The views/opinion expressed in this article are those of the writer only and does not represent the views/opinions of Report Annapolis News
"A recent post by Alderwoman O’Neill caught my attention. She stated that “safety is the foundation of a thriving community” and that she’s gained insight into the challenges our fire department faces with staffing and equipment. She went on to say that, in her second term, she plans to put safety “front and center.”
That’s an interesting position—especially now. For nearly her entire term on the Public Safety Committee, both the Fire Chief and IAFF Local 1926 have consistently raised the alarm about the department’s staffing and the urgent need for an additional medic unit. These aren’t new concerns. They’ve been brought to the table repeatedly through committee discussions, formal correspondence, and public testimony.
Despite that, Alderwoman O’Neill and her colleagues on the Finance Committee previously said they didn’t believe another medic unit was necessary. That statement implied that our department was adequately staffed—an assessment that contradicted both the data and the experiences of the men and women responding to calls in this city every day.
It’s hard not to notice how perspectives shift when public scrutiny grows. Now, with fire department staffing finally becoming a community talking point, suddenly it’s being recognized as a challenge. But the question remains: where was this urgency over the past three and a half years?
To date, neither the Alderwoman nor anyone from the city administration has reached out to the union to have the conversation that’s been “promised” time and again. The city has said it’s willing to sit down and discuss solutions—yet that conversation still hasn’t happened.
Public safety shouldn’t be a campaign slogan or a second-term priority. It should have been front and center from day one. Every minute that goes by without action puts residents and first responders at greater risk.
There are leaders who understand this because they’ve lived it. Ken Vincent, the challenger in Ward 2, is one of them. With a career spanning firefighting, EMS, and law enforcement, he doesn’t need to be reminded that public safety isn’t a political convenience—it’s a daily responsibility. For these reasons, IAFF Local 1926 has proudly endorsed Ken Vincent’s campaign for Ward 2. We believe his firsthand experience, proven leadership, and understanding of public safety priorities make him the clear choice to move Annapolis forward.
The people of Annapolis deserve elected officials who act with urgency before the headlines and hashtags demand it."
Alderwoman O'Neil responded to the President Pilat's commentary with the following:
"The Fire Union President is not being factual and conveniently forgetting everything that I have voted for to support our hardworking Fire Fighters:
- A 28% increase in the AFD budget in the last 4 years from $21.6 million in FY2023 to $27.6 million in FY2026.
- A new $1.5 million fire boat.
- For FY2026, the council fully funded the Mayor’s proposed Fire Department budget, plus 4 extra expenditures on the Fire Chief's "wish list"
1) An IT position - I rallied support for this position with my council colleagues because I wanted our first responders doing their primary job instead of being bogged down with IT Duties; AFD had 4 staff members working on this and adding this position frees them up to do their primary jobs.
2) Hire a staff member to manage the logistics of AFD, from staffing to ordering supplies - I voted to support this.
3) The Chief asked for funding for a strategic plan to determine proper staffing and the need for an additional EMT unit, the cost of another unit and how to fund it - I voted to support this.
The additional EMT unit was not in the Fire Department's FY 2026 presented budget nor submitted as an additional request from the Fire Chief, so to say that I do not support the Fire Department because one item was not passed, an item that was not included in the Administration’s budget, is wrong and shows lack of understanding of the city budget and council.
I would urge the readers to watch the April 24th budget hearing regarding the Fire Department and see for yourself the discussion.
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/02P0vTaJclg?si=_OjfwdBVG-VMbgMz"
The views/opinion expressed in this article are those of the writer only and does not represent the views/opinions of Report Annapolis News
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