Halls of Shrewd'm / US Policy❤
No. of Recommendations: 3
Fact or Opinion?
https://www.cf.org/news/la-fire-chief-dei-is-a-top...LA Fire Chief: DEI Is a Top PriorityAs fires rage through the Los Angeles area, Kristin M. Crowley, the first woman and lesbian to become Los Angeles Fire Department Chief, is facing harsh criticism for her focus on DEI initiatives instead of a pure meritocracy.
Crowley, who was appointed fire chief by then-Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2022, launched a diversity, equity, and inclusion bureau in January 2023, and prepared to implement a three-year plan committing the LAFD to an organization embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
According to the LAFD, DEI is a top priority for Crowley.
“Creating, supporting, and promoting a culture that values diversity, inclusion, and equity while striving to meet and exceed the expectations of the communities are Chief Crowley’s priorities,” the LAFD website states.
“People ask me, ‘What number are you looking for?’” she told a reporter.
“I’m not looking for a number; it’s never enough.”
No. of Recommendations: 8
What the fick is Citizen Frank? Becerra is right: it's damned near impossible to keep up with the torrent of misinformation on social media.
Bannon's "flooding the zone with shit" is working. Goebbels would be so all over the internet.
Anybody remember the lawsuits that hit the LAFD some decades ago? Like the toxic culture in some LAPD precincts (Ramparts??) some LAFD districts had a bad reputation for hazing women, non-white firefighters. Cost a lotta money.
IIRC, at one point the Chief of the LAFD was canned and a firefighter was brought in from the OC to clean up the toxic crap that was costing substantial payouts. Guy named Bammatre? Bamamatree?
He failed too and fell on his sword when a lawsuit by a fed up black firefighter nicknamed Big Dog was served dogfood at the firehouse. Big payout.
Prolly google 'big dog' lafd or something for the deets.
But, yeah, no doubt DEI is responsible for these epic fires.
But , hey... we got firefighters from the shithole country to the south... They saving the cats, saving the dogs, saving the pets of the people who live here.
No. of Recommendations: 1
There's also this:
https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/18774582400504463...You want to see somebody that responds to your house, your emergency, whether it's a medical call or a fire call, that looks like your. It gives that person a little bit more ease knowing that somebody might understand their situation better.
Is she strong enough to do this? Or, 'you couldn't carry my husband out of a fire'. Which my response is - he got himself in the wrong place if I have to carry him out of a fire. That's Kristine Larson, LAFD Assistant Chief.
If my house is on fire, I for one don't give a rip what the firefighter who's coming to put it out looks like.
No. of Recommendations: 3
Yep... There's still a few synapses still firing in my diesel marinated memory bank.
Seems it's blacks, latinos and women who caught the brunt of the hazing, and they participated as well. Straight white guys tended to not get hazed, or didn't report hazing; is it possible they didn't get hazed because...what's to haze?
"This is a joint decision. Chief Bamattre believes, as I do, that change * while sometimes different * is often necessary. There is little doubt that changing the culture in the Fire Department will require a change in course. And it will take significant commitments from ALL of our City leaders.
But I want to be absolutely clear. Today’s decision is not about a single person. It’s about an institution. And it’s not about the past. It’s about looking to the future.
I believe that new leadership will bring new opportunities to address the persisting issues raised in past audits. New leadership will help to set a new tone and extinguish the incendiary practices of hazing and harassment that have plagued the Department for some time.Bam!
https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/fire-ch...https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcont...
No. of Recommendations: 3
Fact or Opinion?
Impossible to answer, because you didn't make a claim. What is it in this story that you want us to consider being fact or opinion?
--Peter
No. of Recommendations: 3
on DEI initiatives instead of a pure meritocracy.
Who decides who had merit? Old white guys? :)
No. of Recommendations: 4
If my house is on fire, I for one don't give a rip what the firefighter who's coming to put it out looks like. Yes you do. And...
SNIP Demographically speaking, our nation’s fire departments are not diverse. Consider the following workforce statistics from 2019 reported by Data USA:
95.8% of firefighters were male.
79.9% of firefighters were white and non-Hispanic.
A fire department that resembles its community in demographic makeup is more likely to be able to provide effective service and garner more respect from citizens. For example, if your community has a large percentage of residents who speak Spanish, firefighters who also speak the language can better communicate with citizens during both emergencies and non-emergency interactions. Community members who are in an emergency situation or who have been through one recently may feel more comfortable speaking to someone with whom they can identify.
More inclusive fire departments can also improve the innovation and problem-solving abilities of their teams. The more perspectives and experiences that individuals can bring to the firehouse, the better. Not to mention, failing to maintain a diverse fire service could raise questions regarding hiring practices, potentially leading to lawsuits, budget cuts or
community distrust. Simply put, maintaining a diverse department benefits both the fire department and the community it serves. SNIP
https://www.columbiasouthern.edu/blog/blog-article...
No. of Recommendations: 3
Yes you do.
No I don't.
I'm putting you down for the Kristin Larson school of firefighting, which basically says, "You're on your own".
No. of Recommendations: 4
Yes you do.
No I don't.
Yes you do. One of the things people DON"T like discussing is how we seem to be geared that way. Call it what you like, it exists, and you're no different. Things can alter it.
But someone that appears to be similar to you makes you more comfortable initially than those who don't, even in emergencies. I'm sure there are a ton of different types of studies, and you could find discussions on Quora, Reddit, etc. Some races have good reason not to trust white cops, etc. So go do some work.
And it's clear that she's right - in the fire dpt area, it's never enough.
And I think she was saying in a nicer way - if you don't think I can carry you, don't get yourself stuck in a fire, :)
No. of Recommendations: 2
Yes you do
No, and you can stuff your thinly disguised accusations of raaaaacism.
What matters to me - and sane Americans - is competence. Competence in doing the job you were hired to do.
Show me a green-skinned Martian who's a wizard at fighting fires and will haul me out of a burning house, and I'll show you me being happy to talk to them about it.
What's really funny is how when the left accuses everyone else of being a raaaaacist, they're really telling on themselves.
No. of Recommendations: 2
Yes you do
No, and you can stuff your thinly disguised accusations of raaaaacism.
And you can stuff your misunderstanding of what I am talking.
I'm not talking racism.
...What to Know
Xenophobia is the fear, dislike, and hatred of strangers or foreigners, whereas racism has a broader meaning, including "a belief that racial differences produce the inherent superiority of a particular race." Although they are similar, they are different enough that it is possible for one to be both xenophobic and racist...
Me again:
Anxiety, apprehension, and "feeling uncomfortable" are diffuse/lesser fear. So since she talked "comfortable", she's talking a mild form of Xenophobia not racism.
No. of Recommendations: 1
Anxiety, apprehension, and "feeling uncomfortable" are diffuse/lesser fear. So since she talked "comfortable", she's talking a mild form of Xenophobia not racism.
No, you leveled an accusation at me, so I responded with what that accusation deserved.
No. of Recommendations: 3
Anxiety, apprehension, and "feeling uncomfortable" are diffuse/lesser fear. So since she talked "comfortable", she's talking a mild form of Xenophobia not racism.
No, you leveled an accusation at me, so I responded with what that accusation deserved.
No accusation. You just don't understand what she's talking about, and it looks like you're stuck there and refuse to recognize xenophobia in terms of being uncomfortable is a very common things, almost everyone has it, but it doesn't rise to racism. Have you ever done any introspection? Have you ever wondered when does plain old normal xenophobia become racism? Nearly all racists exhibit xenophobia so it can be confusing. But she's not talking racism, she's talking xenophobia, and she's in a profession where they have to go inside many times.
Why do you think we have the word xenophobia?
No. of Recommendations: 2
<I<[Why do you think we have the word xenophobia? - Lambo
-----------------
To express a fear of xeno's?
No. of Recommendations: 3
No accusation.
Yes there was, and now here you go trying to make this about me instead of arguing the issue. Good luck with that.
And unless you were involved in making that video, I doubt very much that you know what she was thinking.
No. of Recommendations: 3
To express a fear of xeno's?
Correctomundo! :) Which may be something we are biologically geared to do as a survival trait in the species - or not - who knows? And it may present itself in different ways. People can 'get a feeling', trust their gut, but not be able to say why they got that feeling. Or just make up something plausible. But xenophobia is real.
No. of Recommendations: 3
Yes there was, and now here you go trying to make this about me instead of arguing the issue
No. I argued the issue. I've made it clear she's talking xenophobia, and you jump to racism and accusations. She's clearly talking about 80% of firefighters being white, and that minority neighborhoods would be more at ease with more minority firefighters. I think most of us can understand that, but DEI is the kiss of death to you. You also decided to not argue the issue and make it about an accusation of racism in your mind - but that's because you were thinking racism - about her. I was thinking xenophobia - which people don't like to talk about.
I have a firefighter friend and I don't think he'd have your reactions. He looks white, but he's black.
No. of Recommendations: 1
To express a fear of xeno’s
Xeno: greek, meaning “foreigner”, or even ”guest”.
So……… yes.
(It was still funny)
No. of Recommendations: 14
I always have to laugh at the idiots who think DEI is about not giving promotions on merit. It is clear they don't have a clue what DEI is actually about. The just hear Fox badmouthing it so they automatically hate it. You would think they would educate themselves, but they would rather have their nuttiness conformed than learn anything new.
No. of Recommendations: 5
It is clear they don't have a clue what DEI is actually about.
If we break it down...
Diversity: seems like a pretty good thing, unless you want everything to be about the heterosexual white male
Equity: Who is opposed to equality? We can't have that when you want everything to be about the heterosexual white male
Inclusion: Who is opposed to allowing access for everybody? We can't have that when you want everything to be about the heterosexual white male
No. of Recommendations: 2
MAGA folk's view:
Diversity: seems like a pretty good thing, unless you want everything to be about the heterosexual white male
That's the natural order - how God made it - White Males on Top.
Equity: Who is opposed to equality? We can't have that when you want everything to be about the heterosexual white male
All you do is force the prices up on things when we have to pretend they're equal.
Inclusion: Who is opposed to allowing access for everybody? We can't have that when you want everything to be about the heterosexual white male
Minorities are crime and disease ridden - so they need to be at a little distance.
No. of Recommendations: 1
To express a fear of xeno's?
When my inlaws moved to a senior residence we inherited their pitbull named Xeno. His job prior to FIL's retirement from PGE was protecting the PGE troublemans cherrypicker truck.
As a housedog he loved to run the perimeter of the yard warning off pedestrians. He would hold houseguests hostage in the guestroom at night as we slept. Xeno lay on the hall carpet by the guestroom door. His low grumbly growl everytime the guest turned the doornob, convinced guests that opening the door might not be a wise choice.... so couldn't get to the bathroom 4 feet down the hallway. |As soon as we woke up, Xeno relaxed and the guest was able to come out of the guestroom.
He instilled fear in more than a few folks, but with us was sweet as could be until, trying to break up a fight he started with a pair of shepherds on our front lawn, he bit my hand. We returned him to my FIL who 'found him a ranch to live on.'
No. of Recommendations: 3
I always have to laugh at the idiots who think DEI is about not giving promotions on merit.
If all you hire is white men (well over half of all firefighters in the country are white men) you are probably skipping over a lot of well qualified candidates.
That’s the E in DEI.
The D and I are getting more diverse people to apply in the first place.
—Peter
