06/04/2026
So let me get this straight...
Homeless people can stand in medians and intersections panhandling money from the public every day to support their drug and alcohol addictions, but Omaha firefighters can't raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association?
A city that claims to support community involvement should be encouraging charitable fundraising by its firefighters, not standing in the way of it.
Omaha Professional Fire Fighters Association, IAFF L385
Yesterday, the Omaha City Council rejected an ordinance that would have allowed our firefighters – with approval of both the mayor and department head – to once again collect on the streets for MDA. For the inevitable follow-up question, those voting against our ordinance were Brinker Harding, LaVonya Goodwin, and Don Rowe. Aimee Melton was absent
We’re disappointed, but ultimately, the only ones this vote hurt were the Muscular Dystrophy Association and all the people with neuromuscular diseases that these efforts would have supported. Before being taken off the streets for what many believe was purely political retribution, our union alone was regularly bringing in over $100,000 each year for MDA while collecting for a couple of hours over Labor Day weekend– all while receiving absolutely nothing in return. After we were taken off the streets, these donations dwindled, despite our attempts to host regular events and “Fill the Boot” drives in front of grocery stores.
We’re altruistic people, and we want to help as many people as we can – whether it’s an emergency a person is experiencing or a life-long battle against a neuromuscular disease – but with these politicians’ “NO” vote, the only thing being accomplished is negatively impacting those in our community fighting muscular dystrophy. Our fire fighters will continue to respond to emergencies, raise a modest amount of money for MDA off-duty, and do what we can for the organization, and it won’t impact our day-to-day much. But for those with neuromuscular diseases, this is a tremendous opportunity that was lost and is a major blow. It’s frustrating when the general public sees politics interfere with doing the right thing, and after fighting so hard for others with this ordinance, we can completely understand that frustration.
Stay safe, Omaha!
