Letter to the Editor:  Why we do need the GC Police & Fire Departments by Francine Ryan, Candidate for Village Trustee representing the East

One of the prime reasons for moving to Garden City is the services the town offers – services that are critical to our safety and well being. The GC Police and Fire Departments have dedicated professionals – and I’ll bet that everyone reading this has been the beneficiary of their prompt, caring and professional response when a problem presents itself.  Thank God for our police and fire fighters.

Unfortunately for our residents, instead of exhibiting a desire to have an honest discussion of the issues Mr. Donnelly has charted a course lined with deceit and misinformation. Regarding the important topics of the Police and Fire Departments, this is an issue I elaborated well before Mr. Donnelly’s postcard mailing and energetic efforts to mislead residents about my position on both GC Police and Fire Departments. I will reiterate what I have already proclaimed prior to Mr. Donnelly's perversions of my opinions and ideas:  

1. RE: POLICE: I actually said (in the context of raising new revenues for the village) the fact that when someone needs to be taken to the hospital from Garden City, they now go in a Nassau County ambulance and their insurance company is billed for that trip and the monies go to Nassau County. If we have the police and/or fire departments of Garden City perform that service to our residents (every Long Beach paid firefighter is also trained in EMS, for example), Garden City would be able to receive that money from the person’s insurance provider. I support our police and the heroism they perform on a daily basis. (I have been candid throughout this process, as evidence please visit, http://www.ryanfortrustee.com/more_from_francine)

2. RE: THE FIRE DEPARTMENT: The rash action Mr. Donnelly took when he voted to close our firehouse at night without doing the “Community Risk Assessment” the ICMA Report demanded means Mr. Donnelly approved putting you, your home and family at risk. The fact is more than half of all fires happen at night and for every extra minute it takes to get a fire truck to your home, a fire doubles in size.  

More of Mr. Donnelly's inaccurate and misleading statements can be found here, http://gardencity.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/firefighters-compelled-to-address-trustees-comments   

I’ve given proactive ideas to increase productivity, efficiency and revenues and hope to have an honest discourse about our opinions and ideas on how to improve our Village. I look forward to that as we approach Election Day on this Tuesday, January 29th, from 4:30pm to 9:00pm at Stewart School. 

- Francine Ryan, Candidate for Village Trustee Representing the East