Why Do the Firefighters and Paramedics Not Respect Fire Chief Lenny Perez? Think Major Frank Burns of M.A.S.H.

Major Frank Burns of M.A.S.H.

If some men and women are born leaders, others lack the necessary DNA. to inspire.  In half an episode of the TV show M.A.S.H., during which Major Frank Burns assumed command of the 4077th, he had surgeons B.J. Hunnicutt and Hawkeye Pierce facing court martial, imposed military rules on the medical unit, banned alcoholic beverages and destroyed morale.

Fortunately, before that episode concluded, a chiller, more mature head, Colonel Sherman Potter, assumed command.



Brownsville Fire Chief Lenny Perez is Frank Burns.  He has totally lost the men and women who are first responders in the City of Brownsville, firemen and paramedics.  Perez didn't lose his men and women by simply being a weak, bureaucratic douchebag.  He lost them by trying to undercut their manhood at every turn.  Twice he fired former Union President Marco Longoria on charges so flimsy as not worth the type to repeat them here.  Each time Marco got his job back.  Primping and posing in front of the Queen Isabella Causeway to receive an award that should have recognized his brave paramedics and first responders to the causeway collapse gave more evidence of Perez' clueless egomania.

Lenny Perez, Flanked by Attorneys
at last Marco Longoria Hearing

Even more damning has been Perez mishandling of nearly every grievance coming across his desk, forcing them expensively into arbitration, enriching the Navarro Law Group, but skyrocketing legal fees for the city and the union.  The fact that the city recently lost 26 of 28 arbitration cases illustrates the misguided heavyhandedness of Lenny Perez's piss poor management style. Please notice that we didn't even mention that when firemen in a certain station befriended and cared for a stray dog, Perez took the dog to animal control for euthanization.

With all of the above in mind, Mean Mister Brownsville received this email today:

BROWNSVILLE FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION Local 970

NOTICE OF EMERGENCY SPECIAL MEETING

Be advised the Brownsville Firefighter’s Association will have an EMERGENCY SPECIAL MEETING on Wednesday; August 21, 2013 AT 7:00 p.m. for discussion, consideration, and action for the circulation of a letter of NO CONFIDENCE against Lenny Perez for highly questionable and severe leadership abuses against Brother and Sister Firefighters of the past, present, and future members of our Association. This CRITICAL meeting will require the attendance of every possible member of our Association that is genuinely concerned for the security of the future of our careers and the protection of our family as a Brownsville Firefighter.
DATE: Wednesday;AUGUST 21, 2013
TIME: 07:00 p.m.
LOCATION: VETERANS of FOREIGN WARS