Firefighters fume at propositions

Still fuming over orders to stand in the background of a

gubernatorial news conference while brush fires raged around the

county, Burbank and Glendale fire departments came out in opposition

Thursday to a ballot proposition they claim would stifle their

political involvement.

If approved by voters in the special Nov. 8 election, Proposition

75 would require unions representing public employees to get

permission from members before spending dues for political purposes.

The proposition is supported by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who

was the target of many of the barbs flung by the firefighters

speaking at a news conference at the Burbank Fire Department Fire

Training Center.

“I just want the governor to realize we are just like everyone

else; there shouldn’t be special rules because I am a person who

works for a governmental entity,” Burbank Fire Capt. Lew Stone, who

is also president of the Burbank Firefighters Local 778. “Corporate

interests have no rules against them when it comes to politics. I

just want the same things to be in my favor.”

One of the unfortunate realities of taking part in the democratic

process is having to spend money, Glendale Fire Department Engineer

Joanne Davis said.

“I think this is a blatant attempt to try and silence our voice in

the governmental process by taking away our financial ability to have

access to our elected representatives,” Davis said.

What also irked the firefighters was what they said were orders to

appear along with Schwarzenegger when he visited the scene of the

Topanga and Chatsworth brush fires on Sept. 30.

No Burbank or Glendale firefighters were used in the backdrop

during Schwarzenegger’s visit, Stone said.

In a statement released by the governor’s reelection campaign

press office, Schwarzenegger said he had unshakeable respect for

firefighters and his visit last week was to get a status on the fire

and congratulate those fighting the blaze.

“It is regrettable that the union bosses would take one of the

real firefighting success stories of this or any other year, and turn

it into another political sideshow,” the statement said.

Los Angeles County Firefighter David Gillotte expressed disgust

with Schwarzenegger’s approach -- that he comes off as a friend to

the firefighters but then his actions cause disagreement.

“He is no friend of ours whatsoever,” Gillotte said. “It’s not

proper to have the governor force our rank and file to stand with him

as a political backdrop.”

Stone cited Rep. Adam Schiff’s visit on Monday morning with the

firefighters battling brush fires in the Verdugo Mountains above

Burbank as an example of how a public official can thank the

firefighters without turning them into a campaign prop.

Schiff called ahead and came to the command center in the early

morning without TV news cameras in tow, Stone said.

“He sincerely wanted to thank them,” Stone said. “There is a

supreme difference between really wanting to thank people for a job

well done versus somebody looking for a political opportunity.”

The firefighters are also opposed to Proposition 76, another

ballot initiative in the special election that includes the ability

for a governor to reduce appropriations , including employee

compensation and state contracts.

The news conference took place at the fire training center because

many of the participants were already there for a previously

scheduled meeting, Stone said.