Charles Beidleman: Modesto council put residents in jeopardy to save a few bucks

Re “Modesto rejects $1 million firefighter paramedic grant” (Page 1A, Oct. 6): I watched in disbelief the Oct. 4 Modesto city council meeting. Your city manager has no ties with the city of Modesto, yet is making life decisions based on your families’ safety. City administrators Jim Holgersson and Joe Lopez are both willing to gamble your safety because they say it is fiscally irresponsible to spend $85,000 a year to staff paramedics on all Modesto fire apparatus.

The grant turned down by your council, on the recommendations of Jim, Joe and your fire chief (Sean Slamon), makes no sense. It was fiscally irresponsible to turn down $1.1 million on a $108,000 investment. To listen to the council members banter and provide justifications to vote “no” was embarrassing. It was obvious Jenny Kenoyer did not know any of the “facts” and it was blatantly obvious who was feeding her his facts. I moved from the area a year ago to a small community were citizen safety is put first. I can rest easy knowing when I come back to visit I can get cheap beer and a movie.

This story was originally published October 13, 2016 at 1:27 PM with the headline "Charles Beidleman: Modesto council put residents in jeopardy to save a few bucks."