Edhat Staff
This week Assemblymember Gregg Hart and Senator Monique Limón presented a $750,000 check for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department to purchase a marine rescue boat.
Hart championed the funding in the California State Budget in partnership with Senator Limón.
“The Conception dive boat disaster and numerous environmental emergencies have underscored the importance of enhancing emergency response capabilities along our coastline,” said Hart. “This marine rescue boat will enhance the lifesaving and disaster response capabilities of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. I am committed to ensuring that our first responders have the tools that they need to keep our community safe.”
“It is critical that the Santa Barbara County Fire Department has access to resources that will help save lives. This marine rescue boat will help our first responders keep our community members safe during times of crisis and enhance their ability to carry out their duties,” said Senator Limón. “I am grateful for Assemblymember Hart’s leadership and proud to support this request to deliver much needed funding to obtain this important asset.”
“Overseeing 110 miles of Santa Barbara County’s coastline, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department is dedicated to marine rescue, firefighting, paramedic care, and oil spill response,” County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig said. “The purchase of the marine rescue boat will enhance protection for County residents and visitors along our coastline, as well as the local Channel Islands, and ensure that all residents and visitors will receive the timely and reliable services they expect from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.”
Hart represents the California Assembly’s 37th Assembly District, which includes Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Buellton, Solvang, Lompoc, Guadalupe, Santa Maria, Orcutt, and Nipomo. He currently serves as the Chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.
I just don’t understand the outrage/questioning here. The FD is receiving funding specifically for a rescue boat. They don’t have one. We live in an ocean town where thousands of people are engaged in maritime activities on a daily basis – surfing, diving, kite boarding, boating, fishing, commercial fishing, parasailing, etc etc. How is the Fire Dept having their own boat a problem for anyone? Harbor Patrol has theirs, sure, but they’re probably limited in their rescue functions, just as a police car is more limited than a fire engine. The USCG’s Blackfin is a much larger vessel and might not be appropriate for most rescue situations.
Further, who knows better about the specific needs of nautical rescue teams? The teams themselves or landlubbers like us?
If this isn’t something you want your tax money going to, maybe move inland?
This is such PORK…! SB County Fire is going to man and dock this boat RIGHT NEXT TO SB City’s Harbor Patrol BOAT(S)…? The USCG Cutter?
Is the County going to buld a dock at Goleta Beach…? A station to house the operators / reponders…?
The duplicity in service is INSANE. Total government PORK.
The Chief will probably use a large portion of those funds for his Indigent Hospital Ambulance Transport Program…
How would it not be good to have a dedicated rescue boat for the County FD? They have separate land based vehicles from the PD, so why not have a separate boat from the Harbor Patrol and Coast Guard? The constant complaining about tax dollars is getting ridiculous. If you don’t want funds going to emergency services, what DO you want your taxes going to?
Use some of this money to make necessary changes in our local Coast Guards inept enforcement of existing boat safety laws.
That is what helped create the travesty our town suffered and the families who lost their loved ones because of the Conception fire.
750K for a “rescue boat” IS absurd. Remember, this is just for the boat. Not the money to staff or maintain it. But unfortunately some folks cuddle up to voting for politicians who like to do this kind of stuff. Why not? We feel safer this way right? Why not keep spending? Maybe a helicopter or two as well while we’re at it?
“It’s not my money”
I’d like to know more about how this vessel’s function is not a duplication of existing USCG and HP capacities. This is pretty vague.