James

Don't get me started, Firefighters themself are hero's.The people running the dept. should all be fired. First of all in regaurds to Frank Ricci, its great he has tried so hard. The reality is, we all have are limitation. Could you imagine him taking his whole dept down the wrong path because he miss read a sign or orders.The real problem is he would be putting lives at risk. Maybe he wants to pay the text book reader to be by his side 24/7. The reason I am down on the department as a whole is my tax dollars being spent on all of the overtime. It is insane, put them all on salary like teachers. Put someone incharge to put out fires when they are small, before they destroy whole neighborhoods. I am not a firefighter but come on, with the technogly we have today you could have computors montior sattalites and signal when there is a fire where there shouldn't be, and dispatch a chopper to put it out before it got out of controll. Or if it is to hot of a fire to make water drops, because it evaporates or its too windy for the water to hit the target. why don't they use water bladders or like big water ballons? The unions won't let that happen. So in the mean time we spend a fortune on overtime to fight these fires and still people lose their houses our insurance rates keep going up or get cancelled.Take away the overtime and it would stop! You could pay for the technolgy because you wouldn't need but maybe, half of the fire stations and man power. You could add water dropping choppers to the force. And while you are tring to cut tax spending put the police dept on salary as well. The wasted money is insane.How many men does it take to screw in that light bulb? I see the police chases on TV...Thanks for your time

Monday, April 13, 2009 at 12:19 PM  

Paul Rever

Since the Obama amdinsitration has authorized open season on Catholics without penalty. This situation reminds me a of religious joke: For hundreds of years a catholic was told they would go to hell if they ate meat on Friday: Then the church changed the rules... Whould this now mean all those that wentt to hell get out now? The unfortunate thing about Affirmative Action is when and if we as anation come to our senses and change the rules back to fairness for all: Would thisi now mean the millions of people who lost their livelyhood get their life back? (No Joke)

Sunday, April 12, 2009 at 02:21 PM  

Jacamina

When it comes to keeping Americans safe from fire, crime, or a natural disaster, safety is colorblind. Only the best should be promoted, whether white, black, red, green, yellow or blue. If you really listen to the news, its only blacks that bring up the race card when they don't have a leg to stand on with any argument.

Sunday, April 12, 2009 at 01:50 PM  

MHammer

I just read this article and I find it apalling that the judge sees no problem with the system of Federal Laws. I know from experience the loss of a promotion due to the color of my skin (white). It took a long time to overcome the feelings of anger and inadequacies that accompanied the loss of promotion. Then what was galling was seeing a Latin, a Black and a Woman promoted over those who tested physically, theoretically and emotionally. The Federal guidelines no longer should apply.
Yet lets look at this from another angle, if the public school systems were not so corrupted and influenced by Politically Correct laws, allowing those with the talent to rise and those without to not interfere, then the individuals who did not pass or passed with low scores could be seen as the product of the system. The system that sets men and women of all races up for failure, then pats them on the back and sends them into the working world without the necessary tools. I hope this firefighter takes this to the Supreme Court and we finally see a shift away from the Political Correctness and Liberalism that is destroying our country.

Sunday, April 12, 2009 at 12:08 PM  

Linda

What the city of Hartford did is an outrage. The Constitution requires equal opportunity, it does not insure equal outcome. Every person desiring to sit for the lieutenant's exam had equal opprotunity to study for it. I understand that there had not been an opening for 10 yrs. Surely everyone interested in exam when announced had equal opportunity to prepare for it

Sunday, April 12, 2009 at 07:45 AM  

lewis42

I studied for 9 months to become a Lieutenant then 6 months to become a Captain in my department. The system is designed to find out who wants the position more and who is willing to sacrifice of themselves to attain it. Why would you want to put your family's safety in the hands of someone who is black but was put in charge only because he is black? I don't care if the guy is green with purple polka-dots, I want the man who is the most qualified, dedicated, and commited to the service and the public. Be honest and you will admit it, when you lay your head on that pillow tonight you want us to be the best firefighters your city has to offer. And you should never accept anything less for your family.

Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 09:58 PM  

Anonymous

The question of race should not be a factor,the test should graded fairly and a persons race should not be anywhere on the test.

Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 06:36 PM  

Stan In Alabama

I have been passed over for promotion because of affirmative action. I'm tired of everyone playing the race card. I live in the South and was not raised to be racist. Just as I do not discriminate, I expect not to be discriminated against. Just give the exam and let the chips fall where they will. I refuse to participate in the games they are now playing with promotional exams. I will retire as a Driver, it should have been Captain.

Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 06:29 PM  

Lady Liberty

Affirmative Action should be ended. This is ridicuous. Americans are of all races, colors and creeds. Al Sharpton seems to forget that many American citizens faced their own horrors and arrived on the shores of America for a chance to better their lives and be free from tyranny. Affirmative Action is WRONG. Al needs to study the history of our founding and stop making this crap all about his agenda that everyone must pay for the sins of others. My ancestors arrived with NOTHING but a strong work ethic and the moral compass of their faith. That's why Americans are so fed up! Pray for this country!

Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 10:15 AM  

Integrity

Promotions/advancements have to be based on MERIT. Not gender, not race, not anything other than the ability to do the job. Firefighters have a dangerous job. If you were trapped in a burning building, would you want the most qualified person or some controlled 'quota'? If only caucasian firefighters passed the test, they are the most qualified. If others want to be considered for the job, pass or excel in the requirements of the job and stop whining about being a 'victim'. In a fire or other emergency there are 'real victims' and they deserve the best of the best and no less.

Friday, April 10, 2009 at 10:15 PM  

Anonymous

Reverse discrimination is JUST as bad as any discrimination. The most any laws should do is keep it fair and honest as possible. Forcing someone else to the back of the bus is not justice. At some point, everyone has to work out what ever hand they may be dealt in life. I do like some areas doing some form of affirmative opportunity. But that should be towards more of economic stressed areas, not race, color or anything like that.

Friday, April 10, 2009 at 03:28 PM