Mayor wrong to equate other jobs with firefighters

My name is Nick Garcia. I am a firefighter in McCordsville, Ind., and a former resident of Sterling. I grew up in Sterling, and my parents still live there. I am writing in response to the following comment made by Sterling Mayor Amy Viering in regard to the recent budget vote:

“I do not support raises at this time. When the firefighters refused to negotiate with the city on the pay raise, the die was cast. The city has a legal obligation to abide by the contract. So voting against the budget is simply inappropriate. At this time, I feel other members of our city family work just as hard as the firefighters. They should not be treated differently. ... Therefore, I support the budget as presented.”

Mayor Viering, if you think that other city employees work just as hard as your firefighters, you are sadly mistaken. I think maybe you should spend some quality time with those firefighters and get a feel for what they go through. I am sure they would welcome your visit, and allow you to experience a little taste of what they have to go through, because obviously you have no clue.

You should take the opportunity to try on the 50 to 60 pounds of gear we wear on a fire scene. Try putting that gear on and handling a charged hose line.

You also must realize this would be performed in a controlled environment – not the extremely high-stress environment firefighters perform in every day. There is a reason that heart attacks are the No. 1 killer of firefighters.

Mayor Viering, there is nobody in your community who works as hard as those firefighters. Not only have you put the safety of Sterling residents in jeopardy, but you have broken up a family – the brotherhood of firefighters – as well. You do not understand the sacrifices we make, the time we spend away from our families, the emotional, physical, mental and psychological effect this job has. I feel the only individuals who work as hard as firefighters are members of our U.S. military, in which I also served.