Voters in Roosevelt rejected a referendum to provide funding for a new firehouse
ROOSEVELT-- Members of the Roosevelt Volunteer Fire Company planned on handing in their gear Wednesday, the day after a public referendum to spend $600,000 on a new firehouse was defeated, News 4 New York reported.
"We have spent years building up a once non-existent department," Samuel Lopez, president of the Roosevelt Volunteer Fire Department, told the station.
"It's very upsetting to see [it] thrown to the curb."
Firefighters and supporters of the measure said the money was needed to replace their decaying headquarters, which was damaged by Hurricane Sandy, but opponents said spending money to upgrade the community's water system is a higher priority.
At least some firefighters planned to join neighboring departments. Fire protection will be handled by another town, News 4 also reported.
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