For you folks on Bethel Island, you have officially been duped. It appears the decision has been made to pull ambulance off the Island and station it at 200 W. Cypress in the trailer park behind Rositas in Oakley.
The move is being deemed “temporary” which is now the second time that word has been used in 3-weeks. AMR apparently wants to see if the new location can still allow AMR to make their response times.
If you recall, a few weeks back this 24-hour ambulance was deemed an “upgrade” which the Contra Costa Times took the bait as opposed to seeing the obvious that this was a bait and switch and shifting of folks. Here is what the Times reported.
“This is not a take-away — this is a substitution,” said Pat Frost, director of Contra Costa Emergency Medical Services, which oversees the county’s contract with AMR.
She emphasized that the change actually will provide Bethel Island residents with better service, not only because there will be two paramedics instead of one, but because those first responders will be able to transport victims to the hospital.
Ben Whitener had pointed out on this site last week this was a flaw and he saw this coming as the word temporary was used. He was right. Now folks are left without a fire station and an ambulance. Bethel Island officially been given the step-child treatment of East County.
The map below shows where the ambulance was stationed in Bethel Island (on the right side) and it’s new location in Oakley (on the left side). It’s a difference of about 5-miles.
The move was actually pretty predictable and you can’t really blame AMR and the County EMS for such a move based off the call volume in Oakley, although it doesn’t make it right. Station 93 has actually had triple the amount of calls it normally would have had to answer. From that standpoint, the move does make sense.
Honsty is the best policy and it’s time for the County EMS, AMR and ECCFPD need to be honest with folks so we can be prepared going forward. Slowly making these changes only makes it worse and confuses people.
Stay tuned over the next couple of days, I am waiting for the spin control police to come out to say this is another substitution and not a take away.
11 comments
Thanks, Ms. Kris Hunt and Mr. Dave Roberts for confusing the voters and effectively screwing the Bethel Island folks. I hope you both are really proud of yourselves.
I see that the things you both labeled as scare tactics turned out to be founded in reality. I read an article in the Brentwood press that demonstrated that insurances rates did indeed rise. Couple that with no fire station on the island, and ambulances relocated and I think the public knows now who was really pushing a misinformed agenda.
In all likelihood Roberts and Hunt probably cost a lot of taxpayers, money, lives and property.
this kind of thing ticks me off. People are told one thing, then they keep quiet. Once it dies down, the County and AMR switch it up on them. What is next, one of our Antioch Engines are also sharing a trailer on Cypress Rd?
Don’t point fingers at AMR. It is the responsibility of the County and ECCFPD to house the 1st responder. The County put it on the FD to house AMR and the FD is so pissed that there cash cow didn’t come in with measure “S” that they said “Sorry, No Vacancy”! I applaud AMR for thinking outside the box to find a temporary solution.
Andrew–it is NOT the responsibility of a government agency to provide housing a private business. AMR is a for-profit business. If you get transported, you will receive a very expensive bill for that ride. And lets not forget the $$$$ being paid by the county to this company for their exclusive contract to respond to 911 calls. As to Measure S being a cash-cow…….well you are entitled to your opinion.
Barbara- You are miss informed. The QRV’s do not produce any revenue. It was in the contract for AMR to provide these at AMR’s expense and the County would find housing for them. That’s why they are ALL located in Fire houses. As far as the County paying AMR for providing services..you are miss informed again..Years ago that was the case, but now AMR pay’s the County in various ways for the Contract. ie: the QRV’s, Public CPR training, Paramedic education for Firefighters, etc. That equals over $1,000,000 a year that AMR pays to the County to provide 911 services. Also, any money that is saved by changing unit configurations by AMR, per contract, goes back to the County and is divided among all County Fire agencies.
Go the county health dep to read the contract. its 47 pages long. Also the 2003 consultants report is very interesting. $1.5 million paid by county EMS to AMR and $500,000 for QRV. its all there.
Like I said..they used to pay..Those days are over..
its still the same contract and it has been extended to 2014. and EMS still gives AMR $$$
@ Andrew,
Three points on your comment, “The County put it on the FD to house AMR and the FD is so pissed that there cash cow didn’t come in with measure “S” that they said “Sorry, No Vacancy”!
One; it is not a county fire department and hasn’t been for almost 3 years now.
Two; Cash cow? You mean the needed revenue that is missing due to 3 years of lowering of property taxes so that the district could stay afloat? You see Andrew, when you subtract money on one end, it needs to be supplanted by some other means-a point which you and several others keep missing. If you are a property owner then you know you are saving hundreds per year, which in part funded the fire department. You actually expected to keep the services without the funding?
Three; it is spelled “their” not there. It appears all of the actual “Cash cow” money was wasted on school bonds.
I am just trying to keep things up to date NOT pour gasoline on a fire. Major Kiddos to Engine 93 fire fighters! Based on trips past my home, Engine 93 is beating AMR to calls out on the Island/East Oakley area a good 90-95% of the time. Now there has been times that AMR has been in front of the fire truck but not by much. Once it looked like the fire truck was drafting behind the ambulance. I know that its not a race but the speed that the engine is leaving the station and getting out here is impressive! Just concerned how long they can continue without burnout. Oh, lets also point out that this is summertime. During the winter/fog season it may be a different story.
And before I get pounced on, I want to make clear that my point of the fire trucking beating AMR is that AMR is based closer than the fire truck. the ambulance stationed at 200 West Cypress, and the fire house is on O’Hara. When they out of station, who knows where they are responding from. And I have seen Engine 93 go out on a call and then come back through code 3 on their way to yet another call!
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