I was once a supporter of your cause until I observed the behavior of some of your people at a 4th of July parade with my children. An HUMC ambulance was in the parade and as they passed, a group of HFD members and supporters began shouting obscenities at the crew in the HUMC ambulance, and also calling them scabs. This was done in front of a whole bunch of kids. Disgusting behavior at a family oriented parade in honor of this countries birthday. Hate to say it guys, but its time to put down the signs and move on, I have. I wish HUMC the best of luck as they now have my support.

mparisi says: I'm wondering about the following: What obligation does the city have if any to offer a ambulance services to its community? and where does that liability end and begin by outsourcing to the hospital? What happens when the person(s) in need want to go to another hospital other than HUMED? Will the New plan simply default every case to HUMED? Will the New plan be verifying insurance at the time of the call, in transit, or anytime before the person(s) enter the ER? What about the special cases such as the transportation of prisoners? How will that be handled.

Any paid service is better than a volunteer service. The only tragedy here is that volunteers are still putting people's lives in danger every night in Hackensack. If everyone put their energy into eliminating volunteer EMS in the state, this profession would take a huge step forward. We would all get paid more, have better benefits and probably have a pension system that mirrors that of police and fire. As long as there are people are willing to do this for free (for whatever reason, we may never know) we will be treated like crap.

As one of the first HFD EMT's in 1981, I can only say that these men are dedicated, and highly professional. With their response time, knowledge of the city, and experience, these would be the PROFESSIONALS that I would want to help me. Stay the course, it ain't over, and YOU WILL WIN. STAY SAFE BROTHERS.

Battalion Chief James Weiss
Newark Fire Dept.

Attention all Hackensack Residents,

On Monday, June 30th, in a show of SUPPORT and SOLIDARITY, ALL HACKENSACK RESIDENTS should join in the Informational Demonstration / March that will start at Foschini Park {just off of River Street and E. Salem Street}at 10:45am SHARP!!! The March will go from the Park to City Hall, then to Hackensack University Medical Center and back to the Park. Please arrive early.

Please visit this Website for updates.

god bless hackensack fire dept and the ems keep up the hard work i will be thinking about you brothers up here on cape cod everyday.
peace

As a city resident for the last 15yrs, I am absolutely horrified at the mayor and council planning to fire 8 HFD EMT's. Being a police officer, prior HPD, now BCPD, I only know first hand how amazingly dedicated and highly trained these 8 men are. I watched them do there magic many times, saving peoples lives. Their compassion never fails to amaze me, whether it's a homeless person or a car crash victim. I can honestly say, HFD/EMS are the best in Bergen County. It's so easy for politicians to make ignorant choices when most really don't know what it's like to do a really hard day's work like our HFD/EMS. HUMC-RENT-A-BLS is the biggest mistake the city can make, you have no clue what kind of money the city will have to pay in lawsuits for lack of care, ending in death! We the residents voted for you and this is how much you regard our safety, getting rid of our HFDEMS/BLS! KEEP HFD/EMS it not only effects the residents of Hackensack, but everyone else who passes through our city daily.....

I work as a paid EMT for a private service. My company retains 911 contracts for 10 towns yet house in only 4 locations, extending response times. We are not familiar with the areas and must locate our patient by GPS and maps (which are only useful if you know where you are at the moment you get called) if the destination is even listed. We respond blind, getting directions from dispatchers who call the patients for them, delaying care. We hire from outside the area; many reside outside a 20 mile radius to the town serviced. I have worked for this company approximately 5 years and still am only positive of the main roads and frequent flyers. If not for the GPS in our ambulance I'm sure I would be having greater difficulties getting to the hospital. Even with the GPS system we still get turned around and must "find" the main road before the GPS can give directions. Many of these directions are still incorrect. One must also remember that a private service must also generate an internal profit; this means making sacrifices. One of the main sacrifices made by private services is experience. Private services canvas EMT classes for new hires because they "come cheap" due to NO EXPERIENCE. I have been in this field for 16 years and find that many times I am training my 20 y/o partner from the drivers seat. Many do not drive due to insurance stipulations, and have approximately 1 month experience; the patient suffers SACRIFICES ARE MADE FOR PROFIT.

If these guys are so professional, how come some of them are wearing shorts while on the job? If memory serves, that is an OSHA violation.

It is a very sad commentary for the residents of the City of Hackensack, that the City Government is willing to eliminate an efficient, professional Basic Life Support ambulance system (with highly experienced and excellently trained staff), replacing it with a commercial entity with an unknown response time record, and EMT-B's of lesser experience level (some with accreditation so new the ink is still wet...) for the sake of what the press reports is political expediency.
I work with all types of basic level EMS.
The professionalism and compassion of HFD-EMS is well-known to be of the highest caliber, and an asset to the City.
Shame on you.

Great day on the news to save EMS 8. I believe that Channel 12 and 9 did an excellent job. The one speaker on channel 12 news has no idea what she is talking about. I don't even think she is a taxpayer. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BEFORE YOU SPEAK.

Good Luck to HFD-EMS Keep up the fight. Save the 8

Attention all Hackensack Residents,

Please copy and paste the link below into your browser and read the article that was published on Thursday, June 12, 2008.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/aroundnj/Kelly_Ferriero_a_key_player_in_cancer_center_construction.html



NEXT COUNCIL MEETING: JULY 8th @ 7pm!
BE THERE!

Heard you guys are out on another informational demonstration tonight. Sorry I can't be there, but I'm with you in spirit! Wish I could see the looks on their faces when they see those red shirts!!!

What's with this rumor that the 8's jobs might not be in jeopardy and that this deal might not be going down?

Can anyone shed light on this?

I think in light of the courage it took to put that ad in the paper, the supporters of this effort should make it a point to have a meal at Cubby's! I know I am, and not just because the food is good! They took a big chance, especially given the administration's penchant for retaliation.....

I would like to say sorry for all the spam messages that were on this site. I have been a problem for all yahoo guestbook’s. I have added a security to the site in the add entry. Thanks and SAVE THE 8

For all that think that Vanguard is going to give professional care better check the employment qualififcations that are as follows:
Emergency Medical Technician

Company Name Hackensack University Medical Center
Location Hackensack, NJ
Postion Type Full Time, 40hrs/week
Experience 0-3 Years Experience
Date Posted April 03, 2008 (reposted Apr 14)
Equal or better service you tell me?

ARTICLE I City Manager [Adopted by the Hackensack Improvement Commission (now City Council) 5-1-1933 by Ord. No. 204]
§ 3-1. Election by City Council; salary. [Amended 4-15-1974 by Ord. No. 1-74]

There shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the City Council a City Manager, who shall receive such salary as may be fixed by the annual Salary Ordinance. Editor's Note: See Ch. 38, Salaries and Compensation.

§ 3-2. Qualifications.

The City Manager shall not be a member of the City Council and need not be a resident of the City of Hackensack but must become a resident thereof within 30 days after his election and continue to be a resident during the duration of his period of service.

§ 3-3. Term of office; removal from office.

The City Manager shall hold office as long as he shall perform the duties of his office to the satisfaction of the City Council. He may be removed at any time by a resolution signed by a majority of the City Council, setting forth the reasons for his removal. His selection and removal shall not be for any political reason.

Calling all Hackensack Residents,

COUNCIL MEETING IS TONIGHT, MONDAY JUNE 2 @ 7pm

Mayor Meneses wants to see even more residents attend to the Council Meetings to tell him that WE WANT TO KEEP OUR FIRE-BASED EMS!! We should be expanding our FIRE-BASED EMS, not disbanding. We the residents of this Great City need to send this message to Mayor Meneses, the City Manager and the Council as well as voice our displeasure on their poorly made decisions, ie; The disbanding of our Fire Dept EMS, the purchasing of 91 Anderson Street for $2.5 million and the $100,000.00+ needed for renovations during a Budget Crisis, the Developer's Agreement the City has entered with HUMC that the Mayor and Council have no details about, or the whereabouts of a $1 million donation/payment received from HUMC that was left out of the signed agreement, and the list goes on...

We the residents and taxpayers are the ones footing the bills for these decisions. We are the only ones that can make the difference in decisions that are made, but are NOT in the best interest of the Residents, OUR interest. The time has come for us to take a stand!!

ALL RESIDENTS NEED TO UNITE, WE HAVE A VOICE AND OUR VOICE NEEDS TO BE HEARD!!!

Decisions on Public Safety, OUR SAFETY, should be voted on by Residents and Taxpayers. We are the ones that are going to be affected by these poorly made decisions for years to come, long after this administration is GONE.

Let's get this RIGHT!!!