Press release from U.S. Rep. John Larson, the East Hartford Democrat whose 1st District includes Bristol:
Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) announced today that the City of Bristol Fire Department has won a $24,320 grant from the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Program. The Bristol Fire Department will use the funds to train all of their active firefighters to operate fire trucks and equipment. With the training, the 80 firefighters of the Bristol Fire Department will be in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association’s standards for operating a fire apparatus.
“I am thrilled that the Bristol Fire Department will receive this funding. It will provide critical training for Bristol’s firefighters and improve the safety and security of one of our local communities,” said Larson. “The Assistance to Firefighters Program provides fire departments across the nation with the ability to serve their community. It is the responsibility of Congress to ensure that essential programs such as this continue to be funded and supported.”
Bristol Mayor Art Ward said, “The City of Bristol and its fire department greatly appreciate the work of Congressman Larson to address the professional needs of the city’s fire department, especially in this time of budgetary constraints.”
In Fiscal Year 2008, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program will award approximately $500 million directly to fire departments and EMS organizations around the country to enhance their response capabilities, meet NFPA compliance guidelines and to effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
28 comments:
Let me guess: it is an election year for Larson.
"The Bristol Fire Department will use the funds to train all of their active firefighters to operate fire trucks and equipment." Hmmmmm, call me crazy, but shouldn't all fo the Firefighters have already been trained on all of this BEFORE they became actual Firefighters? Seems like just another waste of money. What else is new?
Thank you to Mayor Ward for pressing the Federal government to provide this money to fund essential programs to keep us safe.
I agree with 5:33pm - seems to me they know how to drive the fire trucks. What is this really supposed to do except spotlight Larson and his buddy Ward? Aren't there more pressing local needs like flooding that could have been addressed?
This is actually embarassing that a paid department is getting this type of grant when there are depts in more needed and depressed areas of our country. Gotta love the pork barrel process.
Someone should go and audit Chief Pose and his grant applications. To get this money is a farce.
Wards PR team is at it again.
Photo Op next when check arrives.
Mayor Ward stated "The City of Bristol and its fire department greatly appreciate the work of Congressman Larson to address the professional needs of the city’s fire department, especially in this time of budgetary constraints.”
Budgetary constraints? What does that mean? We were gonna ask the FD to NOT drive the trucks to save money?
Only in Bristol are there people who think the government shouldn't be in the business of funding a fire department.
Student:
Why should the Federal Government fund one municipal Fire Department over another?
Isn't that subsidizing the inefficient?
If it that important we should find the money.
Clearly it is Pork and Political.
Ward won't do anything about the flooding until it becomes critical AGAIN.
At least the last administration was proactive.
this is, without a doubt, the only "blog" site where a positive becomes a negative - what a complete bunch of "zero minded misfits" = scary, scary, scary.
~ It seems the naysayers are getting desparate trying to find stuff to complain about.
As Mark Twain said- "We have the best politicians money can buy."
"Why should the Federal Government fund one municipal Fire Department over another?"
Because that is what a grant program does. It reviews and awards the money based on the applicants.
"Isn't that subsidizing the inefficient?"
No it's strengthing the inefficient. Grant programs are for a set time and can be renewed or redirected elsewhere based on need.
"If it that important we should find the money."
Don't we have a budget crisis and cranky people complaining about the mill rate going up? Didn't we just cut 70,000 from the VNA? Wouldn't this grant help alleviate the measure?
"Clearly it is Pork and Political."
Perhaps. Pork from government is bad. It breeds corruption and wastes tax payer money and is endemic in both parties. However you might think about this grant it is at least not a "bridge to nowhere."
If people are mad, and calling it pork, because of a press release from John Larson, than all I can say is run a better candidate against him.
And not for nothing where are the naysayers when the pork is coming to us at the state level (i.e., memorial boulevard)? That kind of pork comes from bonding, sticking the bill on the backs of future generations.
I'd rather have the fire training.
Maybe Larson can get the police a grant so they can be trained in rotating their heads while driving so they can spot crime on the streets and stop it instead of just driving by and ignoring it.
goodness gracious, why don't you negative, ungrateful sponges get off of your frig---g dead asses and do something like show up at a council meeting or try and get support for your ideas by letting people know who you are - unless you have no balls or know that your arguments have no substance. enough is enough - put up or shut up, your arguments here are nothing but SWILL.
if the city gets a grant, ward gets nailed - if he didn't apply or get grant monies, he would get nailed - which way do you naysayers want it?
where are the positive suggestions for solutions to obtain funding?
Why not reduce unnecessary spending?
1:31pm - -maybe you should subscribe to the press, courant or observer - or at least borrow your neighbor or co-workers copies, seeing as how you seem to be so cheap.
I get AND read the Press, Courant, Observer. And other papers too!
I also have looked at the city budget (have you?).
I don't see why certain costs can't be reduced: previous administrations have done so.
Big or small, they all add up.
9:26 - then evidently you can't comprehend because cuts have been made, positions have been cut and consolidated, one even in my own dept. of public works, and the cuts will go on - know what you are talking about before proving your ignorance.
Cuts or not filling of positions?
Obviously the reductions were and are not enough.
Certainly, with Wards PR team. he would have crowed about any of those reductions!
3:27pm - and if he did crow about them, you would be bitchin 'cause he did
6:13
When Art does ANYTHING, he crows about it.
Guess he didn;t do anything to crow about this time, or to get a photo-op.
11:10
Why not get real? The fact is that no matter what he does or doesn't do ~ you're going to complain about it anyway because you just don't like him. The man could cure cancer and you'd still find something to bitch about. It's more about that big chip on your shoulder than Mr. Ward.
I happen to like Art Ward, but I still think he is a lousy mayor!
And I still think he is a publicity hog, more flash than substance.
But a great politician!!!
11:10am - seems like your pablum is a little soupy today - suck it up little fella.
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