New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“A peaceful protest dubbed “No More Blackouts” is being held by advocates of the New Bedford Fire Department at the Inauguration ceremony for the elected officials of New Bedford on Mon, Jan 6, 2020 at 6-9PM at The Zeiterion Theatre, 684 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA. The protest is coming shortly after the second documented death of a New Bedford resident in a house fire in less than 3 months, where the nearest station that could have responded was blacked out.
The “No More Blackouts” protest is being held at the inauguration in response to the re-election of Mayor Jon Mitchell, whom after serving as mayor of New Bedford for 8 years has not found a solution to the blackouts that would result in fully staffing and keeping open all fire stations around the clock.
Though 12 hour blackouts were originally initiated by former Mayor Scott Lang as a short-term response to fiscal constraints, under Mitchell the blackouts have not only continued, but he also made the decision to extend them to 24 hours. This decision made to the dismay of many residents and the New Bedford IAFF Local 841.
“The daily “Blacking Out” of fire apparatus has been an on going not endorsed by the members of Local 841. It has been a budgetary managing tool forced in place by a failure to fund an already understaffed department.” wrote former Local 841 Union President, Tom Carreiro, following the fatal fire on Coffin Avenue, “The allocation and assigning of funding lies solely in the corner office of City Hall.”
This protest also has the full support of the New Bedford IAFF Local 841 per the current Union President, Billy Sylvia.
Please if you believe public safety to be a top priority and want to see the blackouts end, join the protest in solidarity and show support to the New Bedford Fire Department.” – Renée Langley, Organizer
