More Information on Proposed Layoffs of Gloucester City Employees

That information was lacking from the first site named Gloucester City Firefighters leaving one to ask who was responsible for the information on the page (s). The webmaster of that page was Anthony Errickson. What connection he has to the firefighters is not known. (http://www.anthonyerrickson.com/GCFF/Welcome.htmlg)

The first snippet leads to the new firefighter’s website and the other two are to published articles that appeared last week on this topic in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Courier Post. Further down are links to various articles and videos on the subject that were posted on CNBNews.net over the past month. ~Bill Cleary

Gloucester City Firefighters to Canvas the City on Saturday

Firefighters will hit the streets this Saturday to explain what they have done to avert the layoffs of eight Firefighters and the elimination of three others. They will be walking the City from 9:00AM until 12:00PM. Please take time to hear the truth about this most important matter. City Firefighters and EMT\’s are facing layoffs that could effect your safety. Please click on the News Tab and go to Layoffs. You will learn that the mayor and council is considering cutting your Firefighters (your fire and EMS protection) by one-third.

N.J. town\’s emotions flare amid looming firefighter layoffs

Kevin Riordan| Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/10/2010

Simple red-and-white signs around town only hint at the heat of Gloucester City\’s struggle over the looming layoffs of 15 municipal employees, including eight in the Fire Department.

The \”We Support our Gloucester City Firefighters\” placards look downright decorous compared to some of the more explosive emotions at a standing-room-only City Council meeting May 27.

But in Gloucester as elsewhere these days, political battles are fought not only via packed rooms, lawn signs, and letters to the editor, but also on websites, blogs, Facebook pages, and YouTube videos. And matters can get every bit as personal in cyberspace.

Gloucester City attempts to avoid layoffs

| courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post

The proposed firefighter layoffs — which amount to about a quarter of the 34-member department — have ignited the most outcry. Fire safety is a particularly emotional topic in the city, where a July 4th blaze in 2002 killed three firefighters and three young girls. The tragedy is memorialized in a sculpture garden outside the department\’s King Street headquarters.

Bob Brower, vice president of the New Jersey Firemen\’s Mutual Benevolent Association, said it would be irresponsible for the city to reduce its firefighting staff.

\”There\’s other places to cut money,\” said Brower, whose association represents the Gloucester City department.

\”You can\’t put a price tag on people\’s lives.\”