When Sacramento city firefighter Waris Gildersleeve heard that his colleague Desmond Lewis was resigning, he knew it would have an impact. That’s because Gildersleeve and Lewis were part of the 2.4% of the department that is African American, a perplexing distinction within a force that’s more than 580 firefighters strong. When representation is that off-kilter in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, even a single resignation has ripple effects.
Now, Gildersleeve has also resigned from being a firefighter, though he’s still employed as a fire inspector. A 15-year veteran of the department, Gildersleeve says the reason he no longer wanted to be working in station houses involves the same worries Lewis had when he put in his papers: Some Captain-level supervisors don’t address bullying, harassment, racist remarks or extreme unprofessionalism. And in certain cases, according to Gildersleeve, Lewis and others, they’re personally involved in the behavior.
Sacramento Fire to hold weekly pop-up vaccination clinics in underserved communities
The clinics are first come, first serve with no appointments necessary and offer both drive-up and walk-up vaccinations. Author: Lena Howland (ABC10) Updated: 6:37 PM PST March 11, 2021
SACRAMENTO, Calif. The Sacramento Fire Department is now helping to vaccinate some of their community’s most underserved neighborhoods. It is part of Governor Newsom’s plan to set aside 40% of the state’s vaccine supply to communities in need.
Sacramento Fire started by holding their first pop-up clinic in the heart of Del Paso Heights Thursday at the Neighborhood Wellness Foundation Community Center.