The Chicago Sun-Times recently published an article highlighting the racial composition of recent hiring within the Chicago Fire Department (CFD), revealing a persistent lack of diversity despite new recruitment efforts. This year, the CFD hired 300 firefighters and 162 paramedics to address rising overtime costs. However, these hires did little to change the department's historically white-dominated workforce. Out of the 462 new hires, only 33—just 7%—were African-American, while 73% were white, and 17% were Hispanic. The numbers reflect a long-standing issue that many in the community continue to voice concerns about. On December 13 and 14, the department will host its first firefighter entrance exam in nearly a decade, with over 23,000 applicants expected to take part. This time, the applicant pool appears more diverse, with 44% white, 24% Hispanic, 22% Black, and 14% women. The shift is due in part to a major outreach campaign led by the Fire Department’s personnel chief, Adrienne Bryant. "We had teams of firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics assigned to different areas of the city," Bryant explained. "They distributed information, attended job fairs, went to events, and used social media. We also ran ads on billboards, in local newspapers, on radio, and even in movie theaters during Labor Day weekend." The effort was seen as a success, with a broader range of candidates applying than in previous years. Despite this progress, some African-American aldermen remain skeptical. Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward) expressed frustration, noting that the lack of diversity has been consistent for years. “I’ve been on the City Council for seven years, and these numbers look the same,†she said. “I don’t see how we can ever achieve real parity in the Fire Department.†Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago defended the strategy, emphasizing the importance of building a large and diverse candidate pool. “If we want to get to the top, we need a strong base,†he said. “Once we have enough people, they’ll move up through the ranks.†This isn’t the first time the city has faced criticism over discrimination in hiring. Two years ago, Chicago borrowed $78.4 million to compensate nearly 6,000 African-American applicants who were unfairly excluded from the 1995 firefighter exam. The legal settlement ended up costing more than expected, with $43 million in overtime expenses last year alone and another $28.3 million in the first five months of this year. While the department continues to push for change, many are still waiting to see real progress in making the Fire Department reflect the diversity of the city it serves. Thanks, Dan Conveyor Safety Devices,Conveyor Belt Switch,Belt Skid Slip Detector,Conveyor Safety Switch SUZHOU ARPHU INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD , https://www.arphuind.com