Goes into effect tomorrow, Sept. 17; Board supports LAFCO consolidation of fire departments
By Daniel Borsuk
With the clock ticking, a battalion of upset Contra Costa County Fire District fire fighters remotely protested before the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors that they refuse to obey a “draconian” August 13 Contra Costa Health Services order requiring county first responders to be fully vaccinated or face termination.
The county health order that goes into effect Friday, Sept. 17 was drafted by Contra Costa County Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano and adopted by the board of supervisors in a closed session because of its employment ramifications for many veteran fire fighters and sheriff deputies and other first responders who might refuse to take the vaccine for personal, political or religious reasons.
Dr. Farnitano claims the tough vaccine employment order for first responders arises at a time the number of COVID-19 patients in county hospitals is on the rise.
But a check with the Contra Costa Health Department’s COVID-19 website shows there are 154 COVID-19 patients in county hospitals. That is down 9.3 percent over the past two weeks, the CCCHD website showed.
In addition, the county health department reported 2,421 active COVID-19 cases. That is down 45.9 percent from two weeks ago.
Nearly 85 percent of Contra Costa residents are vaccinated, county health department data shows. The national vaccination rate is 73.9 percent.
The new vaccine employment edict applies to fire department and sheriff office personnel. There were no personnel from the sheriff’s office who protested against Dr. Farnitano’s vaccination/employment order.
Nearly 40 firefighters, many with more than 20 years in service, from all ranks including engineers, firefighters, and captains, protested against the county health officer’s order.
“This is an infringement of our freedom of choice,” said Collin Spencer, a fire fighter/paramedic.
Upon opposing the vaccine mandate, fire fighter Nick Sandburg, a father of two with a “pregnant wife” commented, “I don’t think the vaccine is effective. I oppose the vaccine mandate. Just give us universal testing.”
“None of us took this lightly,” said District 4 Supervisor Karen Mitchoff. “This is about protecting the public.”
District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen was more direct commenting “I am really shocked about the misinformation that our fire fighters have about the COVID-19 vaccine. Somewhere there is a big disconnect.”
It’ll be interesting what the fire fighters will do when the Sept. 17 deadline arrives. The county could be in a major fire crisis if large numbers of well trained, experienced fire fighters are let go especially during the start of the county’s peak fire season.
In the past month, there were 206 vegetation fires that CCCFD responded to and in one day there were seven structure fires, reported Contra Costa County Fire Department Chief Louis Brousard III.
Board Supports LAFCO Consolidation of Fire Departments
Supervisors, serving as commissioners of the Contra Costa County Fire District, pushed along on a 5-0 vote to have the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Committee (LAFCO) to act on consolidating the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the financially struggling East Contra Costa Fire Protection District.
ECCFD board member Joe Young told supervisors he will oppose the consolidation at the district’s board meeting on Sept. 16 because the consolidated district will continue to inadequately fund fire services in Oakley, Brentwood, and Discovery Bay. Young not elaborate at the supervisors’ meeting.
“There are a lot of details that have yet to be addressed on consolidation,” admitted CCCFPD Fire Chief Broussard. “We’ll bring leaders from both organizations to make this a successful annexation.”
While giving Board Chair Diane Burgis credit for being a key player in the merger of the two districts, District 1 Supervisor John Gioia said the newly enlarged fire district will draw fire protection upgrades especially with equipment and personnel once “millions of dollars of Proposition X sales tax funds” pour into the district. Gioia was a big backer for the Prop. X ballot measure to appear on last November’s election ballot.
A proposal to consolidate the Rodeo-Hercules Fire District into the enlarged CCCFPD was not considered by the supervisors. That proposal was dropped.
Jane says
This is totally unacceptable and unconstitutional. You have no right to force people of this county to be vaccinated.. What an infringement on our rights..
STOP THE NONSENSE. You will be sued. Who do you think you are?
Certainly shades of 1939, German fascism . Disgusting behavior.
Ed says
Dry well said
Matt Taylor says
Two weeks to stop the spread
19 months later the government is forcing MANDATE to control and discriminate. T-CELL IMMUNE LIVES MATTER. EL SALVADOR is handing free covid bags with vitamins.and ivermectin to the people.
while the USA hinders cures. FUBAR
Matt Taylor says
The fact is vaccine is not approved as of yet. And only one is future approved.
Who is the H.R., Human Resources, to implement this draconian order? Eric Holder?
Federal Grover is asleep at the wheel. He couldn’t stay awake during this meeting where Lives Matter.
Matt Taylor says
A Communist organization tagged the steps of our court house on July the 4th 2020. Today Contra Costa County is implementing the China model
Katie hunter says
“One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws” -MLK Jr.
As I stated last week during the BOS meeting in support of CCCFD’s opposition – the role of government- its MOST prudent RESPONSIBILITY is to protect our RIGHTS. Mandating employees, such as our local FFs, to put something in THEIR bodies because you say so, because you pay their paychecks, because you mandate it, is not only disgustingly wrong and a horrific over reach of power but shameful. I am shocked by this boards out right disregard for the group’s request to have personal choice and not be divided and treated like second class citizens. Have we not learned anything from our history that whenever there has been two classes of people, such as vax or unvax, black or white, Nazi or Jew that the results have been disgraceful? Divided and labeled, pegged against one another.
The board’’soutright disregard of their rights, means that they will have no problem one day disregarding yours. They have the audacity to think that they know what is better for people, than what someone chooses for themself. Pretentious and a complete abuse of power.
Not one, NOT ONE citizen in this county spoke up during the meeting in support of the mandate or
terminate but over 25 called in with complete disapproval, and still the board insists that their decision best not be challenged! Absolute corruption of the power bestowed to them by the people, by the very constituents they took an oath to serve.
This is NOT a fight about the vaccine, this is a fight over government/employers not having the right to OUR bodies, to choose as they see fit, to say THEY know what is best over what an individual chooses for themselves.
Take two steps back and look at truly what precedent is being set. Sure, you agree with and believe in the efficacy of the vaccine currently in question, but what happens in the future when you are on the opposite side? Or your grand babies are, when their place of employment requires something you disagree with but your current actions set the stage for eliminating their choice to choose, their freedom, their right. What happens then? This is not about vaccination, this is about protecting individual rights above all else. Provide accurate information, from multiple perspectives and let the people decide.
Supervisor Mitchoff says it is a matter of public health, well she is sentencing the community to a rapid decrease in public health services if the collective experience of this group is terminated. Perhaps after a few academies in a few years, they will recover the numbers but the morale and experience of seasoned captains, firefighters, engineers and chiefs will be lost and can never be replaced. And the citizens will ultimately suffer. As a tax payer, homeowner, and mother in this community, when I call in an emergency you better be damn well certain I want the quickest response for my baby, my family and any risk of losing these front liners when you are saying it is a forced Jab or your Job is despicable. They have kept us safe during this entire debacle, face danger daily, and run towards it when most, if not all of the Board of Supervisors, would run away. I support letting them choose so we don’t lose any more of these employees for their power grab. And as Ghandi famously stated “Civil disobedience becomes a sacred duty when the state becomes lawless or corrupt.” Thank you and be well.
Sue says
Hello Katie
I am a Los Angeles City Firefighter. There is a large group of us who are in the same situation and share your same concerns. I just read your post and wanted to reach out to you. I have some questions to ask you. What is the best way to reach you?
Sue says
Katie
Please feel free to call me.
213-718-9461
Mandy Fard says
Are we sure that the vaccine is not going to cause problems long term? hazards we don’t know about… Just wondering. I think this mandate may cause many employees to seek entrepreneurship and I think we may see a rise in new businesses. Just a wild guess…
Skip says
Well said Katie and other freedom respecting souls. The division creeping in is loss of individual Rights to choose for ones self. In regards to their own body versus the edicts from the collective body. Mob rule. Not Law..
Skip says
After reading a second time the post, I find it amusing Candace Anderson being “shocked about the misinformation.” that sounds like a mainstream media fear porn mocking bird line of their big Pharma sponsers. Second in power next to the banksters who rule us. Check it out yourself. Another good line is Vaccine hesitancy, how about, many do not trust Big Pharama corporate power. Wake up and see the deception of Covid-19: The Great Reset Perhaps it is not even about the Stab.
Danielle Taylor says
You mean to tell me you are going to force vaccination on first responders, who worked throughout the entire pandemic?! They were good enough last year, everyone called them “heroes, essential, brave” when there was no vaccine.. but now they face losing their jobs and are looked down upon for declining. What happened to medical freedom, bodily autonomy, my body my choice?! People who are vaccinated can still spread and contract covid… the county, state, federal government, your employer etc. should not be able to make medical decisions for you. Freedom before anything else, freedom to choose! Have we learned so little from history and what happens when society is segregated into two classes. “Your papers, please”… I stand with the men and women of the Contra Costa Fire District.. thank you for your bravery and standing up to tyranny.
Matt Taylor says
Vaers =Vaccine Adverse Event Report has been updated. I beg the board of supervisors to reconsider the mandate to vaccinate everyone in Contra Costa County. Nuremberg 2.0 should be considered in your decision to move forward with mandate. If you are incentivizing payment of $100.00 as bounty on unvaccinated to get vaccinated ,is the board of supervisors also getting payment? Where is this reward money coming from?
FDA put a halt to stop boosters until 8th month waiting period because of science analyst world wide. FDA does not have a perfect record of public safety. This mandate puts all lives at risk. This board has already committed a unlawful act in presenting this mandate. Shame on everyone of you who voted in this unconstitutional act of Absolute Power