FIRE!!!

In an even more incredible example of painful circular logic and bizarre spinmeistering, PARD's website has the following listed under their "Anti-Wal-Mart" resources:

The Pullman Fire Department is taking 8 to 12 minutes to respond to an incident which is up to twice as long as the national average.

We are concerned that the Pullman Fire Department is not receiving enough support from the city for emergency services. This has been part of PARD’s concerns regarding the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter. We would like to see additional support for emergency services.

As you know, the Fire Department has asked for $191,210 in equipment. The city has said it won't be in next year's budget. Not enough money. The city has also said we need to expand our retail sales tax base to help the general fund from which the Fire Department's budget is largely derived. In ONE YEAR, Wal-Mart sales taxes could easily have provided those funds and more. IF PARD HAD NOT APPEALED THE WAL-MART SEPA APPROVAL AND SITE PLAN, ground would already have been broken and the store would be opening next Summer. The Fire Department could have it's needed equipment JUST from the sales tax collected from the construction of the Supercenter. All would be well.

What a smoke screen.