The vast majority of The City Council and The Mayor have made a horrible mess of Kansas City's Ambulance service.
Let's remember that MAST had great response times, was running rather well and was a world-renowned public/private healthcare model.
And then Local Union interests and politicos stepped in . . . Now it's pretty much a disaster.
KICKASS TKC TIPSTERS REPORT THAT PENSION FUNDING CONCERNS ARE CAUSING A MAJOR RUCKUS BEHIND THE SCENES AMONG SOME MAST MEMBERS WHO WENT ALONG WITH THE TAKEOVER PLANS!!!
Here's the way it was explained to me: Pensions from incoming MAST members need to be funded to the tune of at $13 million in order to be in compliance with fed. regs . . . Meanwhile Kansas City can only cobble together maybe $6 million to dedicate to the cause.
So let's get this straight:
The MAST Takeover was supposed to save money: It hasn't
The MAST Takeover promised that service wouldn't be interrupted and would be improved over the long term: In fact, in minority communities there are already reports that service is suffering.
And so many politicos and elected officials promised a smooth transition . . . Behind the scenes, the scrambling to secure pension funding is just one of many indicators that NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THIS MAST TAKEOVER!!!
Unfortunately, Kansas City's healthcare is at stake.
Bad Idea Jeans
ReplyDeleteGo talk to John Sharp.
ReplyDeleteIf you think service is bad now just wait.
ReplyDeleteUh, KCFD has NOT taken over yet. So any "service suffering" would not be the fault of KCFD since they are not running it yet.
ReplyDeleteEven still, I guess if those "minority communities" are unhappy with the best response times in the nation, the best cardiac arrest save rate in the nation, the best patient outcomes of any ambulance service in the nation, they can move somewhere else.
TKC never lets the facts slow down his bullshit
ReplyDeleteby minority i believe that is the white community in this town.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 10:00 AM - I think your comments represent a naivete which is part of the problem with politics in Kansas City today. As soon as Louie Wright and Company convinced the City to take over MAST, MAST was no longer in control. And while I think you're technically correct in saying that the KCFD has not officially 'taken over' yet, it is very clear that they, through Mr. Wright and his pets Smokey Dyer, John Sharp, Beth Gottstein, and Troy Schulte, have been calling the shots once the City decided to make this ridiculous move.
ReplyDeleteI am not one of the 'minority community' that you choose for some reason to lambast in your comments. I am, however, a very concerned citizen who has watched for years as the Firefighters Union has ingratiated itself into a position of adhoc councilmember. This takeover was never about saving money or improving an already outstanding public service; it was about power and control and nothing more. The fact that Chief Dyer can only comment in terms of how other fire departments and ambulance services are run just goes to show how parochial his thinking is. MAST was an outstanding 'best practice' of a public/private partnership that represented visionary thinking 30 years ago when it was created and evolved from that into the outstanding service it has been up to this point. Instead of destoying it, this City should have protected it, and by extension the citizens, from the selfish and greedy paws of these narrow minded and incompetent power mongering boobs.
I'm just saying...............
I wish everyone would stop thinking that just because the fire department is taking over, that the level of care is going to get worse. I will still do my job just like I've always done- Regardless of what it says on my shirt. I do worry that if the education level is not kept to a high standard that the people a few years down the road may not be as well trained. THEN- the public may need to be concerned. As for the pension. Look at the senority list. Do you really think that there are that many people who are going to retire? Most people either won't stay that long or will not be here to get a pension because they got hurt . This is a physically demanding job and most people don't want too or won't be able to work long enough to get a pension. Is KCFD taking over a good idea? Maybe, maybe not. But it's a done DEAL. Promises need to be kept.
ReplyDelete11:54 am-you may rest assured any animosity over the hostile MAST takeover directed at firefighters is aimed at politicos and not firefighters in general. I believe citizens trust our firefighters to do their jobs as best as humanly possible-I certainly have no complaints. I also trust our local politicos to screw up anything they touch. So, please do not think you're not appreciated because you are.
ReplyDeleteOne question. Once MAST is one and the same as KCFD, will they be able to charge for services? The KCFD does not charge you to put out a fire at your house, that is covered by your taxes. Is it now the same for ambulance services?
ReplyDeleteI've heard our tax dollars will support the new EMS part AND we'll still get billed. The city saw it can't support the ambulances without billing which I believe gives MAST about 40% of its current revenue. So in short, yes, bills will still be sent.
ReplyDeleteMAST is a City FU*K UP consolidation joke.
ReplyDeleteMAST should have been left alone.
ReplyDeleteagree
ReplyDeleteIn the end and will you and I the taxpayer who's going to pay for this mess.
ReplyDeleteWhy does the city think they can run everything better.
ReplyDeleteMAST was always supported with city money and taxpayer revenue and it always billed. So nothing will change.
ReplyDelete