Hysteria, Fabricated Information, Fear Tactics and the Ambulance

Posted by Charlie Mallow on March 2, 2009 - 10:28am
Tagged in

 I fully understand the feelings of the EMTs and no one on Council was happy to have to come to a decision to end county wide ambulance service as of September 1st. There is no question that our city medics have provided and continue to provide a high quality service for all county residents. Although, recently the union has brought forth information from a questionable paid source that they describe as "fact". I want the public to understand that the use of fabricated information, fear tactics and targeting of Council is not going to shake our resolve. Council has taken every imaginable step we could find to make the city based service viable. This financial decision was made based on years of public discussions as well as input, with all the information we required being presented. 

The county has made it clear that they have a process in place to see that the entire county will have ambulance service by September 1st. There is no reason to believe the hysteria being asserted by the union that there will be no one to provide ambulance service after September 1st. Moreover, there have been at least five ambulance providers that have contacted the County or the City that are interested to providing ambulance service to this region.  Should one of these providers be selected they would be responding to ambulance calls from within the City just as they currently do now. 

As directed by Council, I have sent a letter to all county municipalities terminating all our inter-municipal ambulance agreements as of September 1st. These are the agreements that allowed the city to provide ambulance service county-wide. During the last public meeting of the GAM, Council as a whole publicly informed all the members that the city is not getting back into the business of providing ambulance service. Council has made it clear that we will not under any circumstances "go at it alone" by entering into an agreement with a private provider. The city is just one of many municipalities that is looking to the county to provide a county wide ambulance service and that decision about a provider is one for the county as a whole to make.

Posted by Leonard Clark on March 2, 2009 - 12:17pm
Charlie: I don't think you could say it any clearer than that. Thank You, Jason Molino and the City Council for your leadership. You really don't need to spend your efforts much further on this issue. The point is clear. Move on to other issues and good luck!
Posted by Beth Kinsley on March 2, 2009 - 1:14pm
Agreed. It is too bad that the outcome couldn't have been different but times are tough and council had to make some tough decisions. I hope that all of the medics that we have now will be hired on by the new company. I know that is doubtful but I'm assuming they are going to need at least some of them. It would be nice to still have some local people providing the service. Good luck to all of them.
Posted by Chad Higgins on March 2, 2009 - 1:34pm
Mr. Mallow, do you know if the fire department will be providing any type of EMS for our residents in the city after September 1st?
Posted by Charlie Mallow on March 2, 2009 - 1:57pm
The answer to that question will come after the county signs an agreement for service. That agreement will detail the type and scope of the services that will be provided on a county level.

If you’re asking how I would feel about providing supplemental EMS services if the county’s provider is unable to give commitments for proper response times, I would not be against the idea. I am also one of nine and have no direction from council to speak to this issue.
Posted by Gabor Deutsch on March 2, 2009 - 2:20pm
I believe that our city council will make sure that we have what we need by Sept. 1st. It may not be what or whom other people want but I have faith that people will not be crawling in the streets dying and having to put their thumb out for a ride to the hospital.
Posted by Gabor Deutsch on March 2, 2009 - 2:22pm
OOOPs ! I hope that wasnt to personal. Its been awhile since I have been "deleted" I guess I am "doo-fer".
Posted by jay aquino on March 2, 2009 - 3:07pm
mr.mallow
this has probably been asked before but i didnt see it. are the city taxes going to go down after september 1st? also if we r in that tight of a money bind i think we should not open spray parks this summer to save on water.
Posted by Charlie Mallow on March 2, 2009 - 3:40pm
The tax rate is going to stay the same till the next fiscal year in 2010. Next year’s tax rate is dependent on a large range of unknown and uncontrollable factors including the outcome of union arbitrations, federal aid, state aid and sales tax revenue. We are taking steps to plan for the worst case scenarios. Closing the water park wouldn’t make enough of an impact to be a realistic topic of discussion. The city will continue to make moves to plan for the future and keep our tax rate stable. Expect change, sometimes drastic, these are the times we live in.
Posted by Richard Gahagan on March 2, 2009 - 4:54pm
Howard, change the name of the site to the Mallow Show.
Posted by Daniel Jones on March 2, 2009 - 4:59pm
They'd have to add the "out of state peanut gallery" with Ricky Gahagan.
Posted by Charlie Mallow on March 2, 2009 - 5:03pm
Rich, shouldn’t you be out enjoying the sun in Texas? Perhaps, burning ants with a magnifying glass or something?

And yes that's a joke.
Posted by Richard Gahagan on March 2, 2009 - 5:12pm
Heh heh hope ya never need an ambulance to help out with them bunched up pantys they say ya got.
Posted by Charlie Mallow on March 2, 2009 - 5:14pm
LOL.. my bunched up pants are the least of my worries.
Posted by John Roach on March 2, 2009 - 5:21pm
Let’s see, the Union puts out a statement, and then Charlie puts out one in answer to theirs. Good, I want both to give their side so we know what is going on.

Some people put out questions to Charlie (The union has its own web site) and he answers them. He answers the questions and some dope (Richard) criticizes the fact that he answered somebody’s question.

Now how stupid is Richard? Answer: Very.

We want these people to answer our questions. There are only a few elected people who will bother to do it. And I am glad the union is getting their side out also.
Posted by Gabor Deutsch on March 2, 2009 - 5:29pm
Wait. I wanna know about the water park. I am willing to complain on this issue. I have personally seen someone walk away from an Atomic Wedgie before(did wobble a bit)so the bar is gonna halfta be raised higher in this place.
Posted by Richard Gahagan on March 2, 2009 - 5:31pm
Didn't you sell used cars, Mr. Roach.
Posted by Frank Giuliano on March 2, 2009 - 5:39pm
No. Your thinking of my Uncle Chuck Juliano.
Dick, were you class of 54?
Posted by Richard Gahagan on March 2, 2009 - 5:47pm
Yeah better tell this Roach guy to wise up.
Posted by Chris Olin on March 2, 2009 - 5:55pm
I smell a big, fat troll.

*coughrichardsneeze*
Posted by John Roach on March 2, 2009 - 6:38pm
Richard,
Wrong again! However, I did meet him once and one of his sons. Why, can't find a used car in Texas?
Posted by Lori Ann Santini on March 2, 2009 - 8:25pm
Tell me why it is considered hysteria when both sides of the situation are voicing information that has been reviewed by professionals?

Once again this gets reduced to less then adult like name throwing. It is getting nauseating to say the least. Clearly both sides have support. We see the same 6 people supporting the loss of the service. We also see the same amount if not more in support of the service. Look around the city and the county. Hundreds of supporters have put signs supporting a city based ambulance service.

Bring this to a public vote. Either way we all get an answer that is by the people and for the people.
Posted by Mark Potwora on March 2, 2009 - 9:01pm
We don't vote on the city budget..why should we vote on this...Thats why we have a city council...The vote was 9-0 to disband the service..not one vote for ...Tells me that it must be the right thing to do..We didnt have a public vote on abolishing the dispatchers,city council deceided that....All i heard was a doom and gloom because we wouldn't have are own dispatchers..
Posted by Lianne Gahagan White on March 2, 2009 - 9:33pm
First of all Richard is not a dope and second he is far from"very stupid as you put it! Why are you resorting to name calling, if this is the behavior that you bring to table maybe you should not sign on!
Posted by Lianne Gahagan White on March 2, 2009 - 9:35pm
No this is not Dick it is Rick he graduated in graduated in 76'!
Posted by Lori Ann Santini on March 2, 2009 - 10:39pm
The dispatch situation is a good point but does not totally compare. The dispatch service was transferred to another dispatch service that already existed in the county. We however do not have another pre-existing ALS service that covers the City or the entire county. The only public meeting about the decision to abolish the service was held four days after the vote by council. It had three speakers. If you take the union president out of the picture it was a draw. One for and one against. That hardly makes it a decent cross section of the residents of the City.

The county has not issued the RFP yet. Just because a company has asked questions doesn't necessarily mean that they will issue a response to the RFP. Genesee County may not have what any company wants. The county may want more than any company is willing to agree to. What will happen if no one wants it just as they did last year? I truly hope that whether I am involved or not that the city is covered as well as it is now. I hope the same for the county.

I appreciate the ability to be the other side of the picture here. I give you all credit for not attacking me or being rude. It is a hard decision. Just remember to respect that there are always two sides to any story.
Posted by C. M. Barons on March 2, 2009 - 11:26pm
Hysteria, Fabricated Information, Fear Tactics and the Ambulance

...One expects Godzilla to come crashing down the street.

Yes, there are two sides to this story: 1) Genesee County residents want professional and rapid response to their emergencies. 2) Current ambulance personnel are upset because fickle government decided to shop elsewhere for a cheaper contract.

City Council doesn't represent me; I live in Bergen. What business does Batavia City Council have determining ambulance service for the county?
Posted by Howard Owens on March 3, 2009 - 5:10am
I've probably been a little lax in keeping the personal insults out of this thread, but I just deleted a post that clearly threw about a few personal insults.

If there is a person on The Batavian whom you don't like and find more disruptive than useful, best thing to do -- ignore him.

If you think that person is really breaking the rules and you think I'm not doing enough about it, or if he's not breaking the rules, but I should still do something, raise your concerns to me privately (howard at thebatavian dot com). I'm happy to review any issue with any user if raised to me in a private e-mail
Posted by Charlie Mallow on March 3, 2009 - 7:01am
Barons, City Council or for that matter city voters, have no right to choose ambulance service for you. That's why we need to leave this to the county as a whole to pick.
Posted by JOSEPH MAROTTA on March 3, 2009 - 9:56am
Thats why we have a city council the vote was 9-0 Charlie said.It's not an issue ''we the people'' have a right to have a say in. Were just the dumb peasents that pay the taxes to keep Charles in charge and his harem of council people in the chairs they fill so well.You were all voted in to express representation of the people for the people and BY THE PEOPLE.Sounds to me like the 9-0 vote was done by nine individuals that have forgoten the reasons why they took their "appointed offices" for the people,BY THE PEOPLE.Shut up it was already voted on by us and were passing this on a private vote as many things are done in BLATAVIA isnt the way government local or not is supposed to work.REPRESENTATION IS A BIGGER WORD THAN THE 9 SEATS YOU ALL WERE ELECTED TO FILL.
Posted by Karen Miconi on March 3, 2009 - 10:10am
They passed the buck on to the county now. They are to busy juggling the books.LOL
Posted by Karen Miconi on March 3, 2009 - 10:22am
Lets Just Call a PUBLIC MEETING, with Jason, and THE AUDIT. Imagine the media!!! Imagine the Citizens!! Imagine the Lawyers!! Imagine That!!
Posted by Daniel Jones on March 3, 2009 - 10:29am
Karen-Every single city council meeting is a public meeting with an opportunity for public comments.

www.batavianewyork.com

I wonder why those in support of the ambulance don't put pressure on the county to retain the current service, that's where the real fight is.
Posted by Charlie Mallow on March 3, 2009 - 11:29am
Karen, I think you should step back and reevaluate your position; it doesn’t appear to be based in reality.
Posted by Beth Kinsley on March 3, 2009 - 11:36am
Her position fits in perfectly with the title.
Posted by Anthony Long on March 4, 2009 - 7:24pm
I have to think that the biggest point that needs to be understood is the fact that the city taxpayers can't afford the ambulance service any longer. The fire department salaries are out of control especially since a good portion of their time at work is spent sleeping. Other city employees work night shifts in excess of 12 hours and they don't have a bunk room.
Posted by Karen Miconi on March 4, 2009 - 7:32pm
What title Beth?? What position Beth?? And we don't insult and belittle people right?? What a contradiction