During its March 12 meeting the El Paso, Texas, City Council voted 5-0 to sell a 1976 Mack firetruck to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico for $2,000. The truck's ladder can be used to fight fires in buildings 10 stories high.
The Montana Vista Fire Department of El Paso County protested the sale. El Paso Mayor, Larry Francis however, pointed out that the Montana Vista Department has only three multistory buildings and their bids on smaller trucks would be better suited for their department's needs. Francis said, "[a] large aerial firetruck has very little use in either colonias or outlying cities." He believes the truck is needed more in downtown Juarez with its many high-rise buildings. The Council agreed with the Mayor's logic.
Council member Stan Roberts further noted, that the truck needed $50,000 worth of repairs, which Montana Vista could not afford. Juarez, on the other hand, has the tax base to make these repairs and would be happy to do so since a new 10 story aerial firetruck costs around $500,000.
Source: El Paso Times