The article was tied to the effort currently underway to pass the FIRE Act, a major grant program to assist America's fire service. We suggested that the most effective way to move the FIRE legislation toward final passage is through an aggressive and sustained grassroots program. Grassroots lobbying, in its simplest terms, is citizen participation in government. It is an effective way to get your message across. And so it is.
Public safety is local and very important to elected officials.
It impacts upon voters. Politicians are held accountable for ensuring it. You represent a considerable portion of public safety in your jurisdiction and what you say matters. There is no better spokesman for the fire department than its chief. This is an organizational request, not personal.