Editor:

ECCFPD Board President Kevin Romick stated that “… even as we are forced to vote on what stations to close and how many firefighters to lay off. …”

What? When is the public sector going to get it? We don’t want stations closed and firefighters laid off. We just want parity with the private sector. Heaven forbid that they ask their workers to contribute more to their pensions (most private sector workers don’t even have pensions). I also can’t help wonder what indirect costs (administrative) are available for slashing before layoffs of firefighters are considered.

The recent elections across the country have shown that citizens want pension (and other benefits) reform in the public sector. Ever since the recession started, the private sector has asked their employees to do more with less and it is time that the public sector did the same.

Regarding the Heritage suspensions – thank-you to the school administration for stepping up and doing what is right, and to Judge Flinn for upholding the suspensions.

When I was a kid in the ’50s, if I got in trouble at school, the punishment at home was worse. And if I had vandalized the property at my high school, I most assuredly would have been expelled (not suspended) and sent to Juvenile Hall for my summer vacation. The prank-participating students at Heritage still got off easy.

Today, too many of the parents, like the ones who took the suspensions to court, are siding with their errant children. Young people who don’t understand that there needs to be consequences for their actions will have problems later on in the workforce and in the community.

For the seniors at Heritage who did not take part in “the prank,” you have my admiration and respect.

Ron Ulrici, Brentwood