sws4420
04-17-2005, 02:41 PM
What difference does it make what race a firefighter is? Why are a lot of blacks more racist than whites? Why are they the only ones allowed to cry about it? I'm going to sue the record industry because there aren't more white rap artists. I watched Black Forum this morning and realized these people make a racial issue out of every god damned thing that happens to them. Could it be that minorites just don't want to fight fires?
SCHENECTADY -- The city took an early step toward diversifying the ranks of its fire department Thursday when it held an informational meeting to pitch a career in firefighting to minority residents.
Even though it might take years before there is any significant change in the all-white department, city and fire officials said they hoped to at least spark interest in the career among qualified minority applicants.
The recruitment push was prompted when City Councilman Joseph Allen sharply criticized the city and Fire Chief Robert Farstad earlier this year for, he said, not doing enough to encourage minorities to join the department.
The department, now 117 strong, has had only two black firefighters in its history, and the last one was laid off in 1995. The problem was made more apparent early last month when the city hired seven white firefighters from a list of applicants that included no minorities.
About 20 people of all races listened at the Carver Community Center while fire officials guided them through the process of applying for the civil service job, taking the test and described for them the life of a firefighter.
Before the city can hire minority rescuers, Farstad said, they need to get on the list of qualified applicants.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=347005&category=SCHENECTADY&BCCode=LOCAL&newsdate=4/1/2005
SCHENECTADY -- The city took an early step toward diversifying the ranks of its fire department Thursday when it held an informational meeting to pitch a career in firefighting to minority residents.
Even though it might take years before there is any significant change in the all-white department, city and fire officials said they hoped to at least spark interest in the career among qualified minority applicants.
The recruitment push was prompted when City Councilman Joseph Allen sharply criticized the city and Fire Chief Robert Farstad earlier this year for, he said, not doing enough to encourage minorities to join the department.
The department, now 117 strong, has had only two black firefighters in its history, and the last one was laid off in 1995. The problem was made more apparent early last month when the city hired seven white firefighters from a list of applicants that included no minorities.
About 20 people of all races listened at the Carver Community Center while fire officials guided them through the process of applying for the civil service job, taking the test and described for them the life of a firefighter.
Before the city can hire minority rescuers, Farstad said, they need to get on the list of qualified applicants.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=347005&category=SCHENECTADY&BCCode=LOCAL&newsdate=4/1/2005