U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison, the White House's selection for the new FEMA Director, has served 30 thirty years as a fire fighter and has significant emergency management experience. However, there are several past incidents that may cloud Paulison's confirmation hearing.
Paulison's questionable recommendation that families stock up on duct tape and plastic sheeting to protect against bio-terror attacks caused a stampede on hardware stores and considerable embarrassment for former Homeland Security director Tom Ridge.
Days before Bush originally nominated Paulison to the Homeland Security Department, the Miami-Dade Fire Chief suspended three African-American firefighters who removed an American flag from a fire truck claiming that the banner was blocking their view. The incident turned into a high-profile case where Paulison was accused of discrimination and violating the free-speech rights of his employees.
Paulison's tenure as Miami-Dade County Fire Chief included several major accusations of unfair treatment of African-American employees. A history of allegations of racial basis is not an attractive quality for the new leader of an agency that has been perceived as not responding quickly enough to take care of the needs of African-American citizens.
Paulison's money management skills were called into question in 2000 over a major capital project whose final cost was more than double the budgeted amount. A record of sound fiscal management should be a mandatory requirement for the leader of an agency that has been tasked with overseeing the expenditure of tens of billions of disaster recovery funds.
White House Nomination Comes During Week Paulison is Accused of Suppressing Free Speech
In the days immediately following 9/11, Paulison's Miami-Dade fire department began displaying American flags on its fire trucks. On September 15, three African American firefighters removed a flag that they claimed was blocking their view. The Miami Times1 reported:
Terry Williams, William D.C. Clark and James Moore were told not to report to work until further notice last Thursday.
The trio says the whole thing is a misunderstanding, claiming the flag was removed because it was obstructing their view, but say they never refused to get on the truck or refuse to respond to calls.
"We feel for those who lost loved ones in the recent terrorist attacks, but think that once the smoke goes away America is going to return to the same old America," Clark told The Times.
On September 15, Moore a 20-year veteran, who drives fire engines and Williams, an 8-year veteran were working out of fire station 26 in Opa-locka. Clark, an 18-year veteran who normally works out of station 44 in Miami Gardens, was at station 26 working a 12-hour overtime shift. The men began discussing their views about a possible war and the treatment of Blacks when somehow their conversation was taken out of context. Before asking them their side of the story, the men said a few of their co-workers made false statements and complained to higher officials and the media about their refusal to ride the truck because it displayed the American flag.
In addition to suspending the firefighters, Paulison's response included issuing an order to make the display of the flag mandatory. On September 20, the Los Angeles Times2 reported:
Since Saturday's incident, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Director David Paulison has made it mandatory for county fire engines to display the American flag as an emblem of patriotism and a tribute to New York City brethren who perished in the collapse of the World Trade Center.
That same day, the White House made the following announcement:
President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate R. David Paulison to be Administrator of the United States Fire Administration at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Paulison came under fire from both the African-American community organization "Brothers of the Same Mind" and the ACLU. The Miami Times3 published excerpts from a letter written by the community organization:
While the firefighters stated clearly and unequivocally that they did not refuse to board the truck for any reason, much less one related to the presence of a flag, they were still suspended prior to the completion of an investigation.
While such an investigation is legitimate, the pre-emptive suspensions, in the context of emotionally heated political discussions, have a chilling effect on freedom of speech because it places a cloud over the three firefighters when they, at worse, are guilty of nothing more than expressing their opinions, however unpopular at the station.
Aside from the fact that the men in question boarded the truck without incident, your decision to suspend them is wrong for two additional reasons: First, at the time of the incident, there was no policy regarding the placement of flags on the fire trucks. Of course, you instituted a flag policy in response to the incident, but that policy cannot be enforced retroactively. If there was, then, no policy in place, there can be no violation of that policy. We hope your office is not setting a precedent of punishing employees for failing to adhere to non-unanimous spontaneously arrived decisions simply because they are popular with the media or the general public.
Second, the fire truck did, in fact, leave the station with all on board in a timely manner and the mission was completed successfully and, most importantly, safely. Any real or imagined issues, misunderstandings, clarifications or policy changes can and should be addressed after the mission without punishing those involved who did not endanger life, property, other firefighters or policies in existence before the mission began.
In this context, your decision to suspend these firefighters smacks of political correctness, censorship and even coercion. Your job is to manage the efficient delivery of fire and emergency health services, not to compel endorsement of a political agenda, or mandate displays of nationalism among employees under your charge.
Your words and deeds contribute to an unhealthy atmosphere quelling free speech and coercing uniformity in thought under the threat of job loss or potentially life saving support from fellow firefighters.
The Miami Times4 reported that a six week investigation exonerated the suspended African-American firefighters and they were returned to duty:
After a six week investigation by Fire Chief R. David Paulison, the three Miami-Dade firefighters suspended last month for allegedly refusing to ride on the fire engine because it displayed the American flag have been told to return to work.
In the Fact Finding report obtained by The Times, after interviewing several fire personnel who were working at fire Station 26 on the morning of September 15th, firefighters Terry Williams, William "D.C." Clark and James Moore did not refuse to ride the truck carrying the U.S. flag.
Just days after the terrorist attacks on the United States, the trio was accused of removing the flag they say was not hung properly and blocked their view. In a discussion later that evening, they talked about racism in America and they thought the U.S. flag was a symbol of oppression for Black.
Upon viewing the report, Clark disagreed with the Chief's findings, saying the department took six weeks to release the findings because there was nothing there. He also said the department didn't take responsibility for some of the wrong information they supplied the media including the T.V reports claiming two out of the three were Muslim when in fact none of them are Muslim.
Allegations of Racial Bias
In 1997, Paulison came under fire for alleged bias against his African-American staff. The Miami Times5 reported:
Spokesmen for Black groups in the Metro-Dade Fire-Rescue and Police departments blasted their agencies for what they say are racist actions and discrimination in hiring and promotions.
Their complaints were made when Blacks from those two departments, as well as Metro-Dade Corrections, showed up at the March 3 meeting of the Metro-Dade Commission's Public Protection and Health Committee.
Fire Lt. Eddie Laden, former president of the Progressive Firefighter's Association, criticized Fire Chief David Paulison for promoting only three Blacks in the last five years. Ten times as many Whites and Latinos were moved up in that time, he stated.
"One firefighter was passed over twice for division chief for a less experienced Hispanic male. Another was passed over for the rank of division chief and, between 1993 and 1995, he promoted only two African Americans but 13-non-Blacks," Laden said of Paulison. "That's two for 13 in three years. Come on chief, let's be real. We're not stupid."
Laden charged that "Blacks are hired in fewer numbers, disciplined the most and demoted and terminated quicker than any other ethnic group in the department."
"The junior Black firefighters are so glad to get on the department that they are afraid to speak out for their rights, while White Caucasians are enjoying theirs," he said.
Laden also charged that when Blacks are promoted to higher positions of authority, Paulison strips those posts of decision-making powers.
The Miami Times6 described a 1996 demonstration against the Fire Department's treatment of African-American employees and neighborhoods:
Black county firefighters have locked horns with department brass, whom they accuse of being insensitive to their concerns, and they are blasting suggestions that enough Blacks have been hired by Metro-Dade Fire-Rescue.
Some 60 of the firefighters recently held a "Jobs and Justice" rally at department head quarters, 6000 S.W. 87th Ave., dubbed by their Professional firefighters Association as "a fight for dignity and equality."
Their supporters included State Rep. Kendrick Meek, at least one Fire Board member and others.
Among the demands are the following: * Employing more Blacks and women as firefighters * Eliminating subjective and invasive hiring tools and background investigations * Promoting and appointing more Black at the top levels * Appointing a Black as fire chief/director * Equal consideration to Black neighborhoods for location of fire stations and increased levels of service
The Blacks and the department have been at loggerheads since before Fire Chief R. David Paulison took office some three and a half years ago but some attempts at conciliation have been made.
The Sun Sentinel7 reported earlier accusations of racial basis against Paulison during Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
Three high-ranking Metro-Dade fire officials have been demoted after failing to show up for work after Hurricane Andrew, and their punishment has sparked charges of racial discrimination.
Two of the division chiefs disciplined are black, and they are accusing Fire Department Director David Paulison of purging his staff of minorities. The third demoted chief is white and is not fighting the decision.
Poor Money Management
In 2000, Paulison's fiscal management was called into questioning over the alleged gold-plating of the new Fire Department headquarters. The Sun Sentinel8 reported:
An internal scandal is brewing within the Miami-Dade Fire Department's rank and file over the cost of its new headquarters -- a $23.8 million complex with a price tag double its original projected cost.
As the dedication of the building -- home to the county's 911 emergency system and the hurricane "war room" -- is set for next week, Fire Chief David Paulison is being bombarded with questions about how money was spent.
Among the expenditures: $1.2 million in furnishings; $7 million in construction costs, although the work was done on an existing building; $3 million in telecommunications equipment, including 15 giant, flat television sets that cost more than $5,000 each.
Also ballooning the final cost of the project is the absorbing by the Fire Department of a $5 million lien on the 30-year-old, two- building complex. The actual cost of the 24-acre complex is $11.2 million.
The lien was held by Miami-Dade County on the property, which had gone into receivership.
But that agreement between the county and Fire Department has raised eyebrows among the firefighters. Union leaders say the money should have been spent on improving service, like building more fire stations from Aventura to Homestead.
"This new headquarters is a shrine to the bureaucracy at the expense of service," said Stan Hills, a firefighter and vice president of the Miami-Dade Firefighters Association Local 1403.
Déjà Vu?
This is not the first time Paulison has been called in to take over a failed disaster recovery. The Sun Sentinel9 reported that Dade County Emergency Management Director Denise Hale was once lauded for her work:
Hurricane Andrew turned disaster guru Kate Hale into a local heroine three years ago.
As director of Dade County's Office of Emergency Management, Hale made headlines and got help with an emotional plea to the federal government: "Where the hell is the cavalry on this one?" after Andrew's destructive path through Dade on Aug. 24, 1992.
However, the director's poor performance in a subsequent disaster led to the control of her department being handed over to Paulison:
On Monday, Hale, 44, the agency's director since 1987, was removed from her $61,000-a-year post by County Manager Armando Vidal.
The reason: Shelters, especially those for the elderly, sick and infirm, were not properly stocked with food, cots or medical personnel during the evacuation prompted by Hurricane Erin, an eventual no-show, earlier this month. The upkeep of the shelters was Hale's responsibility.
Vidal also disbanded Hale's department and merged it with the Metro-Dade Fire Department. It will be supervised by Chief Robert David Paulison.
Paulison's resume certainly demonstrates considerable experience in emergency management. There is a night and day difference between his qualifications on paper and those of his predecessor. However, let's hope the Senate committee charged with confirming Paulison's nomination takes the time to carefully scrutinize the candidate's background and ask the difficult questions. This leadership position is too important to hand over to an individual with anything less than stellar qualifications and an unblemished record.
Also posted at scoop.epluribusmedia.org
End Notes:
1Ivery, Robin, "No freedom of speech for Black firefighters.", Miami Times, October 2, 2001: 2A
2Dahlburg, John-Thor, " After The Attack; Racial Profiling; Flap Over Engine Flag Is Putting Heat on South Florida Firefighters." Los Angeles Times, September 20, 2001:A19
3"'Brothers of the Same Mind' blasts Paulison actions.", Miami Times, October 2, 2001; 1A
4Ivery, Robin, " Black firefighters vindicated, return to work six investigation ends." Miami Times, November 6, 2001: 3A
5Holness, Karen, " Metro Fire-Rescue, Police blasted for racism, job bias." Miami Times, March 12, 1997: 1A
6Salmon, Barrington, " Jobs and justice demand made to Fire-Rescue." Miami Times, April 25, 1996: 1A
7Yanez, Luisa, "3 Fire Officials Demoted After Andrew." Sun Sentinel, Oct 10, 1992: 2B
8Yanez, Luisa, " Headquarters' Cost Sparks Questions In Fire Department.", Sun Sentinel, July 18, 2000: 1B
9Yanez, Luisa," Dade Removes Disaster Leader From Position ." Sun Sentinel, October 22, 1995: 1B