Bid to Transfer Fire Protection Assailed

Sparking vehement opposition from Alhambra’s top officials, the city’s firefighters union has launched an effort to place a measure on a future ballot that would transfer the municipality’s fire protection to Los Angeles County.

Alhambra Firefighters Assn. officials, who notified the city they intend to begin collecting citizens’ signatures needed to put such a charter amendment to the voters, said Monday the change to county service would mean better--as well as cheaper--fire and paramedic service for the city.

But City Manager Julio Fuentes calls the move nothing less than a Christmas present for the Los Angeles County and Alhambra firefighters. He said the move would lead either to less service or an increase in the $7 million city costs because county firefighters earn more money.

“The bottom line is they want to make more money and have better chances for promotion. That is why they’re doing it,” he said. “Anybody who votes for this will create a nightmare for Alhambra.”

Frank Caterinicchio, a consultant for the Alhambra Firefighters Assn. said any monies saved by the switch to county would be used for the police department under the ballot measure. “The only thing that will be different is firefighters’ uniforms,” he said. Caterinicchio said the association hopes the council will make the change and avoid the need for the union to press for a special election.

Alhambra Councilwoman Barbara Messina calls the idea of just handing over city assets to another body pure madness. “We are not about to hand over our firehouses to the county.”