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Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Women Accepted, Just Not Encouraged




While taking the tour of the new Fire Station I had noticed there weren't any private full bathrooms in the Station for women. Chief See noticed I had been looking at the signs and then stated, all six of the full baths were unisex bathrooms. They are provided with a urinal, toilet and a shower. When you walk in you simply lock the door behind you.

I jokingly said, does that mean the women are going to constantly be complaining about the men not putting up the seat and or putting it down when they're through?

I'm not quite sure just why they've chosen to go this route but there are no separate sleeping quarters for the women either, (I'll get into that later). I see them boasting about new female recruits but much like having a black firefighter and making them feel comfortable, $10,000,000.00 was just spent to make it look as if there's no real home for the women either? That is, unless you're talking about the kitchen!

Granted, they claim there aren't many women Firefighters and or black Firefighters, so they must know what they're doing and talking about, right?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

This arrangement impressed me. Male or female can enter and every bathroom necessity is provided. You close the door and never have to undress in the lock room outside for all to see. A great use of space.
There is no need for separate sleeping quarters. Firefighters do not strip down and wear jammies. When they get a chance to lay down, they take off their shoes and rest in trousers and a T shirt. There are patition walls separating individual bunk area. The ladies I know in the fire service don't want special treatment. I don't see a problem with these arrangements.

joe albero said...

Bryan,

It is a different lifestyle for 99% of the rest of us out there. It may be perfectly acceptable in that field. However, I did not see women's bathrooms throughout the facility, but I may be wrong in the paid management areas? I do not believe someone not in that position can access that area after hours anyway.

If this works for the women, cool. However, I don't think that out of the "6" full bathrooms, one of them couldn't be exclusive for women?????

Anonymous said...

How nice to know that the hierarchy of SFD read and comment upon posted comments. I'd be interested in hearing if Mr. Records knows firefighter Mike Fields of previous postings.....also what are his thoughts on the faults in the floor of the new facility...since he seemingly has some answers to other issues? A chance to turn rhetoric into q and a.

Anonymous said...

A lot of fun might be had if I let my immagination run- sharing bathrooms[don't forget to lock the door]and laying on the cots and enjoying a little small talk before going to sleep or whatever.

Anonymous said...

Anon
I hardly consider myself in the hierarchy. I am for the troops and consider myself one of them. I have experienced no working showers and ancient bathrooms for years. Anything is an improvement. I have a simple philosophy. I didn't build it or have to pay for it. I have to go where I am told to do my job. Nothing is perfect, but this is far better than what we now have.

Anonymous said...

There ARE men and women's bathrooms in the administration side of the building. They are specifically marked as such, as well. I personally don't see the problem with unisex bathrooms. Like Bryan said they are located off of the locker room area, all have a complete toilet, urinal, sink, and shower. All lock from the inside and allow for complete privacy for either sex. It is much better than standing in the buck and having to change. I WOULD have a problem if we had one in that area that was specifically designated for women because of the six shower areas in question; none are specifically designed for men. They accomodate both sexes. What is so difficult to accept about that?

Second, as for the sleeping quarters. Each room is partioned off to allow for semi-privacy. It is strictly against Departmental policy to be in less clothes than gym shorts and a t-shirt at anytime, regardless of a person's sex. Therefore there is no need to have seperate bunks for each sex.

Fire away Joe I know your waiting.

Rob Frampton

Anonymous said...

Bryan, that was a weak answer, you normally do much better.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Records,
I certainly appreciate your service to our community, but am disappointed to hear that you aren't expecting more for our large expenditure...why DIDN'T you have input? If you were going to be
satisfied so easily, just to attain a level of improvement over what you had before. When I read how much this new facility was going to cost, I certainly expected more than just adequate.
Maybe you need to be more involved.

Anonymous said...

Having a bathroom,designated for women haven't kept the men out yet!!! Rob..
'They' who use it says it has a better atomsphere or maybe its the SMELL.
LOL

Anonymous said...

He's smart enough to let you talk about the cracks. Those who know him know what he thinks. It won't be him that has to explain the cracks when the place sinks.

Anonymous said...

This guy has nothing to do with the building of this firehouse. His job is to fight fires and its the City's job to build the firehouse. The old place is a dump and the firefighters deserve better. The big boys and the Mayor decide on specific issues of the building. They're all probably doing backflips knowing that the place has hot water and the toilets flush.

Anonymous said...

Anon
I am disappointed that you aren't expecting more for our large expenditure.

Thats the big misconception here. Firefighters don't really expect or want much. The just come to work and do their job. The building is just a garage for the rigs. Its the hierarchy as you call it that has arranged all the frills.There are only a few that are in the inner circle and he ain't one of them.
D.M.

Anonymous said...

If all we have to worry about at this point in time is UniSex restrooms I think we are doing good. Great Job Solving All The Other Problems Of The World.

Anonymous said...

You are all absolutely right, and I stand corrected. It should not be the rank and file firefighters who make decisions on infrastructure...it should be the people elected to represent the tax paying public. The firefighters are doing a GREAT job, and the elected officials stink. Stop spending our money so freely. It doesn't grow on trees.

Anonymous said...

Better get out and plant a few more of those money trees, next year they'll have to pay to jack the building up out of the bog. Don't forget DPW wants a $2 million dollar building and Howard Landing says "why not, everyone else is getting one". Give them station 16.