Firefighter told to park elsewhere. Hartford, Connecticut fire station off limits because of political bumper stickers on SUV.
Firefighter Mike Di’Giacomo said his SUV is banned from in the firehouse because the bumper stickers he has on it, displays his political views.
Di’Giacomo said he has never run into a problem like this in the 10 years he has been with the department.
The bumper stickers read:
Somewhere in Kenya, a village is missing its idiot
I’ll keep my guns, freedom and money. You keep the change
Obama Bin Lyin. Impeach Now
Di’Giacomo said that because of them, he’s not being treated the same as everyone else in his firehouse. He said, “These are just my political views. It’s freedom of speech as far as I’m concerned. It’s my personal vehicle.”
Di’Giacomo said on Tuesday night, a supervisor told him because of his stickers, he could not park his SUV inside the firehouse anymore.
Parking is allowed inside the firehouse on a first-come, first-served basis.
“He (Di’Giacomo’s supervisor) said that the union, corporation counsel, and downtown were all in agreement that I could not park inside of the firehouse anymore. However, I spoke to the union president this morning and said he was not aware of any such agreement and that I was welcome to come down and file a grievance, which I will do,” Di’Giacomo said.
Channel 3 Eyewitness News asked the fire department about the incident and was told to submit questions to Chief Charles Teale in writing.
Di’Giacomo said no matter what Teale’s explanation is, he will not remove the stickers.
