Editor, Manteca Bulletin,

Having attended the Manteca City Council meeting on June 21, 2011 (encouraged by the “Open Letter to the Citizens of Manteca,” published in the same day’s edition of your paper.) I am even more concerned about the possible elimination of firefighting positions in Manteca.

Construction of a new large apartment complex appears to have been approved. Even without additions such as this, cutting firefighting positions is not the way to go to balance the budget. Several citizens spoke to the logistical problems involved in diminished response times, such as trains blocking access and the need for adequate numbers of fire fighters in all areas of the city. Also stroke victims have a better prognosis with timely emergency response, and heart attack victims have a better chance of survival.

Cutting firefighting positions would negatively impact the obvious – putting out fires. As is usual in such government spending cuts, it would impact our most vulnerable citizens – the elderly, disabled, and health-impaired, as well as accident victims.

Thank you for your attention in this matter.

Carol Palmer
Manteca
June 21, 2011