An e-mail mistake, over budget cuts targeting firefighters, is stirring up some controversy and sparking an apology from St. Louis (MO) City Hall. St. Louis is looking at a $10,000,000 shortfall and there is growing frustration with the fire department, which is running $3,000,000 in the red.
Tiana Jost, a wife of a firefighter, wrote to her alderman about reports of deep cuts in the fire department and her email was forwarded to the assessor’s office at city hall.
The St. Louis City Assessor, Ed Bushmeyer, fired off a quick response he sent to Jost, instead of the alderman.
The response from the Bushmeyer said, “If they can afford to live on your street, their salaries must not be so bad. And their salaries are certainly higher than yours! And most of us don’t get paid while we sleep at night.”
Bushmeyer sent an apology by email and said he was reprimanded by the mayor.
Jost is still fearful her husband, who has been with the department for nearly three years, may lose his job on budget cuts.
