Baltimore City Council examines allegations of bullying, intimidation of bicyclists by fire officials
First, a
Then, a bicyclist says a fire department employee cut her off with his pickup truck and screamed, "I still hate you!"
Now,
"It felt personal, it felt threatening, and made me feel less safe in my home," Cornish wrote in testimony submitted to the
The council held an oversight meeting Tuesday to question the agency as members consider stripping regulations from the fire code to make it easier for protected bike lanes and developments to be built -- a move the fire department is lobbying against. Fire officials do not want the city to replace International Fire Code requirements with
Fire Chief
"I don't know where
Ford said he was aware of the two incidents of physical confrontation involving members of the fire department, but had not heard of the online threats until Tuesday. Ford said the agency had taken action against some employees, but said he could could not elaborate because they are personnel matters.
Ford said his opposition to changes to the fire code comes from concern for public safety, not animus against bike lanes.
"My job is public safety," he said. "What I'm telling you is what I think is right."
Nevertheless, council members took issue with the way the agency is enforcing the fire code.
City Councilman
Council members cite four developments in particular that have stalled: the Charles Village Streetscape; Townes at
"It's a shame we're sitting here having this fight," said City Councilman
The fire code issue arose last summer when some
Now the council is considering a bill sponsored by Councilman
Proponents of the bill argue that most Baltimore streets in the city do not comply with that part of the code. The fire department appears to be inconsistently objecting to bike lanes but not to parking spaces, critics say.
"You should be more of an advocate about parking being removed," City Councilman
Ford said the agency isn't being selective. He said he accepts that some streets are already too narrow. What he objects to, Ford said, is narrowing streets that are currently wide.
"These other issues are here," he said. "We can't change them. To take something that meets code, and turn around and make it not meet code ... It's a challenge."
In written testimony, Cornish said some firefighters have been antagonizing her group in person and online for 18 months.
"As a result of the rhetoric and bullying culture these firefighters were creating online, I received threats from strangers through both my personal social media accounts and through comment threads on local news articles," she wrote.
She then detailed several incidents, including an alleged assault on
Then on
Domzal testified Tuesday that she noticed a BCFD decal in the back window.
"This is becoming personal," she said.
Then on
"Given the history of aggression and bullying over the past year, BCFD leadership showing up on my block to film a video implying they can't fight a fire there didn't just feel like a double down on fear mongering, it also felt like a personal message to me and to my neighbor
At the hearing, Dorsey called the incident "really upsetting to me."
"It raises a lot of questions about the leadership in the department," he said.
"The video shows clearly the fire department can get to the fires on these streets," Young said. "It clearly showed me that they can respond to fires despite the fact these development projects are being held up. I'm glad I saw the video because it showed me those trucks can get to those fires."
Costello said he still hoped to work out an agreement between bicyclists, developers, firefighters and the council.
"I'm committed to finding a way not to pass that bill," he said of repealing parts of the fire code. "But we do need to see demonstrable progress on some development projects and cycle track projects."
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Former county councilman is coming home, back to his
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