ALERT!!!

(From the Spook who Sits by the Door as told to E.R.A.S.E.)

Battalion Fire Chief John M. Lee, who was in charge of the big Mt. Pleasant fire in March 2008 is planning to retire effective June 22nd, 2008. (This is interesting, given the fact that there has yet to be any results reported of the supposed investigation mandated of the Fire Department on that fire.) He can be heard giving orders on the audio record of the fire, found in the website http://www.dcfd.com/ in the archives section, March 2008.

It was clear that he was not using his grease pencil and chart to record the appropriate process for determining where the fire danger is and the location of where each firefighting unit is located and their proper task. Had he been using it, he would never have misdirected Captain Coleman – one DCFD’s only two Black female Captains – away from the basement, rather than allowing her to proceed in thoroughly checking out that location – where the fire damage was ultimately discovered, too late.

We urge you to check out earlier comments in above posts accusing Captain Coleman of being guilty of not assuming Battalion Chief Lee’s responsibility and let E.R.A.S.E. know if you think this is a coincidence – or could it be something more sinister?

But, here’s more…
Fire Department chainsaws – four to five – have been stolen in recent days, from Truck 12, we believe. Their loss was blamed on another black captain.

The Washington Post reported that more than $3 million has been cut from the Fire Department’s budget. That’s just $3 million less available to be ripped off by carpetbaggers feasting off of our strapped taxpayers.

E.R.A.S.E. plans to shine its next spotlight on DCFD’s training academy. We reported earlier that over $600,000 of the taxpayers dollars have been wasted on paying for a training program to be conducted by the University of Maryland. It is a program that was previously conducted internally and could easily have been contracted through the University of the District of Columbia. But those dollars have been sent instead to Chief Rubin’s favorite training spot and depository for our tax dollars, the University of Maryland. Possibly a conflict of interest? Inquiring minds want to know…

It is further rumored that 15 or more recruits were phased out of the training program because they did not pass a required test where they were given more than a normal volume of information to digest/learn in a matter of weeks where normally they should have had months. They were also coerced to sign an agreement that if they did not maintain at least a 75% grade point average they would resign. 98% of these recruits were DC residents of color. This is just the tip of the iceberg. More information about this notorious, infamous training academy is forthcoming. Please stay tuned….

Last, but not least, is the fact that Dennis Rubin’s absence from his job and his recent travels are indicative of his having taken E.R.A.S.E. up on it’s suggestion that he take steps to seek out a new job elsewhere.

We encourage all of you interested in seeing justice prevail please take it on yourselves to email Channel 4’s Ask the Mayor segment aired each Thursday morning at 6:45 am at fenty@nbc4.com to ask him how long he plans to ignore the rampant racism, graft, corruption and nepotism in DC’s Fire Department; or when we will see an official report on the causes of the suspicious Mt. Pleasant fire last March 2008;

Remember, they can only do what we let them; we will only get what we are organized to take.

A message from E.R.A.S.E.:

Friends, comrades:

This is a call and reminder to folks asking for your support and action - we are asking all possible to send an email (fenty@nbc4.com) or call and put in your inquiry to the Ask Mayor Fenty segment they do each Thursday morning requesting him to respond to the problems in the DCFD including:
rampant graft and corruption, including illegally accepting federal funds for providing services in which they are not compliant;
insiders selling off fire department equipment to other jurisdictions and entities at the expense of DC taxpayers;
the culture of racism, nepotism, sexism, homophobism and cronyism that is allowed to fester at the highest levels, and results in costly EEOC cases - approximately 50 or more a year costing taxpayers millions;
specifically, what does Mayor Fenty plan to do about these conditions?. There are many more specifics on the blog, abolishracism.blogspot.com which we urge you to please take a look at, and urge others to check is out also. You can find specifics and negative attacks and comments by the opposition. We also encourage you to make comments yourself, and consider joining E.R.A.S.E., which just requires taking action of any kind against racism and exploitation - sharing information, commenting on the blog, sending the request to channel 4, passing on and/or posting flyers, attending rallies, etc. We especially urge you to comment on and otherwise log in support for the Vanessa Coleman case, a black female Captain who is being unfairly targeted for blame in the Mt. Pleasant fire where we have clear evidence that she was not in charge - while they remain true to their pattern of racist, sexist actions.

Our demands are basic:
- establish a citizen's review board;
- convene a congressional inquiry; and
- dismiss Chief Rubin, Lieutenant Lehan (Engine 30), Schultz and the rest of the deputy chiefs who live in Maryland.

We have mounted several successful rallies that have grown with each one, the last one on Thursday, May 1st in front of the FD headquarters.

We are gearing up to send teams to visit both city council and congressional members. Stay tuned...

Thanks in advance for your support and help in cracking the jaws of racism!