Restaurants Reject Firefighters’ IOUs
California’s budget impasse and reliance on IOUs to pay bills has taken a toll on at least one battle-weary contingent of firefighters in Contra Costa County.
Two restaurants turned away a group of hungry state firefighters Monday night because they did not want to accept state-drawn vouchers.
Mel Deardorff, chief of the San Ramon Fire Protection District, said he had tried to arrange for the purchase of 125 meals after firefighters battled a 400-acre blaze on Mount Diablo.
A Denny’s restaurant and a Lyons restaurant, both in nearby Danville, declined because of the reluctance to accept IOUs.
“That was kind of like the straw that broke the camel’s back, as far as this budget thing goes,” Deardorff said. “I got the guys fed. The Red Cross fed them. But I was extremely angry and frustrated come Tuesday morning.”
Deardorff said management representatives from both chain restaurants later contacted him and blamed their initial refusal on a misunderstanding and the late hour of the request, when no one in authority was available to authorize the transaction.
“They said, ‘Hey, it was a mistake. We’re sorry. Be assured, chief, we’ll feed your crews anytime,’ ” Deardorff said.
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