NJ City Council Rejects $446K in PPE, SCBA Purchases

July 9, 2022

Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora slammed the city council for denying the purchase of SCBA and PPE to replace outdated and aging equipment.

By Isaac Avilucea

Source The Trentonian, Trenton, N.J.

The Trenton City Council shot down the request to purchase new equipment including PPE and SCBA from the American Rescue Plan funds.

Jul. 8—TRENTON — Not even city firefighters can put out this political dumpster fire.

Mayor Reed Gusciora laid into council Friday, a day after it rejected $446K in funding to buy city firefighters new, much-needed protective gear.

The mayor said the gear, which includes breathing apparatus that helps keep first responders safe from smoke inhalation and exposure to noxious chemicals, was being paid for with the city's American Rescue Plan Act funds.

It died in a 3-3 tie, with Council President Kathy McBride, Sonya Wilkins and Robin Vaughn voting against the proposal.

"This is reckless behavior that places our public safety employees at risk. Three members of this Council have hijacked City business," Gusciora said in a statement.

The mayor claimed much of the fire department's current gear is outdated.

Nearly 100 of more than 150 harnesses are "beyond their life cycle," Gusciora said, and the city has just 128 air tanks when it should have nearly triple that amount.

"My firefighters are wondering right now why we would turn down this opportunity, but I've assured them that we will keep at it until we have the protective equipment we need," Trenton Fire Director Kenneth Douglas said.

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Visit The Trentonian, Trenton, N.J. at https://www.trentonian.com/

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