The red herring...

Thinking back over the last several years I do not remember any instance of loss of life or property due to the late arrival of fire apparatus. For this we citizens are thankful and the fire department is justly proud.

The East Avenue bridge has been closed to fire trucks for years.

Fire response time has been advanced as a compelling reason to spend a ton of money and accept local bridge ownership and its responsibilities. Responsibilities over which we will not have control. Fire safety is a non-issue.

I can think of no more than three facets to the fire safety line of thought. Getting fire trucks across the East Ave. bridge has not been a problem in the years it has not been available for use. I can not think of a situation where all firemen would be trapped north of the canal and unable to reach the firehouse. Traffic congestion preventing movement of fire trucks across the Main St. bridge does not hold up when you really look at it.

The traffic congestion talked about, is composed of people leaving work at the same time, trying to cross the bridge going south. North bound lanes, which fire trucks would be using, would be free of this traffic congestion.

The Mayor's self-imposed decision point on the East Avenue bridge is just around the corner. There are still questions to which we have no answers to date. This space is still open to the Mayor for a report to the people.

John H. Van Dusen
Publisher