Dear Editor:
In reading your article about our EMS professionals, I cannot disagree more strongly
with our local government and city manager with regard to outsourcing most of
Hackensack's EMT activity to HUMC.
Entering into a contract with HUMC's choice of ambulance service from 6:00 AM - 6:00
PM to replace eight Hackensack EMS employees is exacting poor judgement in the
long run. These men are part of our Fire Department. Their jobs were created to assist
not only our residents, or anyone traveling through our city, but as support for their fellow
firefighters. To remove them from Hackensack's Fire Department is to remove a trained
unit from its command center in the event of a catastrophe.
If volunteer ambulance corps members are to continue to provide overnight and "some"
weekend service by themselves, what happens to those in need of EMS professionals
should no one be available due to a high rate of 911 calls? Other than from 6 a.m. to 6
p.m., our EMT coverage will be greatly reduced, possibly putting residents in harm's
way. So the question remains, what exactly does "some" mean?
Our city manager, Mr. Iocono is totally incorrect when stating, "There's a new spirit of
cooperation between the city and the hospital." What we are seeing is what happens
when a county party boss runs local political candidates, and is counsel to HUMC.
Can anyone say conflict of interest?
There's no new "spirit," Mr. Iocono. There is a giant steamroller with the letters "HUMC"
written on the sides driving through our city, taking ratable after ratable off our tax rolls.
And, Hackensack wouldn't be "financially strapped" if it wasn't the hub for Pay-to-Play; or
if it didn't have a politically connected city manager willing to jump through hoops for
those he serves, which should be the people of Hackensack, but instead are his political
cronies. With the profits that HUMC will reap, we are again looking at another pure case
of Pay-to-Play.
Leave Hackensack's EMS professionals in place. They've earned their right to be part of
our Fire Department and our taxpayers have earned the right to their topflight protection.
Best, Arlene Schatz
President, HTA
In reading your article about our EMS professionals, I cannot disagree more strongly
with our local government and city manager with regard to outsourcing most of
Hackensack's EMT activity to HUMC.
Entering into a contract with HUMC's choice of ambulance service from 6:00 AM - 6:00
PM to replace eight Hackensack EMS employees is exacting poor judgement in the
long run. These men are part of our Fire Department. Their jobs were created to assist
not only our residents, or anyone traveling through our city, but as support for their fellow
firefighters. To remove them from Hackensack's Fire Department is to remove a trained
unit from its command center in the event of a catastrophe.
If volunteer ambulance corps members are to continue to provide overnight and "some"
weekend service by themselves, what happens to those in need of EMS professionals
should no one be available due to a high rate of 911 calls? Other than from 6 a.m. to 6
p.m., our EMT coverage will be greatly reduced, possibly putting residents in harm's
way. So the question remains, what exactly does "some" mean?
Our city manager, Mr. Iocono is totally incorrect when stating, "There's a new spirit of
cooperation between the city and the hospital." What we are seeing is what happens
when a county party boss runs local political candidates, and is counsel to HUMC.
Can anyone say conflict of interest?
There's no new "spirit," Mr. Iocono. There is a giant steamroller with the letters "HUMC"
written on the sides driving through our city, taking ratable after ratable off our tax rolls.
And, Hackensack wouldn't be "financially strapped" if it wasn't the hub for Pay-to-Play; or
if it didn't have a politically connected city manager willing to jump through hoops for
those he serves, which should be the people of Hackensack, but instead are his political
cronies. With the profits that HUMC will reap, we are again looking at another pure case
of Pay-to-Play.
Leave Hackensack's EMS professionals in place. They've earned their right to be part of
our Fire Department and our taxpayers have earned the right to their topflight protection.
Best, Arlene Schatz
President, HTA
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