What's the fuss?

Some civic activists are complaining that three Hollywood firefighters got food stamps after Hurricane Wilma struck South Florida. One such firefighter made $100,000 last year and this was considered galling by one civic leader, Charles Vollman president of the Hollywood Council of Civic Associations.

I've blogged before on both the story of firefighters applying for food stamps and the the relief program for South Florida residents. My feelings on today's news is summed up by what Union president Russ Chard said-

"Being a firefighter, you don't forfeit your rights as a citizen," Chard said. "If they applied for a benefit and legitimately qualified, they're no different from anybody else."

If these firemen qualified, they get the benefits like anyone else. End of story. There was no limit on the amount of food stamps paid out. Mr. Vollman and the other complaining activists need a life.

Donnah at Florida Cracker is also commenting on this story.
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Hollywood · A group of civic activists is taking the city to task over the case of three firefighters who applied for emergency food stamps after Hurricane Wilma, even though they each earn more than $70,000 per year.

The federal emergency food stamp program, run by the state Department of Children & Families, was intended for people who lost wages or suffered such catastrophic damage they could not feed their families that month. Approximately 500,000 Floridians applied.

Firefighter Anthony Cioppa, 41, Capt. Raymond Powers, 51, and Driver-Engineer William Gutierrez, 42, made substantial overtime as a result of the hurricane, city records show. It's unclear whether all the men received aid because such records are not open to the public.

Charles Vollman, president of the Hollywood Council of Civic Associations, said Monday his board could not believe that "with one of them making over $100,000 a year, that they would have the gall to apply for food stamps."

In a letter to the city, the Council called the firefighters' actions "unethical" and "unconscionable."

Pete Brewer, president of the North Central Civic Association, said the city should make the men write checks to charity in any amount they may have collected.

Cioppa, who lives with his mother and whose children live with him about four times a week, said Monday he received a food stamp debit card. He now regrets it.

"I worked for Eastern Airlines. We went on strike and I walked the picket line for two years," he said. "They offered us groceries, but I wouldn't take anything. I was too proud ... All this for 200, 300 bucks? It's not worth it. It's an embarrassment. I apologize," he said.

Cioppa said he and his co-workers never stood in line or met with a DCF caseworker to verify their information as other applicants did. DCF spokeswoman Leslie Mann said if that happened, it was "an anomaly."

"When we received an application, you had to meet with a worker because they had to fill out a worksheet," she said. "There's no getting around that. I don't understand how that's possible."

Powers could not be reached for comment. Gutierrez declined to comment.

Fire Chief Virgil Fernandez said he had no problem with the three applying. His concern, which he counseled them about, was that they did so while on duty and in uniform.

The three were assigned at the time to the Millennium Mall application site in case anyone fell ill in line.

"As far as I'm concerned, I handled it," Fernandez said.