The firefighters union in Philadelphia has blamed a child's death on the city's brownout policy -- temporary closings of fire stations. An Aug. 7 fire took the life of a 12-year-old child in Philadelphia, and firefighters union officials blamed the brownout for the death. This follows a similar experience in San Diego. On July 20, a 2-year-old boy choked on a gumball. One fire engine at the closest station was out of service because of the cutbacks. Frank De Clercq, president of the local firefighters union, said that a firefighter might have been able to save the boy. Across the nation, San Diego, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Sacramento, and Philadelphia have inaugurated brownouts because of budget deficits. Unions are resisting.
The firefighters union in Philadelphia has blamed a child's death on the city's brownout policy -- temporary closings of fire stations. An Aug. 7 fire took the life of a 12-year-old child in Philadelphia, and firefighters union officials blamed the brownout for the death. This follows a similar experience in San Diego. On July 20, a 2-year-old boy choked on a gumball. One fire engine at the closest station was out of service because of the cutbacks. Frank De Clercq, president of the local firefighters union, said that a firefighter might have been able to save the boy. Across the nation, San Diego, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Sacramento, and Philadelphia have inaugurated brownouts because of budget deficits. Unions are resisting.