Why RB Residents Say “No” to LA County Fire?
Hello Neighbors!
Many District 4 Residents ask me:
“Why Do RB Residents Say No to LA County Fire?”
I’ve been speaking directly with RB District 4 Residents, and they are adamantly opposed to closing our Local Fire Department and outsourcing to LA County Fire.
This post shares their views with you.
But first, a little background & context:
As always, we start with documents and facts:
- Here’s my “Decline to Sign” postcard. I attempt to just state facts and make my intentions clear and understandable.
- LA County Fire Quote – By the Numbers.” Here’s my post, I provide the documents and reasons why I said “No” to LA County Fire and made the decision to Keep Our Local Fire Department.
- Stated Reason for “Recall” Election. This language is directly from the Recall Petition that residents are supposed to read before signing.
- RB Fire Union Walking Materials. (also included to the right) Petitioners hand this to residents and make their case for signing the petition. This document says everything but their “true intentions:” RB Fire Union wants to go to LA County Fire. Please read – do you know what they want?
- Negative Mailer sent to all District 4 Residents. (also include to the right) This mailer started the RB Fire Union’s, and Zein Obagi’s petition signing process in Mid October, 2019. (Yes, this is what the RB Fire Union sent out with their Political Action Committee monies).
The Petition to Recall Redondo Beach City Councilman, John Gran
If you haven’t heard, I’m being “recalled” because I said “No” to our RB Fire Union – they want to go to LA County Fire – and they are angry.
I voted to Keep Our Local Fire Department and NOT merge with LA County Fire. It was a Financial / Policy decision, and I believe I did the right thing for my District 4 Residents.
The RB Fire Union has chosen a candidate, Zein Obagi (a District 4 resident/lawyer), and they hope to run him against me in a special election. I’m up for re-election in March 2021 – this $40,000 special election would be held mid-year 2020.
Zein’s Nextdoor.com post on Oct. 22nd, note above, is pretty reasonable, right? 
Well, this Nextdoor.com post was accompanied with the Negative Campaign Mailer from the RB Fire Union – make no mistake, this is about RB Fire Union, Money and Going to LA County Fire.
Question for the RB Fire Union: If you disagree with my decision, why attempt to force a recall election now?
Because the RB Fire Union believes they can “squeak” a Recall election by RB District 4, install their candidate Zein Obagi, call an LA County Fire vote immediately, and have their candidate do their bidding.
Bye Bye Local Fire Department, Hello LA County Fire Services.
Meanwhile, the RB Fire Union Members go off to have great careers with the LA County Fire services and Redondo Beach is left with the spending more money for the same or less services.
That’s what’s going on, folks… (but I digress.)
So, back to the Question in hand:
“Why Do Residents Say NO to LA County Fire?”
Please imagine yourself living in North Redondo, especially District 4, and you live very close to RB Fire Station #2, located on Grant Ave. I know it’s tough to think this way, but please try to put yourself in a North Redondo Beach Resident’s shoes:
Here’s why it’s not good to Go to LA County Fire:
- There are no cost savings with going to LA County Fire. Our City has shown there’s no money to save, it’ would actually cost more.
- LA County Fire is currently understaffed, and really huge – We’ll be a small fish in a big pond. Right now, we have a Fire Dept focused specifically on our Safety and Community.
- LA County Fire is contemplating imposing a $1.4B Parcel Tax on all Cities that use LA County Fire Services – yes, more costs. (click for the article)
- We already get LA County support services, FOR FREE, when we need them via “mutual aid”.
But, here’s the worse part.
The only way to “almost” make the financials work for RB to close their Local Fire Department and Go to LA County Fire, LA County proposes to Remove a Paramedic Assessment Unit (PAC) and 9 Positions from the Grant Avenue RB Fire Station #2 and “cover” these calls with Lawndale, Hawthorne, Gardena and Hermosa Beach.
(pause for a moment)
You live 3 streets from Fire Station #2… Does this make sense to you?
Lastly, Once the Local Fire Department is gone, it’s gone.
Never to come back and we are stuck with LA County and any additional charges they send us, we have to pay. No Local Control, totally dependent on LA County Fire.
Going to LA County Fire makes no sense, and North Redondo Beach residents are absolutely against it.
It’s not even close. We want to Keep Our Local Fire Department.
Why Do North RB Residents Say No to LA County Fire?
RB Fire Station # 2 is our Local Fire Station, and we hear it going all the time. It’s already busy, and “covering” these calls with Lawndale, Hawthorne, Gardena and Hermosa Beach – when we already have a Great Local Fire Department – is not good for North Redondo Beach residents.
My District 4 residents elected me to make tough decisions on their behalf.
I said NO to the RB Fire Union, I voted to Keep our Local Fire Department.
My District 4 residents are very happy with my decision. Thank you.
Important Note: District 4 Residents are now paying attention, and they are angry that the RB Fire Union is not being clear and truthful with their intentions – but they still love them because they are Our Firefighters and Paramedics.
Yes, the RB Fire Union is in a “No Lose” situation – win a Recall Election and Go to LA County Fire or Lose a Recall Election and the RB Residents still love them.
Heck, I love them too – that’s why I want to Keep Our Local Fire Department.
Only Redondo Loses if we go to LA County Fire.
Now that you’ve lived a little in Redondo Beach District 4’s shoes for a moment,
Do you think we should go to LA County Fire?
