Oakland Firefighters Raise Alarm over Budget Cuts as L.A. Burns: ‘We Have The Exact Same Problem Here’

The city of Oakland closed two fire stations this week and may close four more in February due to sweeping budget cuts city officials passed in December. As fires rage across Southern California, Oakland firefighters are stressing the importance of investing in public services — instead of cutting fire department funding in areas where it’s most needed.

Oakland announced a staggering $30 million in budget cuts for the Oakland Fire Department in December, to help make up for the city’s $129 million budget deficit. But for a fire department that’s already understaffed and under funded, those budget cuts could mean the difference between life and death for some citizens, Seth Olyer, vice president of Local 55, the union that represents Oakland firefighters, told National Review.

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Haley Strack

Haley Strack is a former staff writer at National Review.

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The city of Oakland closed two fire stations this week and may close four more in February due to sweeping budget cuts city officials passed in December. As fires rage across Southern California, Oakland firefighters are stressing the importance of investing in public services — instead of cutting fire department funding in areas where it’s most needed.

Oakland announced a staggering $30 million in budget cuts for the Oakland Fire Department in December, to help make up for the city’s $129 million budget deficit. But for a fire department that’s already understaffed and under funded, those budget cuts could mean the difference between life and death for some citizens, Seth Olyer, vice president of Local 55, the union that represents Oakland firefighters, told National Review.