Rauf Bolden: Mayor Tony Kennon must address underpaid first responders
Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon has often said, he will evaluate raises on a case-by-case basis. In this case Orange Beach’s First Responders lag behind the state’s average and the national average, according to a report on Zip Recruiter. Our First Responders deserve better than below average pay, training constantly, dedicated to our community, responding to any emergency within three minutes. I raise this voice, hoping someone will hear. There is no plan in place to correct responder’s compensation imbalance, having reviewed Council’s online minutes for several years. Should the city reward First Responders for exceptional public service? “My husband was chronically ill before his [liver] transplant and required First Responders to come to our house often. We had numerous obstacles they would have to work around. Our house is an older house with two small steps coming up through the door. My husband was often incapacitated and the gurney would not fit around the corner into the bedroom and with his excessive weight it was never easy getting him to the gurney. But they never failed us and they always did their job in the most professional manner. We have nothing but praise for them,” said Jeannetta Bell a Bear Point resident in a text. “There have been several occasions that Orange Beach Emergency personnel have been called to my home for medical emergencies. Their response time was always very quick. I cannot say enough about their kindness and concern for me and my husband. Orange Beach is very fortunate to have such competent first responders,” said Sherry Brandler a Marina Road resident in a text. “On my way home from work one evening, an extremely large, and therefore very old turtle decided to cross Canal Road. Fearful of his fate during the crossing, I could only think of one way to preserve his life. I called 911. My call was taken most seriously. [The] officer captured him, and relocated him deep within the state park,” said Patsy Rose, retired Children’s Librarian, having lived her entire life in Orange Beach. The city’s business is keeping the resident and visitor populations safe. I see no rational objection to paying our First Responders a better-than-average wage, enabling the departments to recruit and retain the best people. “The First Responders in Orange Beach have provided excellent professional service during times of trouble,” said Sarah DeLazzer Property Manager at Sea Chase Condominiums in a text. “Recently, one of my friend’s home caught fire [in Orange Beach]. The fire department worked hard to put out the fire. That is their job and they did it well. But they went beyond doing their expected job. They all stayed and helped console the family and start the cleanup. They helped drain the water and salvage what they could for the family. These men and women don’t just do what’s expected. They care about our community and citizens. Their guiding force is service. These dedicated men and women deserve to be well paid and have solid benefits. They risked their lives to help save this family’s home and then gave them the gift of being there to help them start to pick the pieces. They gave this family a bit of hope when they were down. That’s what they do every single day without hesitation. It is simply a part of who they are and we are blessed to have them in our City,” said Kim and Jared Byrd, part-time residents of Orange Beach in a text. ”ALEA [Alabama Law Enforcement Agency]: Driver killed when crashing into Orange Beach police vehicles,” according to a report on Fox10News. I argue, all First Responders are dedicated to our community in ways that are priceless. Mayor Tony Kennon may not agree, probably thinking an underpaid paramedic or officer is replaceable. This logic works until someone has a stint failure, bad car accident at the turn around, or needs resuscitating in the Gulf, raising questions about going cheap. Orange Beach is a wealthy community, taking in $15 Million annually above expenses. Paying Firefighters and Police Officers a salary that reflects the city’s standing as the premier beach resort in Alabama is the right decision. Rauf Bolden is retired IT Director at the City of Orange Beach, presently pursuing his dream as a Web Technologies Consultant on the Beach Road. He can be reached by email: publisher@velvetillusion.com. Disclosure: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Donald Trump says Puerto Rico can’t get hurricane aid ‘forever’
President Donald Trump lashed out at hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico on Thursday, insisting that federal help will be limited and blaming the U.S. territory for its financial struggles. The broadside came as the House headed toward passage of a $36.5 billion disaster aid package, including assistance for Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has been reeling since Hurricane Maria struck three weeks ago, leaving death and destruction in an unparalleled humanitarian crisis. Forty-five deaths in Puerto Rico have been blamed on Maria, 90 percent of the island is still without power and the government says it hopes to have electricity restored completely by March. Trump tweeted: “We cannot keep FEMA, the Military & the First Responders, who have been amazing (under the most difficult circumstances) in P.R. forever!” In a series of tweets, the president said “electric and all infrastructure was disaster before hurricanes.” He blamed Puerto Rico for its looming financial crisis and “a total lack of accountability.” Democrats said Trump’s attacks were “shameful,” given that the 3 million-plus U.S. citizens on Puerto Rico are confronting the kind of hardships that would draw howls of outrage if they affected a state. One-third of the island lacks clean running water and just 8 percent of its roads are passable, according to government statistics. “It is shameful that President Trump is threatening to abandon these Americans when they most need the federal government’s help,” said Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the second-ranking House Democrat. The legislative aid package totals $36.5 billion and sticks close to a White House request. For now, it ignores huge demands from the powerful Florida and Texas delegations, which together pressed for some $40 billion more. A steady series of disasters could put 2017 on track to rival Hurricane Katrina and other 2005 storms as the most costly set of disasters ever. Katrina required about $110 billion in emergency appropriations. The bill combines $18.7 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency with $16 billion to permit the financially troubled federal flood insurance program pay an influx of Harvey-related claims. An additional $577 million would pay for western firefighting efforts. Up to $5 billion of the FEMA money could be used to help local governments remain functional as they endure unsustainable cash shortfalls in the aftermath of Maria, which has choked off revenues and strained resources. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., planned to visit Puerto Rico on Friday. He has promised that the island will get what it needs. “It’s not easy when you’re used to live in an American way of life, and then somebody tell you that you’re going to be without power for six or eight months,” said Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, who represents Puerto Rico as a nonvoting member of Congress. “It’s not easy when you are continue to suffer – see the suffering of the people without food, without water, and actually living in a humanitarian crisis.” The GOP-run Congress had protracted debates last year on modest requests by former President Barack Obama to combat the Zika virus and help Flint, Michigan, repair its lead-tainted water system. Now, it is moving quickly to take care of this year’s crises, quickly passing a $15.3 billion measure last month and signaling that another installment is coming next month. Several lawmakers from hurricane-hit states said a third interim aid request is anticipated shortly – with a final, huge hurricane recovery and rebuilding package likely to be acted upon by the end of the year. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Alabama joins first responder network, FirstNet
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced Alabama would join the FirstNet First Responder Network — the nationwide public broadband network deployment plan offered by FirstNet and AT&T. The plan will deliver a wireless broadband network to the state’s public safety community that will bring advanced tools to help Alabama’s first responders save lives and protect communities. “Keeping Alabama’s residents, visitors and first responders safe is of the highest concern,” Ivey said. “From volunteer emergency responders in our rural communities to those on the front lines in more populated areas, our public safety community deserves access to the tools they need most. This collaboration with FirstNet and AT&T will allow us to provide our first responders increased capabilities to communicate as effectively and efficiently as possible, while also ensuring that our residents and businesses have the best possible services provided to them in times of emergency.” AT&T, in a public-private partnership with FirstNet, will build, operate and maintain a highly secure wireless broadband communications network for Alabama’s public safety community at no cost to the state. The FirstNet network will drive innovation and create an entire system of modernized devices, apps and tools for first responders. Following an in-depth evaluation of the proposed AT&T and FirstNet plan, as well as proposals by other potential vendors, Alabama selected the FirstNet and AT&T public-private partnership, bringing public safety the overall best value solution with the least risk. “Reliable, effective communications systems and networks are most important when lives are on the line,” Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Hal Taylor said. “I am very pleased Alabama is opting in to be part of FirstNet. This network, and the new tools it will provide, will help our first responders do their jobs more safely and effectively, and it will help save lives all across the state.” FirstNet will transform the way Alabama’s firefighters, police, emergency medical services (EMS) and other public safety personnel communicate and share information. Specifically, it will: Connect first responder subscribers to the critical information they need in a highly secure manner when handling day-to-day operations, responding to emergencies and supporting large events like college football games, which attract more than 100,000 fans to home games at some of the larger universities in the state. Provide priority access to data communications for public safety personnel in agencies and jurisdictions across the state during natural disasters, such as the 2011 Super Outbreak that produced a record number of tornadoes in the state. Enhance and expand network coverage across Alabama’s diverse landscape, benefitting first responders and residents throughout the state’s rural areas, including mountainous and tribal lands. Provide first responders with access to dedicated network assets that can be deployed for additional coverage and support when needed. Drive infrastructure investments and create jobs across the state. Usher in a new wave of dependable innovations for first responders. This will create an ever-evolving set of life-saving tools for public safety, including public safety apps, specialized devices and Internet of Things technologies. It also carries the potential for future integration with NextGen 9-1-1 networks and Smart Cities’ infrastructure. FirstNet and AT&T designed Alabama’s network solution with direct input from the state and its public safety community, including the Alabama First Responder Wireless Commission (AFRWC) who, on Sept. 21st, voted unanimously in a special-called meeting to send an “opt-in” letter of recommendation to Governor Ivey. The AFRWC is comprised of multiple state, local, and tribal public safety organizations and professional associations. The Commission is chaired by Secretary Hal Taylor of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. By working closely with the AFRWC, FirstNet and AT&T crafted a plan to meet Alabama’s unique communications needs, including: Expanding rural coverage beyond what is currently available from commercial carriers. Offering affordable data services to public safety across the state. Delivering a network for public safety with continuing expansive geographical coverage and increasing redundancy and resiliency. “Governor Ivey’s decision to join FirstNet comes after the state considered a number of options to bring public safety the best communications solution,” FirstNet CEO Mike Poth said. “FirstNet and AT&T are extremely pleased to have delivered the network plan that best meets Alabama’s unique needs. We look forward to connecting first responders across the State’s diverse landscape, providing them access to the only network purpose-built for public safety’s life-saving mission.” The decision enables FirstNet and AT&T to begin creating an entirely new wireless ecosystem for public safety communications. Alabama’s first responder AT&T subscribers will have immediate access to quality of service and priority access to voice and data across the existing nationwide AT&T LTE network. Preemption for primary users over the AT&T LTE network is expected by year-end. This means first responder subscribers, including fire and rescue services, law enforcement, emergency medical services, emergency management and 9-1-1 personnel, will have dedicated access to the network when and where they need it – 24/7/365, like their mission. “We appreciate the seriousness and diligence Governor Ivey and her team brought to the discussion of Alabama’s participation in this nationwide public safety broadband network. It matches our own commitment to delivering this first-of-its-kind communications solution,” AT&T Alabama Assistant Vice President of Legislative and External Affairs Wayne Hutchens added. “AT&T is honored to bring the FirstNet Network to Alabama and connect its public safety community to the life-saving technologies they, and our citizens, deserve.”
