Firefighter critical of new promotion rules
It seems Mayor Choi is at it again, insulting the intelligence and voice of the taxpayers while jeopardizing the safety of Edison's residents by not living up to extremely vital campaign promises. During Mayor Choi's mayoral campaign, he repeatedly lobbied for firefighters' support by unambiguously claiming that he heard the cry for safer staffing levels, the muchneeded repair to dilapidated firehouses, and equipment, and the dire need for our command staff to be made up of the best qualified individuals

After seeing Mayor Choi's actions for three years and his complete and total disregard for the promises that enabled him to be narrowly elected, his latest proposed ordinance change for the fire department should be of no surprise.

During his campaign, Choi promised things as inconsequential as making Edison Township completelyWi Fi and as essential as taking politics out of the promotional criteria in the fire department. The latter promise would better assure that firefighters' and residents' lives were in the capable hands of qualified fire ground officers and not incompetent political cronies. At least Mayor Choi is consistent with the fact that he hasn't held true to any of his promises, even simple ones like attending council meetings.

Prior to the election, Mayor Choi was repeatedly heard saying that under his administration the most qualified candidates would be promoted and that he would take politics out of promotional opportunities. At his Employee Appreciation Picnic, he emphatically stated that he would reward good employees with the honest opportunity to achieve a promotion based on merit and not politics. When addressing firefighters, Mayor Choi vigorously criticized the component in the then-current criteria, which allowed the mayor to have the final approval on the candidate for promotion, regardless of the promotional test results.

Ironically, the Firefighter Promotion Procedures ordinance change, as submitted on Dec. 22, not only possess the same scrutinized verbiage, but it adds an additional layer of political interference by removing the weighted structure previously applied to file reviews which contain important information such as an employees education and training, disciplinary record and attendance record.

Additionally, the change also incorporates a third-party agency to administer the oral and written exams. While this initially sounds responsible, it undoubtedly will just be another outside firm or firms hired by the mayor at taxpayers' expense, who will ultimately filter money and support to his misguided political aspirations.

With fire department staffing at its lowest levels in over a decade, promoting competent fire ground officers is more crucial than ever.

Unfortunately, Mayor Choi has once again chosen his own agenda over what is best for the residents of Edison.
Scott Law
Second Vice President
IAFF Local 1197
Edison