Fire Hydrants & the City Budget

I must commend my fellow city nerd, the "LAFD Nerd" (usually Brian Humphrey) for creating an explanatory City Budget post that is exactly how I would have done it. True, they focus on the budget for the Fire Department, but his information can be applied to any department in terms of brown book/blue book. Check it out here.

But, as for this city nerd, I want to let everyone know that all those fire hydrants out there on the streets, the ones knocked over occasionally to create a geyser in the City - you won't find those in LAFD's budget. Nope, all the fire hydrants in the City are owned and maintained by the Department of Water & Power. On top of that, usually developers are required to install new ones when their development creates a large enough impact. Additionally, there is a maintenance fund set up through the City Council specifically to maintain & replace existing hydrants.

Good to know that it doesn't impact the LAFD's Budget, especially since it seems that every department is under the watchful, auditing eye of Controller Chick.

I'm sure you've heard by now that Laura Chick wants to phase out the fire fighters working as the true first responders at the LAFD 911 call center. They handle over 1000 calls a day, many of which require the fire fighter to explain how to provide emergency care over the phone for the first few minutes. This instruction can save lives in the few minutes before help arrives on the scene. I want to make sure when I dial 911 for a medical emergency, I get the absolute best trained operator. It's worth it to have a Los Angeles Fire Fighter answering that phone because I know they are the best there is.