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Submitted by Craig Freeman
I am a fire captain with the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department and treasurer of the IAFF Local 1974. Though I am not a Pleasanton resident, I have nine and a half years of service to the community. My brothers and sisters in the LPFD provide vital emergency services at all hours of the day to keep Pleasanton safe.
I urge Pleasanton voters to support Measure PP. This 10-year revenue measure ensures adequate funding to Pleasanton’s emergency police and fire services.
The city’s general fund also supports funding to municipal operation services, recreation and library services, economic development services and community housing. Approving Measure PP is critical in keeping Pleasanton a safe, functioning and stable community to live and do business.
The financial experts have given stark warnings about Pleasanton’s financial future. A budget deficit of $13 million over the next eight years has been identified by City Manager Gerry Beaudin.
The current city manager began his current role with Pleasanton in 2022 and quickly realized the complete lack of accurate capital improvement and asset management tracking. City Manager Beaudin quickly implemented an asset management plan that accounts for the cost of repair to all city owned assets.
The closure of a fire station is a real possibility in the future. Closure and rerouting of emergency services will impact our community in disproportionate ways.
LPFD Station No. 2 in the Stoneridge Mall area, which serves the entire west side of Pleasanton, has been neglected for years and is in need of major structural improvements. Pleasanton voters need to understand that without the additional revenue of Measure PP, city assets like LPFD Fire Station No. 2 have a high likelihood of closure.
Some in the community have stated that the city of Pleasanton is mismanaged and cannot maintain a balanced budget. In fact, the city is required by law to keep a balanced budget.
A contingency menu of potential city service reductions, released at the City Council meeting of May 21 of this year, points to $8.85 million in future service cuts across all city departments if the city fails to increase revenue. These future budget cuts will be deep and harmful to the community.
These cuts include eliminating the city-funded school crossing guard program, reducing police services to eliminate school resource officers and K9 programs, a reduction in the number of service days at the Pleasanton Library, a reduction in the budget for street and sidewalk safety. Cuts like these will have a negative impact on public safety in Pleasanton and the community’s overall quality of life.
Opponents to Measure PP are quick to tell the community that voters should not trust this current City Council and mayor. Yet it was this very same City Council and mayor who all moved quickly to approve $2.5 million in spending cuts to the current operating budget, removed $18 million in capital infrastructure projects, and directed City Manager Beaudin to continue to look for saving opportunities in the city organization.
The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department has always been run on a “do more with less” mindset. Should Measure PP not pass, LPFD and by extension the city of Pleasanton, will be left with one option – “do less with less”. Measure PP keeps Pleasanton a safe place to live. Vote Yes on PP!
Editor’s note: Craig Freeman works as a fire captain for the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, serves as treasurer for the International Association of Firefighters Local 1974 and supports the Yes on PP campaign, Protect Pleasanton’s Future Supporting Measure PP 2024.
Outstanding article! Very well written. LPFD is lucky to have a leader like Craig on staff.