New Bedford residents and firefighters banded together Tuesday evening to rally against the city’s plan to close Engine 9.

 

Mayor Jon Mitchell laid out his proposed budget, which aims to close a $32 million gap with cuts to various services. His proposal calls for the closure of Engine 9 and laying off the firefighters who work there.

 

Mitchell said it’s a decision he is not making lightly.

 

“The city’s budget has reached a boiling point,” he said. “We had to make some tough decisions.”

 

But residents like 80-year-old Carol Strupczewski argue that Mitchell made the wrong decision.

 

“You’ve got to fight for what’s right,” Strupczewski said. “I sent an email to the mayor and I told him it’s insane to close a fire house.”

 

See more at heraldnews.com.