Phoenix fire union asking public to support more public safety funding

PHOENIX — As budget hearings for the city of Phoenix start to get underway, a union that represents members of the Phoenix Fire Department has asked the public to support increased funding for public safety.

P.J. Dean, the secretary and communications director for United Phoenix Firefighters Association Local 493, said the city’s budget surplus should go to public safety.

“We’re not looking to point fingers. We simply want to create an awareness,” he said.

“We had financial challenges for years, we finally have some extra money. (The city needs) to put that into our most basic and vital needs so that we can protect our citizens.”

A report submitted to the city council’s public safety subcommittee said Phoenix needs at least 138 new firefighters to meet an industry standard of one firefighter per 1,000 residents.

To support them, the budget department said 28 civilians would need to be hired and new equipment would need to be purchased, including five new apparatus.

The total cost would be roughly $30 million.

“We would like to see as much money as possible allocated towards those resources,” Dean said, “so that we can increase our infrastructure … so that we can respond more effectively.”

A recent fire in Norterra in north Phoenix, Dean said, took firefighters nine minutes to respond to. He said that endangers property and lives.

“We understand that there’s a lot of other things in the city that require funds, but you got to focus on what’s most important and where lives are at stake.”

The city is holding public budget hearings now. To find a location, check the city’s website.

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