Kim Kardashian Advocates for Incarcerated Firefighters Pay Raise as Fires Devastate L.A.

by

Kim Kardashian is once more standing up for those she believes have been unfairly treated by the U.S. government, this time focusing on imprisoned firefighters. In a recent Instagram post, she highlighted how these brave individuals are putting their lives at risk to protect the Los Angeles community, yet they are only being paid $1 an hour.

44-year-old television personality and entrepreneur, well-known from reality TV shows, has been actively advocating for prison law reform since 2018. This was sparked when she watched a video online about Alice Johnson, a grandmother serving life in prison due to her connection with a Memphis cocaine ring. Moved by her story, Kardashian met with former President Donald Trump to plead for Johnson’s clemency and ask him to endorse the First Step Act, a legislation that brought significant changes to the prison system.

On a scorching Sunday, amidst the relentless five-day onslaught of colossal fires that ravaged Los Angeles, I found myself reflecting upon an Instagram post shared by Kardashian. It showcased the heroic inmates who’ve been integrated into the firefighting teams, some of whom have unfortunately lost their lives over the years, risking everything for the safety and well-being of the L.A. community.

For the past week, I’ve been witnessing my city in flames and interacting with numerous firefighters who work tirelessly day and night to protect our neighborhood. I want to express gratitude towards CAL FIRE and those managing the Palisades and Easton fires. It’s disheartening to know that hundreds of incarcerated individuals, earning minimal wages, are putting their lives on the line, with some even sacrificing their own lives. These brave souls demonstrate their commitment to the community as first responders. In my eyes, they are true heroes.

For decades, a well-known reality TV personality asserted that firefighters serving time behind bars have earned just $1 per hour since 1984. She shared this information with her vast audience, revealing that neither their pay nor adjustments for inflation had ever been increased – not even during times of increasing fire severity or high casualties. Reportedly, a recent proposal to boost their wage to $5 per hour was allegedly blocked at the last moment.

Kardashian subsequently urged Governor Gavin Newsom of California to increase the wages for incarcerated firefighters, stating that the compensation should reflect the dignity of a person putting their life on the line to protect ours and our homes.

Although I firmly believe that the underpayment of these firefighters is indeed an issue, it’s crucial that Kim Kardashian verifies her facts on this matter. It appears that according to the Department of Corrections’ website, incarcerated firefighters might even receive a bonus per hour during emergencies – a dollar extra, to be precise.

According to the FAQ section from DOC, the daily pay for conservation camp incarcerated fire crew members ranges from $5.80 to $10.24, with CDCR handling the payments. When assigned to an active emergency, these individuals receive an extra dollar per hour from CAL FIRE, regardless of their skill level. During emergencies, crews may work for 24 hours straight before getting a 24-hour rest period.

Although Kardashian is accurate in pointing out that firefighters’ pay is quite meager, considering they earn just $5.80 per hour with an eight-hour shift equating to less than one dollar, she might have misunderstood the concept of bonus pay. However, this potential confusion could become irrelevant if Kardashian, having successfully passed the baby bar exam in 2021 and using her influence, continues advocating for criminal justice reform.

Read More

2025-01-13 03:54