough time and that when they ask for increases in pay and benefits, they are hurting local taxpayers. "It's a selfish approach. They are biting the hand that feeds them. It's unfortunate what you're going through. No knock on police and firemen, but they are in a vacuum right now." Michael Bissonnette, the mayor of Chicopee, Mass., took a microphone in the crowded hearing room and also addressed Cicilline: "Thank you. I know that hasn't been fun. It never is when you're in the middle of a labor dispute. "I've negotiated two fire contracts and I can tell you my guys would drool for what your guys have. In my next life, I want to come back as a Providence firefighter." 
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I understand the need to protest and the need to fight for what you believe in. However, the decision to protest this event, which is a showcase for the City and an opportunity for the Cities to get much needed funding from the federal government, is couter productive and reflects poorly on the firefighters union.
Don't they realize that when the federal govt. officials don't show because of the protest then the City does not have the opportunity to get funding from the feds. No funding from the feds results in less funding for their contracts?
Providence is a wonderful City , rich in history and culture. Too bad that local businesses, the Cities accross the country must suffer because of this myopic decision.
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Did anyone notice that all the mayors haev high crimes in their city and support illegal immigration maybe this is why they keep getting elected because of illegals voteing once they get the id cards.
as far as chicapee mass its a grade lower than providence,
were the hell did the mayor find thease poster boys. lol lol lol lol lol lol
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Maybe I'm confused but didn't providence just build a whole new bridge, to replace a bridge that they had just rebuilt a few years earlier? But to be fair on the other side, the city of providence did build a brand new police and fire complex.
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The union made Cicilline look like a fearless leader. Everyone recognizes how well the firemen have it except the firemen!
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Horray for the mayor of Providence. Having the strength of his convictions and looking out for the taxpayers of the City of Providence. It's exactly what we want from our elected officials. We have one of the highest unemployment rates and Providence has one of the highest priced Fire Depts in the Country. What is wrong with that picture?
Cheers for you other mayors who are supporting him.
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So JR, protests should only happen at a time and place convenient for the person or entities being protested?
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The whole point of this protest is to trigger some negotiations which were NOT happening. Regardless of what Cicilline says (lies) on the news... there have been no NEGOTIATIONS. The firefighters have been fortunate to have not had a healthcare co-share for as long as they have. However, a contract has to be a give and take. You cannot make these men and women co-share and take pay cuts after not having had any form of compensation. Cicilline has only fueled the poor relationship with the firefighters by trying to impose city ordinances and forced healthcare changes that were negotiated previously. Don't knock the fire dept for trying to draw attention to these matters. They can't strike and their boss certainly isn't looking out for the best interest of the city, he is looking out for the best interest of his politcal career.
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Ray,
Please send me the link to the report that you read that said Providence firefighters were one of the highest priced fire departments in the country.
I know that you can't. You are going by what Cicilline has said and he hasn't spoken one truthful thing about Prov FF's!
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Ray is incorrectly quoting an article that appeared in the Journal in 2007.
The article stated that Rhode Islander residents pay more than other states PER PERSON for fire protection.
The Journal also quoted the results of an info.request that they sent to the 39 cities and towns,to which only 25 responded.
The results were:PFD employees are the 7th highest paid of the 25 that sent in figures.
Cranston was the highest followed by Johnston,Narragansett,Warwick,EP,and W.Warw..All salaries quoted included OT.
OT costs cannot be blamed on any employee.OT results from lack of sufficient employees to complete the tasks-or in this case,the manning of fire apparatus-that need completion.
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