Pinole's Fire Service in Jeopardy!

If anyone out there has attended Pinole City Council meetings in the last several years, or watched them on Pinole TV or online, then there’s a good chance you’ve noticed a few people who always criticize our fire service. It’s always the same few people and they appear to have ties to the Concerned Citizens of Pinole, or CCOP, a political organization.

The CCOP contributed to the election campaigns of at least some of Pinole’s council members, and probably will contribute to prospective candidates in the future, as shown in the FORMS 460, which are on file with the city. Some CCOP members either are currently or have served on various commissions and committees related to city services in Pinole.

It appears the influence of the CCOP on our city council and staff runs deep. These few people habitually make disparaging remarks about Pinole’s fire service when they speak before city council. The council seems to allow this even though their remarks contain inaccurate information and innuendos with no factual basis. They present this rhetoric to council as the views of all Pinole residents and taxpayers when it’s really only the views of this small influential group. If anyone opposes them, on anything, these few people do their best to discredit, interfere with or “squash” the opposition, especially when speakers support Pinole’s fire service.

I believe this political group is pursuing a vendetta against our fire service because of political differences surrounding the past recall effort of the CCOP against former councilmember Maria Alegria.

Because of what I stated above, I feel that the Concerned Citizens of Pinole are not actually concerned about the citizens of Pinole, and what the real majority of Pinole residents really want in their city services. I feel that the CCOP is primarily concerned with their own political aspirations and agendas. Their intent seems to be to disembowel our fire service without true concern for the public’s safety. Their vendetta seems too important to them.

Please comment on this post, and I will attempt to respond to all comments, pro or con. I welcome any discussion on this subject.

Sincerely,

Allen Dorsey

yoursafetyatrisk@hotmail.com