LANSING – Senator David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) and Representative Julie Plawecki (D-Dearborn Heights) released a joint letter today calling upon the federal government to reward over $1.8 million of federal grant money to the Western-Wayne Fire Authority that would specifically fund fire service for city of Inkster. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants were created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, “front line” firefighters available in their communities.
“The City of Inkster has been under tremendous financial stress the last couple of years. We have an obligation to fight for our community so that everyone can enjoy the essential public services they deserve,” said Knezek. “After the WWFA submitted its initial grant request, Representative Plawecki and I drafted this letter to support the efforts that are being made at the local level to ensure that Inkster residents receive the quality public services that they deserve.”
The letter was addressed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, Congressman John Conyers, Inkster Mayor Hilliard Hampton, and the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the White House.
“Inkster residents would be better served by the increased staffing and faster response times this grant would provide,” said Plawecki. “The awarding of this grant would have a significant positive impact on improving safety in our community, and we encourage FEMA to look upon this application with favor.”