Providence firefighters mock mayor in ‘help wanted’ signs
By Kirsten Glavin
@kirstenglavin
PROVIDENCE, RI – Providence Firefighters took their frustrations over low staffing out in a creative way, Wednesday. New signs were held at the city council finance committee meeting, reading “Help wanted for position of fire chief.”
Qualifications were listed as bullet points, and included ‘Working under a budget commission, ‘efficiently disregarding public safety to make a political point,’ and ‘running a department with less manpower.’
"It points out the mayor’s not really looking for a fire chief. He’s looking for someone who’s going to push his agenda. Which is to sort of decimate the fire department,” Kevin Donoghue, a retired 26-year veteran of the Providence Fire Department said.
Donoghue was the only one who could speak about the controversial propaganda. Others kept quiet, telling ABC-6 News they didn’t want their names attached to it in fear of losing their jobs.
Mayor Elorza is depicted on the sign, holding a puppet. Donoghue explained it resembles the Mayor trying to control the department by looking to hire a puppet fire chief.
"I think that’s what the fire department feels that that’s what he’s looking for as a fire chief. Someone that is going to be hand–moved and told what to do,” Donoghue said.
The department has been angered in recent weeks by low staffing and lack of leadership. Chief Cunha retired four months ago, followed by then assistant chief, Scott Mello, who retired Wednesday.
"The fire department is essentially leaderless. There is nobody with any fire experience that’s running the day–to–day operations,” said the firefighter’s union President, Paul Doughty.
The mayor released the following statement Wednesday morning, in response to leadership concern: “The union president’s attempt to incite panic is a gross mischaracterization of the state of the department and the priorities of the administration."
When ABC-6 asked for the Mayor’s press person for his response to the controversial signs Thursday night, a statement was never given.
