LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Toledo’s 911 dispatchers play key role

3/23/2014

No one needs to tell the public that Toledo needs structural repairs. But your March 8 editorial “Fiscal flip-flopping” seemed to be mostly a cheap shot at Toledo’s 911 operators.

Toledo’s 911 police and fire dispatchers are a critical structural part of the city’s safety forces. Making sure the first call in any emergency reaches a clear and steady voice on the other end of the phone is not a luxury — it is a matter of life and death.

The city’s 911 communication operation is more than a dozen dispatching jobs short. These high-skill jobs cannot be filled by someone walking in off the street. Consequently, our members are required to spend more time on the job and less time at home with their families.

They do this because they are professionals who are committed to serving the public. They know the community is depending on them to be there all the time.

The Blade’s bricks-and-mortar take on Toledo’s needs will not lead to what you call a “credible fiscal blueprint for the city’s future” in a 21st century innovation and service economy. Mayor D. Michael Collins and many people on City Council understand that investing in the city’s work force is not only the right thing to do but also the smart thing to do.

Our union is committed to working with the administration to continue to provide Toledo with the most efficient public services possible. We believe strong public services are the foundation that economic development ultimately depends on.

DON CZERNIAK

PresidentLocal 7 American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees South Reynolds Road