PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE | BRIAN K. RICE

Taking a Stand

The common thread in our success in the fire service is something we talk about a lot on the union side -- Solidarity. Speaking with one voice in the fire service is our greatest strength and our greatest challenge. The CPF Executive Board and I listened to you and took on many challenges this year. We met these challenges successfully and have a clear direction for our future. Of all our legislative wins this year, getting our firefighters off the wall with AB 40 is one I am incredibly proud of. The hospitals fought us, but with your testimony and presence in the Capitol, the Legislature listened, and so did the Governor. The battle isn’t over, but AB 40 is a breakthrough for ambulance response and patient safety.

Additionally, we took firefighter cancer prevention one step further with AB 700. It sets up a research project through the University of California to identify specific markers for cancer in firefighters, with an eye toward prevention. The governor even put money in the budget to support this project. Cancer is still the biggest killer of our brother and sister firefighters, with half of the 35 names added to the California Firefighter Memorial Wall this year dying from job-related cancer. We are going to war with firefighter cancer, and we need all of you on the front lines.

I’d be remiss not to mention SB 623, which extended the post-traumatic stress presumption. We had hoped to make this a vehicle for adding a presumption for our 9-1-1 dispatchers, but we will continue to fight for them. We were also able to extend the sunset on the community paramedicine program with AB 767. This ensures the fire service has a seat at the table to deliver these programs and continue to engage the LEMSAs to protect our position.

As we look to the challenges that lay ahead, we will push for increased staffing and continue to fight privatization like we are in Santa Barbara County. We will support recruitment efforts alongside Cal-JAC, especially with paramedic recruitment and training. One of the greatest challenges ahead is homelessness. Our firefighters are on the front lines of this fight, and we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. With the governor’s CARE Court plan, firefighters will be in a position to ensure that patients are directed toward services they need and help people get off the streets. CPF fought hard to ensure that CARE Court’s advisory included a frontline firefighter.

Every fight we wage at the Capitol on behalf of our members benefits the public we serve, as well as our profession. There will always be a new battle or fight to protect what we’ve fought so hard for. As long as we are able to stand together and take these challenges on with a united voice, we will be a powerful force promoting public safety and the safety of our 35,000 members.