Your Voices: Firefighter Layoffs

Monday's City Council meeting was briefly put on hold after firefighters directed angry shouts toward Mayor Daryl Finizio and the councilors after Finizio announced that 24 layoffs in the will . Though following two tie votes in the council on a with the firefighters' union aimed at reducing costs and avoiding layoffs, Finizio said the cuts will be necessary following the council's unanimous decision to table the agreement.

Here are some of the statements given by firefighters rallying outside the meeting prior to the meeting as well as residents and officials after the decision:

"Sleep well tonight New London. Unfortunately, tomorrow night might be a different story." --A Facebook post by New London Firefighters Local 1522 following Monday's meeting

"I am worried about the Justin Curcios, Kurt Fetzers, Mike Colemans, Kevin Campbells, Tim Jeffreys, Mike Kuchyts etc etc that will now have to endure the chaos and frustration of losing the greatest career. I am so sorry guys that you guys now have to see the chaos I have fought long and hard against, where politics takes a front seat to common sense. Stay strong my brothas!" --Al Mayo, the New London firefighter first in line to be laid off, on the New London Patch

"They need backup. They need support...When everyone else is runing from a disaster, they're running to it." --Anthony Little, a resident who demonstrated outside City Hall with a "bucket brigade" he said would be required if the layoffs occurred

"Even though I'm with another department, I definitely want to support them. They deserve a pension, and I just want to support no layoffs." --Jason Preuss, who joined the New London Fire Department in December of 2010 but left in Janury to join the West Hartford Fire Department upon finding that they offered better benefits

"When will these politicians realize that cutting company's and manpower isn't the way to go. The citizens of this city should be in an uproar over this." --Norwich resident Steve Bona in a post on the New London Firefighters Local 1522 Facebook page

"A crime against the citizens of New London in laying off these firefighters from Local 1522. The city & fellow 1st responders suffer now..." --Michael Meadows, a Versailles firefighter, on Twitter

"If the administration or the City Council are using these people as pawns for any reason, you all ought to be ashamed of yourselves." --Brian Giesing, a retired firefighter who addressed the council during public comment

"[P]ension plans are unsustainable. We can't continue to pay people that are not on the payroll! I understand the concern over this contract, but let's spell it out...get this group out of a pension plan." --Carol Guarco Myers in a comment on New London Patch

"I don't understand the finger-pointing of who's going to lay off who. It doesn't matter anymore." --Rocco Basilica, president of New London Firefighters Local 1522, addressing the City Council

"Put your partisan politics aside and think about the families and employees who are impacted by this decision." --Tom Murphy, a resident addressing the City Council during public comment

"Complete disbelief." --Pamela Kydd, wife of Deputy Fire Chief Henry Kydd, in a post on the New London Firefighters Local 1522 Facebook page

"There's still lots of questions that need to be asked." --Councilor John Maynard, responding to public comment

"This is the mayor's decision alone." --Councilor Adam Sprecace, responding to public comment

"New London city council members and the mayor have absolutely ZERO respect for the men and women keeping this city safe. Shame on all of them!" --Tia Marie Michaud in a post on the New London Firefighters Local 1522 Facebook page