The Truth About Mission’s Fire-Based EMS: Facts vs. Fiction

For some time now, the *Progress Times* and local attorney Rick Salinas have been working hand in hand to push a misleading narrative about our city’s finances, particularly when it comes to our fire-based EMS program. We feel it's time to put the facts and truth at the forefront and present the real story to our community.

When the Mission Fire Department launched our in-house fire-based EMS program, there were critics who doubted its success. Among them were certain individuals, including Rick’s sidekicks, who claimed that the program would be a financial burden to the city. These critics, driven more by fiction than facts, were quick to voice their opposition, often without a clear understanding of the situation.

But let’s be clear: our priority has always been to provide the best possible service to our community. We sought to deliver superior quality care and faster response times, ensuring that the citizens of Mission receive the emergency services they deserve. And while these goals were our primary focus, we're also proud to report that the financial health of the program has exceeded expectations.

What no one seems to be talking about—especially not the *Progress Times* or Rick Salinas—is the actual revenue that our EMS program is generating. Instead, they’ve chosen to twist the narrative, falsely claiming that the program is putting the city in a financial hole. This couldn’t be further from the truth. By the end of this year, Mission’s fire-based EMS program is projected to generate $1.1 million in revenue, with projections indicating that we could reach $2.4 million by next year. This is a significant achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our firefighters, who have embraced this challenge and made it a success.

Now, is it just a coincidence that Rick Salinas, with his inflated ego and constant need for attention, is the same individual whose narrative is being echoed by the *Progress Times*? Or is there more to the story? Is there a plot, a hidden agenda, to undermine the success of our EMS program and the progress our city has made? Salinas, who has always presented himself as the one who knows best, seems more concerned with tearing down others than with the actual well-being of our community. His campaign slogan, "Making Mission Great Again," raises the question: what part of Mission’s past does he want to return to? Under the current mayor and city officials, Mission has continued to move forward, prosper, and grow. The progress we’ve made is undeniable, and it’s clear that the current leadership has done an excellent job.

But the *Progress Times* has continued to amplify Salinas’s baseless claims, failing to provide an accurate and fair account of our efforts. Instead of reporting on the true financial success of our EMS program, they’ve chosen to support a narrative that paints the city in a negative light, all to serve the agenda of a man more concerned with his ego than with the well-being of our community.

Who can trust Rick Salinas? His actions and words show a person more concerned with his own ego than with the well-being of our community. His negative attacks are not only baseless but also harmful to the progress we’ve made. And who can trust a newspaper that prioritizes sensationalism over truth?

We are grateful for the continued support from our mayor and city officials, who believed in our firefighters and stood by us when others doubted. Their commitment to public safety and their trust in our abilities have been crucial to the success of this program.

Mission, it’s time to wake up. The negative attacks and inaccurate reporting need to stop. Our fire-based EMS program is not only enhancing the safety and well-being of our community but also contributing to the city’s financial health. Let’s focus on the real progress being made and continue to support those who work every day to protect and serve our city.

Enough is enough. We stand by our commitment to transparency and excellence, and we will not be swayed by those who seek to undermine our success.

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