Montebello receives FEMA grant to fund new firefighter/paramedic positions

Some good news about Montebello, finally!

Need another Paramedic in south Montebello station.
Actually need several to staff each shift.
Currently with only one paramedic on the unit only "assessment" can be done till another paramedic arrives.
(one wonders what the "assessor" does in a life and death emergency, stand around and watch?)
Is there a good reason that there have to be TWO Paramedics on a unit?

Trash talk wrote:

Need another Paramedic in south Montebello station.
Actually need several to staff each shift.
Currently with only one paramedic on the unit only "assessment" can be done till another paramedic arrives.
(one wonders what the "assessor" does in a life and death emergency, stand around and watch?)
Is there a good reason that there have to be TWO Paramedics on a unit?

Really? Can you be any more uneducated and irresponsible? I don't expect you to know EMSA policies in regards to assessment vs. paramedic engine companies, but making an allegation of standing around? That will NEVER happen! The only difference between the two is the fact that there equipment carried! Most of the personnel on scene are ex paramedics! How sad that you view the folks entrusted with your life under that light!

Ex MOntebello firefigther did not answer trash talk's question.
So are you admitting that two paramedics on an engine when there are other qualified firefighters is blatent EMSA featherbedding?
If you absolutly must have two paramedics to do any more than "assess" how can you do much of anything till the second engine with two more paramedics arrive?
What do the Care ambulance personell do?
Do they have to wait on the second unit?
I think trash talk was supporting a second paramedic in south Montebello or is the chip on your sholder blocking your objectivity.
BTW
what does "that there equiptment" supposed to mean?

Theolona Ranger wrote:

Ex MOntebello firefigther did not answer trash talk's question.
So are you admitting that two paramedics on an engine when there are other qualified firefighters is blatent EMSA featherbedding?
If you absolutly must have two paramedics to do any more than "assess" how can you do much of anything till the second engine with two more paramedics arrive?
What do the Care ambulance personell do?
Do they have to wait on the second unit?
I think trash talk was supporting a second paramedic in south Montebello or is the chip on your sholder blocking your objectivity.
BTW
what does "that there equiptment" supposed to mean?

For someone who usually misspells and makes no logical sense, you sure are critical! Do you always speak for Trash? I am not sure what featherbedding is.... Not sure if it is a real word or you just made it up as you usually make the owner names you sign on under. Care ambulance personnel are EMTs. You have been explained that before by me.... They cannot and will not provide the level of care that two paramedics can provide. If trash is approving the upgrade to a paramedic engine, that is good. Shows that in spite of it all, has more sense that you do!

BTW
what does "that there equiptment" supposed to mean?
Are two paramedics enough, or more than enough? given the trained FD and EMT's
why not three?
Which is what you get in South Montebello currently
Answer
it depends on the call

Theolona Ranger wrote:

BTW
what does "that there equiptment" supposed to mean?
Are two paramedics enough, or more than enough? given the trained FD and EMT's
why not three?
Which is what you get in South Montebello currently
Answer
it depends on the call

The equipment carried. An assessment unit is not required to carry the same equipment as a full paramedic unit, hence the fact, that it may be staffed by only one paramedic. You do not get 3 paramedics in south Montebello until a paramedic unit arrives on scene. Two paramedics on scene is optimal, more than that? It all depends on the nature of the emergency.

thanks for the clairification
I would hope the assessor would have all the equiptment he would possibly need and not have to wait for the other unit which could be on another call

Theolona Ranger wrote:

thanks for the clairification
I would hope the assessor would have all the equiptment he would possibly need and not have to wait for the other unit which could be on another call

He doesn't have ALL the equipment.... Why do you think I get so upset when people are ok with closing fire stations?

Ex

You are not on the same page as MFD brass
Their PR is that the assessor can do essentially NOTHING till the downtown or westside truck arrives.
You and I know that this is lobbying for the required second paramedic for a fully functioning unit but it really sends the wrong message.
Of course a professional is not going to just stand around and watch.

Second issue
did you see Mid Valley News
There is an ad by Pasadena DWP showing a picture of hand digging early water lines and installing 24" cast iron pipe.
They re replacing the brittle as glass grey iron with ductile.
Montebello and most City's have no such program.
How long does it take a 24" break to drain your system?
How much firefighting can you do with no water.
Want to save lives?
Lobby to get the watersystems seismically hardned.
The paramedic issue is chumpchange to disaster planning.

Theolona Ranger wrote:

Ex

You are not on the same page as MFD brass
Their PR is that the assessor can do essentially NOTHING till the downtown or westside truck arrives.
You and I know that this is lobbying for the required second paramedic for a fully functioning unit but it really sends the wrong message.
Of course a professional is not going to just stand around and watch.

Second issue
did you see Mid Valley News
There is an ad by Pasadena DWP showing a picture of hand digging early water lines and installing 24" cast iron pipe.
They re replacing the brittle as glass grey iron with ductile.
Montebello and most City's have no such program.
How long does it take a 24" break to drain your system?
How much firefighting can you do with no water.
Want to save lives?
Lobby to get the watersystems seismically hardned.
The paramedic issue is chumpchange to disaster planning.

You are absolutely right! We did lobby back in 1997 to upgrade those systems to no avail! Emergency Medicine constitutes about 93% of what we do, hence the extra attention. You do need a fully staffed paramedic unit! It makes all the difference in the world, just like a four person suppression unit. A rupture of that nature would be disastrous!

I do not think that the public appreciates that 93% statistic.
Fireman carrying child out of buring building get's all the attention.
How long is the FEMA funding for and how does the City plan on funding the positions when the charity runs out?
Same question for the MPD.

Did you notice how the "balanced" budget had no provision to pay the State for the Audits?
That's how they "balanced" the budget.
By leaving known expenses out.
A budget is an "estimate" in England.
They did not bother to "estimate" what the bill from the State Controller would be,
and include in the estimated expense in the budget.
Same with the money due the Hilton, the baloon payment, etc.
Don't count on any additional money from the City.

Trash talk wrote:

I do not think that the public appreciates that 93% statistic.
Fireman carrying child out of buring building get's all the attention.
How long is the FEMA funding for and how does the City plan on funding the positions when the charity runs out?
Same question for the MPD.

Did you notice how the "balanced" budget had no provision to pay the State for the Audits?
That's how they "balanced" the budget.
By leaving known expenses out.
A budget is an "estimate" in England.
They did not bother to "estimate" what the bill from the State Controller would be,
and include in the estimated expense in the budget.
Same with the money due the Hilton, the baloon payment, etc.
Don't count on any additional money from the City.

That is not surprising, they usually do that.... Smoking mirror budgets. I believe it's two years... Not sure...

Seriously? Finally,something good happens to Montebello due to some hard work and people still have to tear it apart. How about a nice thanks and keep up the good work. Pathetic!

I do not see where anyone is tearing the good news apart.
The thrust seems to be the impending budget crisis when the City has to start picking up the tab on the new Police and Firefighter/ Paramedic positions at the same time the big balloon payment is due, HUD, the Hilton, Sevacherian and the State ask for their money.
You might understand it as a"Lay Away Plan" when you are unemployed on Christmas.

all I am saying is can't anyone just say thank you for finding money to fund positions even if it is temporarily so the FD is not understaffed and the citizens are left with out protection. BTW with all the attrition that is going on, those new fire fighters when hired will most likely keep their jobs. I understand that it is difficult to see the glass half FULL now a days but geez, give credit where credit is due!

IF revenue does not increase.
And the budget is still in a deficit- as it is now.
How do you propose to fund the retention of these fine new hires?
New Taxes?
Cut other programs?
Cut salaries and benefits and Pensions?
Lay them off?
Montebello is living less than hand to mouth and the malnutrition is beginning to show

Saying WHAT wrote:

IF revenue does not increase.
And the budget is still in a deficit- as it is now.
How do you propose to fund the retention of these fine new hires?
New Taxes?
Cut other programs?
Cut salaries and benefits and Pensions?
Lay them off?
Montebello is living less than hand to mouth and the malnutrition is beginning to show

Ugh! I understand your arguments but you are sooo missing my point. Just a bit bitter I am guessing?

Bitter- not at all
I would really like to have 4 personnel on each unit and 2 paramedics.
The problem is that there is no money and no plan to pay for them or the new police officers.
There is just another obligation which comes due a couple of years down the road, of which there are many.
No reserves for the unexpected and no plan for the expected except crossed fingers.
The current council had to deal with new unexpected challenges repeatedly, HUD, restricted funds, etc but for the most part did nothing for two years to get their house in order.
They fired Randy and Peter even-though both had come up with strategies to pull their cookies out of the then known problems.
Kosmont pulled another rabbit out of the hat.
So the City is still limping along hand to mouth and able to claim a "balanced" budget based on bills actually presented (not those known and expected).
Now the state presents a bill.
No more "house of cards" balanced budget.
What do you prefer
More taxes?
and if so do you think they would pass?
Or cut's elsewhere, and where?
Those are the only two choices
Unless you want to trust in the Chamber booster's Pollyanna view of the future.

Saying WHAT wrote:

Bitter- not at all
I would really like to have 4 personnel on each unit and 2 paramedics.
The problem is that there is no money and no plan to pay for them or the new police officers.
There is just another obligation which comes due a couple of years down the road, of which there are many.
No reserves for the unexpected and no plan for the expected except crossed fingers.
The current council had to deal with new unexpected challenges repeatedly, HUD, restricted funds, etc but for the most part did nothing for two years to get their house in order.
They fired Randy and Peter even-though both had come up with strategies to pull their cookies out of the then known problems.
Kosmont pulled another rabbit out of the hat.
So the City is still limping along hand to mouth and able to claim a "balanced" budget based on bills actually presented (not those known and expected).
Now the state presents a bill.
No more "house of cards" balanced budget.
What do you prefer
More taxes?
and if so do you think they would pass?
Or cut's elsewhere, and where?
Those are the only two choices
Unless you want to trust in the Chamber booster's Pollyanna view of the future.

A big huge sigh! I completely understand all of what you are saying as I said above "I understand" your argument. Your just not getting what I am saying or just not acknowledging it.

Some are trying to do the best with what they have. Instead of throwing their hands and up saying forget it all. I can bet they worked very hard to successfully obtain a grant like the article has mentioned. I am sure you know that grant's are not easy to secure in this day and age. However, I believe no one has mentioned even the slightest bit of kudo's to them for securing the grant. If I am wrong and I missed it then I am sorry.

Oh please! After many years of witnessing the downward spiral of Montebello, I so do not have a Pollyanna view of MTB.