I live in San Jose and i don't know where Margret got her information from but our average EMS response time in San Jose is much less that 8 minutes....

Matt -- every time our mayor speaks, I think that she cannot get any dumber, but, ironically, she proves me wrong. In this case though, she may be right. Google around. You will find various sets of numbers indicating higher response times in SJ (depending one how the times are measured.)

"City officials say the police and fire department budgets have grown disproportionately over the years to about half of the city's budget......Without cuts to public safety, the city will have to cut other basic services, such as library services, regular park and street maintenance, planning staff and code inspectors among other things."

"We have become basically a paramedic health and safety department," said Kasperzak, who pointed out that cities like Campbell, Los Gatos and Los Altos save money by having private ambulances, instead of firefighters, respond to medical emergencies.

Councilman Mike Kasperzak is on the right track. Why are we paying these outrageous salaries to firefighters to respond to medical calls?

Mayor Abe-Koga......"It is important for the community to give us direction."

Web Link

USA,

"every time our mayor speaks, I think that she cannot get any dumber, but, ironically, she proves me wrong."

This is not by any definition irony -- only your own cynicism and bitterness.

"In this case though, she may be right." Hilarious. So NOT every time the mayor speaks? Now we're getting into irony.

People will soon realize how much down time there is in the fire department - very few significant fires anymore. Most of the
stations get 1-2 calls per day, and late at night there is very
little happening. Public safety departments staff for the worst
case scenario to the detriment of the functions people use most often.