SECRETARY-TREASURER’S DESK | MIKE LOPEZ
Significant Strides in a Challenging Time
From the COVID-19 pandemic that struck our country in early March to the historic megafires that continue to ravage our state, it is no secret that we are living in a uniquely challenging time. Answering the call of duty has taken on a new meaning, and our members remain the first line of defense through it all. I want to thank you for your continued work to protect California citizens.
This pandemic has directly impacted the lives of our members and our families. Firefighters throughout the state are experiencing new stresses of contact exposure, the risk of putting our families in harm’s way and even the grief of losing a few of our own to the virus. As your day-to-day jobs have changed to adapt to a global pandemic, I want to remind you to take extra safety precautions when you’re off duty as well.
Keeping yourselves and your families safe shouldn’t be up for debate – following state orders to wear proper PPE and keeping your distance when out in public protects you and your families from risk of exposure. The uncertainties of this virus, once contracted, can affect even the healthiest among us. We can’t lose another one of our own. The health and safety of California firefighters is your union’s highest priority.
These past few years of battling California’s historic wildfires and the current public health crisis has proved our profession is more crucial than ever. Yet, resources for departments around the state continue to be spread extraordinarily thin, making it harder to do the job you were trained to do.
Major reductions in tax revenue have forced public officials to make budget cuts that directly impact the quality of your job and ability to keep civilians safe. Firefighters are being pushed harder than ever now, and we know that a cut to public safety is not an option. The severe lack of funding at the local, county and state level puts communities at risk. With major cutbacks comes dramatically longer response times to fire and medical emergencies, when every second matters, but I don’t need to tell you that.
As firefighters, we know the importance of keeping public safety fully funded and EMS services intact, but it is our job to inform the public. Now is the time to organize and educate your communities about the impact funding has on the quality of services you provide. Make the calls, meet with elected officials, activate your membership to make your voices heard. The stronger we are at the local level, the more power we have at the state level to impact the decisions made for your job, your health, your safety and your retirement.
Many of you know that state and local mandates restricting in-person mass gatherings forced the postponement of the 47th Biennial CPF Convention, originally set to happen this past April. As these mandates remain in place, the CPF Executive Board made the difficult, but necessary decision to hold this year’s convention “virtually.” It is our constitutional obligation to meet bi-annually to conduct essential business and elections so that members can set CPF’s vision for the next two years. Our staff is working to ensure that, while we may not be in person, all CPF Constitution and By-Law requirements are met and we can move forward with the necessary business of our proud union.
Finally, I want to thank all CPF staff for their hard work through this public health crisis. Our office has been closed, forcing staff to work remotely, but their commitment to our membership remains strong.
We are making significant strides forward as we navigate through these unprecedented times. We will get through this, together.