Dear Billy T and Somerville Speakup Line,
Ward 5 Somerville City Councilor, Mark Niedergang, literally just advocated for cutting the Somerville Fire Department’s budget as well as cutting fire fighter staffing. This is the same guy who 3 months ago was more concerned with a tree study he was working on, as well as trying to get 16 year olds the right to vote, than dealing with uncapped needles in public parks.
He said there are less fires now than before??? There are EMS services that handle medical calls??? He said he’s “read articles” about the amount of fires that happen. Is this guy for real???? “Read articles”????? What about average response times? Anything on how that’s down yet again and more lives are saved as a result? This is the same guy who told me that crime is down in Somerville but couldn’t tell me any Part One crime stats. Wonder why? I’m fairly certain he has no idea what a Part One crime is. Why is that? Because he’s just a mouthpiece with no actual competency for his position. You’re a true moron if you voted for this mental midget.
I don’t live in his ward but I would love to debate this clown in an open forum covered by the media. He is a true zero.
This is why we as Americans need people like Edward Kelly and other strong union leaders advocating hard every single day for the American firefighter.
I would like to ask every other Somerville City Councilor to openly speak out against this moron’s statement. I know you will all see this post and so do our brave firefighters.
This is utterly disgusting.
Tommy O’Connor
Click link below to see video: https://www.facebook.com/100003811137716/posts/1537993893004300?sfns=mo
I grew up on Conwell St where the Councillor now resides its directly across from Engine 7 on Highland Ave. Unfortunately there was a house fire just behind the apartment building at the corner. If the manpower was less then the home would have been a total loss.
This man obviously has little or no common sense. These firefighters along with the Police put their lives on the line everyday not knowing what they are walking into.
Until the call is made their families never know what may have possibly happened to their Dad, Husband, Son or Daughter.
Lets hire more aborists, statisticians, bicycle engineers, zoning geniuses they will protect us.
Sorry Councillor this is one more ludicrous idea that proves how much you are out of touch with reality.
John L.Sullivan
Until he has an emergency and no one comes or there is a severe delay. Perhaps his loved one is having a heart attack, no problem, those EMS services that can handle the call are coming from Revere. House on fire? No worries there either, after 3 minutes of no response, your house is a goner. We may not have fires like we used to, but make no mistake, there are other things that firefighters respond to that can still kill you, not the EMS provider.
At a time when our emergengy services are hamstrung due to the massive construction projects and the talk of Somerville Hospital no longer being a go to emergency room who can advocate lowering our first responders when we should be increasing to meet these new challenges. I am surprised he would even consider this during these times. Bad move Mark, not wise at all.
The man is a socialist have him check hiw many medical calls there are on a daily basis for the elderly buildings in ward 5 alone.
I think its time to down size the number of city councillors. We do not need 11 councilors in a city thats only four square miles.
Look at the gas explosion last year that required assistance from every community in mass. The multi home fire in ward three several years ago, the multi family fire in cambridge and the recent multi home fire in Boston this weekend.
Next he will propose carrying buckets of water and a back pack full of bandades via bike to the next call.
His head is up his ass! Or the helmet is too tight!
This is why voters need to go to the polls and run the wingnuts out of town.