Sbsun.com/SBNOW Blogs

[I am Sam]

:eek:How many Sbfd guys like their salaries posted in the news blogs:eek:
It sounds like the writer is quite jealous....In my opinion many of the fire department staff have better writing skills than the reporter does.

[firemedic301]

Here is a link to the blog that SAM is talking about. The reporter is gathering info to do a article next week I believe.

http://www.insidesocal.com/sb/sbnow/2008/07/6figure_firefighters.html

As some of you know the San Bernardino Sun did the same thing to SB County FD about a year ago, and it is fairly obvious that the write has a personal agenda.

[I am Sam]

Hey 301,
Just wanted to mention, you did a great job responding to Robert Rogers. He got what was comming to him with his uncalled for jabs at police and fire personel. I am glad that so many people wrote in to inform him that he was not sharing the whole truth with his readers. I hope he doesn't get any kudos from the large number of responses.
Way to stay on top of things though! I hope old Robert changes his ways.


SAM:mad:

[firemedic301]

unfortunately he won't change. He obviously has an agenda or vendetta he is going to play out in the newspaper and I think we all know when the article comes out he will only use the fact and things he needs to make us look as bad as he can. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed.

[I am Sam]

There is an anonymous poster on SBNOW who has a writing style just like SanSooFire.....hmmmm!

[Chile]

Wha?

Looks like alot has been going on while I've been out at the East Basin Fire.

Nice to see that even as we sleep out here in the dirt, busting our *BLEEP**BLEEP**BLEEP*, there are people still hating on firemen.

See ya guys when I get back.

Respek (followed with a finger snap).

Chile

[sansoofireman]

There is an anonymous poster on SBNOW who has a writing style just like SanSooFire.....hmmmm!

Wasn't me, but I'm heading over there now to check it out!

[trkmant46]

I don't agree with the article, but this has been a long standing battle for most Fire depts over the years. And while a lot of us don't like our incomes being published, it will never stop particulary since our salaries are public knowledge.

Unfortunalety the reporter has some valid points. We as firefighters need to be careful when we ask for better contracts. At what point do we stop asking for more money?? Do we continue asking for more even when the country is in an downward spiral? Or do we stop above the 200k mark?
Dont get me wrong, I love the money I make, it has afforded my family and I a very good life. However, I look at my brother and 2 sisters all who have good educations and are struggling to make ends meet. Yea they chose to be educators, but should they loose their jobs so the city or counties can pay for public safety contracts-Fireman & police? I dont think so

Vallejo recently filed bankruptcy because of the benefits paid to public safety. I'll bet more cities come close to that as the economy continues downward.

The fire service has came along way over the last 25 yrs. Most fireman today dont have to have a second job to make ends meet like firefighters did 20 yrs ago.

Here is something to think about: When did a "blue" collar job turn into a "white" collar one? We make a lot of money for what we do, there is no disputing that!

Before you throw venom my way, know that I worked on an ambulance for crap wages and worked for a dept that didnt pay well and now I get paid very well. I am very grateful for that. I see both sides of the argument!

Its is just food for thought......look around you, we have it good compared to most. Dont get mad when when the general public slams us for what we make, they just dont understand what we go do and never will.

Another thing, if this was your personal business, would you spend money the way the city/county does? I would bet you wouldnt.

Our elected officials are voted in to run the city or county in a fiscally prudent way.

[I am Sam]

I am not sure what to say about all that. I just wish the writer had been objective and listed the pros and cons of the fire service. He could've included the amount of ot hours needed to be a 6 figure ff.

I am sorry to hear about your family and the tough times. Believe me, I feel very fortunate to be able to have the material things our family does, and I miss my family terribly when I am away from them. If not for the love of the job, it just wouldn't be worth it.

For all of those who are following the blogs on SBNOW, I am not the SAM on the site over there. I haven't responded to that Robert Rogers clown.

[sansoofireman]

Everyone, please stop blogging on Reporter Tool's site. Here's why...

When someone gets their education in journalism these days, it includes writing for the internet, blogs, etc. They are well versed in how to bait people, how to pit people against themselves, and how to come out shiny clean in the process. He knew what he was doing all along and reveling in it when we took the bait.

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if someone was behind this, what with budget crunches, the upcoming 186 raise, yadda yadda. I mean, this guy's just a tool for someone to extrapolate information to use against us. So far, he's done a pretty good job. Like he was trained and educated to. Did I mention he was a tool?

If he ever reads this (and I'd put money on it that he does), I invite him to do a ride out and see how hard we work. See what we do for free on the job. See how much money we save the city by not outsourcing common tasks. I'd like to ask him how many times he's mowed the lawns at The Sun Headquarters, replaced a flourescent bulb, or serviced the printing press. For no good reason other than it needed to get done.

<sansoofireman steps up onto his soapbox>

We don't get paid for what we do, we get paid for what we're willing to do. As soon as we lose someone on this department, people will say we are worth MORE that what we get paid now.

Respect for firefighters is a land of hills and valleys. Sometimes they love us (Post 9/11, Old/Grand Prix Fires) and sometimes they hate us (lawsuits, negative newspaper articles). With the exception of the Northern California fires, we're in a valley right now. We can't wait for something bad to happen to become heroes again. We need to be proactive, not reactive to improving our image (think donations, community involvement, etc.)

We can't let Reporter Tool get under our skin when dead babies, burnt bodies, and shotgun wounds to the face haven't. We're better than that. Let's find someone to write a rebuttal/editorial if this guy ever actually prints something about our pay. Otherwise, continuing his blog only makes him perceiveably stronger.

<sansoofireman steps down from his soapbox>

Once Reporter Tool realizes that people don't respect him as much as he thinks they respect him, he'll learn some humility. Everyone that I meet is in some way superior to me, and in that, I learn from them. There is no way I could do that if I put myself up on a pedestal above everyone else. Reporter Tool has done that. Maybe it goes back to his childhood, filled with false praises and a trophy for being last. Maybe it's generational and he just can't help it...

Nah...

[firemedic301]

Word is he is Morris' sons friend.

[sansoofireman]

If we can get him to admit that, we're good. The last thing the Mayor needs is more negative press, post Operation Phoenix meltdown.

[sansoofireman]

Good job everyone, it's been over 24 hours since anyone logged onto the SBNow blog.

[TaylorMade]

Sansoo,

You have done an excellent job in representing a mature and well spoken firefighter.

I absolutely agree that this individual is baiting people.

Take the higher road and don't give that person the time of day.

For us, since the cost of living is so high in the bay area, we hardly have negative press about our firefighters salaries.

[I am Sam]

The last two postings in SBNOW are quite interesting. I think that the thread will die at 95 postings.

[sansoofireman]

Awww, shucks! Thanks for the props TaylorMade!

Reporter Tool reminds me of one of those fat, professional wrestling fans who thinks he figured the universe out when he realized wrestling was fake.

Can you SMEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLL what SanSoo is cookin'?

[Johnny on the spot]

SBFD... please be very carefull IF you chose to respond to what Alita Jervis just wrote on the SBSun Blog. It sounds as if she is an ARMC employee, possibly in the ER.

I do not agree with her about our patient care, history, or lack of skill... but an argument to those statements is near impossible, they are all subjective statements.

One point that can be argued professionally AND with facts is "it's crazy that they are the highest paid group in the trauma system, yet they have the least education and the lowest skill job."

First, I know we are not the highest paid group (Doctors, Trauma Doctors, ER administrators... get paid more). Second, I don't know about all our firemen and FF/PM's, but I have a lot of formal education and a lot of training. Third, I may not have nun chuk skills, bow hunting skills, or computer hacking skills.... but I can start a mean I.V.!! okay, maybe not, f-dub can start a mean I.V., but I am good at stripping out the line!!

Finally, "um nurse Jervis, will you administer a suppository into Mrs. Johnson in room 4? She has not made boo in 4 days."

Sounds like that qualifies as a "highest skill job".

[I am Sam]

The last two postings in SBNOW are quite interesting. I think that the thread will die at 95 postings.

The 6 Figure Firefighter author has come out with posting #2. Bashing pay again. This time admitting that his figures were wrong.....now claiming the average pay is much higher than states in the first posting. Check it out at SBNOW.

[TaylorMade]

Don't take the bait. He is fishing you guys again. We have similar reporters in the bay area that do the same thing periodically.

Don't give his blog the traffic that he wants.

[TomCat]

Miss Jervis has been making the rounds:

Aleta Jervis
May 1, 2007 11:15 AM
It's amusing that an LA group is keeping score on Wal-Mart's employment practices. In California, firemen and policemen cost taxpayers $200,000 a year, each. No wonder ordinary citizens have to shop at Wal-Mart.

http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2007/04/stop_the_bullyi.html

[TomCat]

If you don't like the Sun's biased coverage of your salaries, you can always exercise your consumer rights and cancel your station's subscriptions to that rag!

Not sure about your FH, but at mine, we prefer the Riverside (PE) paper over the Sun. The Sun has been a paper in decline for the past 10-years, thus the tabloid focus.

Roger is an Ivy League grad, who is cutting his teeth with an entry-level news organization, with an eventaul hope of making his mark with the LA/NY Times (if still in business then). He carries all the elitest biasis of a reporter with education and it really bothers him that a GED fireman (his thoughts) makes 3x his annual salary. Remember this is a guy whose going to cure the world of it woes with a stroke of his pen, even if he has to manufacture a story to do so.

[sansoofireman]

Sweet response. What the number to the Press Enterprise???

[TomCat]

PE: 800-794-6397

To Unsubscribe to the Sun: (909) 889-9666

Remember, the Sun sells advertisement space based off of their subscription base. We're contributing to the perpetuation of a weak news source.

[Ash702]

To all those who are whining and crying about your salaries being posted:
SHUT THE F UP!!! Think about it...the general public does not think blue collar workers should be making over 100K a year!! They don't! So stop working OT, or stop crying about it!! Our local paper out here does the same thing. And EVERY year, it is something to talk about for 2-5 days. GET OVER IT!! It is gonna blow over and there will be something else to talk about next week for the residents of SanBerdoo!! And canceling your subscription won't do anything except keep you in the dark.
But hey, what do I know...
Keep up the good work guys. I appreciate what you do! I do the same thing!!