IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stephen Heverly, Alvarez for Mayor, 619-886-0926

Alvarez Outlines Emergency and Fire Response Priorities Californias Drought Emergency Raises the Stakes for San Diegos Fire Protection
SAN DIEGO, January 24, 2014 Today, Councilmember and Mayoral Candidate David Alvarez joined San Diegos firefighters to outline his four-point plan for emergency preparedness and fire protection. One of the most important responsibilities of any Mayor is preparing for and responding to disasters, said Mayoral Candidate David Alvarez. In an emergency, San Diegans must know that first responders will be there to protect their families, loved ones and homes. That protection happens because of the leadership at the top. Alvarez and the firefighters stood at Fire Station 37, which is home to a brush fire apparatus and serves the Scripps Ranch neighborhood and surrounding areas. Scripps Ranch is in the Wildland-Urban Interface and is one of many very high fire severity zones in the City, falling victim to Californias largest wildfire disaster in 2003. A decade later in 2013, the state experienced the driest calendar year in 119 years of California rainfall records. 2014 continues the unusually dry trend, with the National Weather Service issuing a Red Flag Warning for San Diegos inland valleys and mountains from Thursday, January 23 at noon through 8 p.m. Friday, January 24. Alvarez stated that with these unprecedented wildfire risk conditions the City and its future Mayor must have the publics safety, first responders and their equipment needs as the highest priorities. Im proud of my record of re-opening browned-out fire stations and never voting to cut fire rescue services. I have only increased fire protection services, something my opponent cannot say, added Alvarez. I also stood with the men and women who put themselves on the line by protecting the benefits they and their families depend on. My opponent voted to take those benefits away. Thats not the leadership we need in San Diego. Alvarez announced a four-point strategy for increasing public fire safety:

 Implementation of Citygate recommendations for new fire stations Full funding of the citys Proactive Brush Management Program Addition of an ambulance in every fire station that needs one Increase civilian personnel to support first responders in the field Frank De Clercq, 27-year veteran and President of San Diego City Firefighters Local 145 applauded Alvarezs plan and his unwavering support for fire safety needs in the City. David Alvarez has shown true grit on the Council time and again. He has stood up for our families and for San Diegos fire prone neighborhoods, said De Clercq. When were looking at dangerous red flag warnings, our men and women need to know the person at the helm of City Hall will make sure we have the tools we need to do our job. The only person who we can count on is David Alvarez. More information about Alvarez and his policy priorites can be found at www.AlvarezForMayor.com. ### David Alvarez, Councilmember for San Diegos Eighth Council District is running for Mayor of San Diego. More information can be found at www.AlvarezForMayor.com