Ms. Dawn Jahnke, 1907 Freedman, Houston, Texas 77009 (281-890-8394) appeared and stated that she was present because she wanted them to know that she had struggled with many things within the past weeks, and many people had asked many things of her, but yet she was a real simple person and had very simple needs and the thing that she really needed most was no longer in her reach, that while she stood there she even wondered why should she stand there before City Council, was it the right thing to do, but time and time again she had come to the conclusion that yes it was right, because she was not really standing there as a scathing widow, she was not standing there as a political voice either, that she was standing there as a representative of an average Houstonian, that she was just a proud citizen of their City and was just a hard working middle class person, that she was a teacher, a mother and a wife who knew the issue here was clear, that it was just a safety issue, that it had always been just a safety issue, that the problem was large and the solutions were just weak, that was all, so to the Honorable Mayor and the man who would become Mayor, she asked that they do one thing for the people of Houston and it was just a better plan, short term and long term, for the City's safety and for those who would save the City, that until that day she would continue to make it her mission just to educate the public of facts that they were little aware of so that their voices they might also hear, and would read the following anonymous poem, "He has lived a beautiful life, and he has left a beautiful field, he has sacrificed the hour to give service for all time, he has entered the company of the great, and with them he will be remembered forever." Council Members Keller, Vasquez and Robinson absent.
Ms. Renee Jahnke's Address to City Council Chamber, City Hall, Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Ms. Renee Jahnke, 1907 Freedman, Houston, Texas 77009 (281-890-8394) appeared and stated that she was a cousin to Captain Jay Jahnke, the firefighter who gave his life on October 13, 2001, that she appreciated the opportunity to speak on behalf of the firefighter families and friends, to help educate and motivate the citizens of Houston on public safety, that since 1975 the American Insurance Association, the NFPA, OSHA, NYOSH and the TriData Report had all recommended four or more firefighters on each apparatus, that Texas Senate Bill 382 mandated two in two out, that they had four firefighters today, but what would happen when the money ran out, that what was Mayor Brown, as the Executive Officer, Chief Administrator and official representative of the City of Houston and each of the Council Members going to do to maintain four firefighters on each apparatus, that they the family and friends of the Houston Fire Department would be present in force to educate the citizens of Houston, that they would no longer stand behind their firefighters but would stand beside them to ensure citizen and firefighter safety, that as one Houstonian who had no affiliation with the Houston Fire Department stated in her letter to each one of the Council Members, "it is unconscionable for a member of the fire department in this City to die for lack of help, it is inexcusable, that as a taxpayer I do not ask, I insist that the fire department be given what it says it needs, you have it in your power and it is your responsibility to insure that this never happens again", that she wanted to remind them again that Mayor Brown said he added 331 firefighters, but that was still 31 fewer than four years ago and 573 short to be adequately staffed, that back in November 2000 he released a statement through his press aide that Houston fire facilities were more than adequate, that on September 11, 2001 when Mayor Brown was asked if he was going to beef up the City to minimum manning his response was no, and she asked Mayor Brown, why did he wait until October 17, 2001, while they were burying one of their heros to suddenly decide to become committed to public safety, that he said, and she quoted, "as I watched what occurred today at the funeral, the family and the firefighters grieving, I was committed to doing this and not waiting any longer", that she would leave Mayor Brown with a few of his own words, November 27, 2000, to the Red Ribbon Committee, which he chaired, and she quoted, "This committee was formed to address the challenges facing the fire department, public safety is my number one priority and I am committed to doing everything possible to insure that we have the resources and the workforce to serve the City well", that December 4, 2000, and she quoted, "As I have said throughout my administration public safety is my number one priority", that January 29, 2001 during the Mayoral speech, and she quoted, "Public safety is my number one priority", that on October 2001 to the Texas Taskforce One Members, and she quoted, "Public Safety is one of the fundamental necessities of this community that is why I've made it a priority in Houston. I am working diligently to insure that Houston is well prepared for any contingency", that she admonished the Mayor and City Council Members that they had it in their power and it was their responsibility to insure that the citizens of Houston and the Houston firefighters were protected and never face this kind of tragedy again. Council Members Boney, Keller, Vasquez and Robinson absent.
(I was not yet a member of HFD at this time but I had began fire training mearly six weeks before Capt. Jahnke passed away. I do feel that these words ring every bit as loud today as they did in 2001. Four men on an apparatus doesn't need to be in a contract, nor should it be a bargaining chip in a contract negotiation, it needs to be in the cities laws & statutes! However, here we are, four years later and we are no more guarenteed four on an apparatus now then we were November 27, 2001. - CCM)
