In an emergency, you dial 911 for help. That call is answered by the police department in your city, which determines whether you need police help or medical emergency care. If you have a medical emergency, they forward that call instantly to a "secondary 911 dispatcher."

That dispatcher is referred to by our local emergency service as "North Com," which is located in San Diego and serves nine cities in North County (their number is 858-756-3006 if you need to check for yourself).

They will dispatch the "closest available" paramedic to your home instantly. If the paramedic service in your city is near your home and they are on call, "secondary 911" will dispatch the "nearest available" paramedic unit to your home.

You need to know there are 11 paramedic units available to your loved one any day or night of the week.

Last year, my husband was stricken on Thanksgiving Day; the paramedics responded immediately. They were fast, thoughtful, helpful and I was so grateful to have them. I was surprised to receive a bill from the city of Carlsbad since I live in Oceanside, and when I called to find out what the bill was for, I discovered it was for paramedic service.

The Oceanside Fire Fighters Political Action Committee has distributed three very expensive, very large, color fliers so far showing some scary comments and images, especially scary to seniors who depend on paramedic service for their loved ones. Please know that you have 11 paramedic units in our North County standing ready to care for you and your beloved family.

Oceanside is going through a major financial crisis. Many of our neighbors and friends have lost their homes to foreclosure; people are losing their jobs (more than 80,000 in San Diego County in the last two years). Businesses are closing and seniors have lost large amounts of monthly income. Three hundred and sixty-seven thousand individuals in San Diego County were living in poverty last year.

You are now forced to pay $483,000 for a recall election we did not need. If they did not want Councilman Jerry Kern in office, they could vote him out next November. This recall is not about Councilman Jerry Kern, it is about taking control of the City Council.

You can do the math. Our city collects just over $46 million dollars in property tax for the entire city in one year; the public safety budget alone totals over $56 million. Can you afford increased salaries and benefits? If Councilman Kern is voted out and you replace him with someone who will vote increased salaries and benefits to these public safety people, you have probably just voted yourself a heavy tax increase.

Seniors especially need to be reassured that when their family is in need, they will receive the best paramedic service available.

I was assured today by the North County 911 dispatcher that when they receive your urgent call, you will be served by the nearest paramedic unit to your home regardless of which city you reside in. You need to be reassured, not terrified. There are 11 paramedic units ready to serve you when your call goes out.

Now you have the facts.

Mary Steiger is an Oceanside resident.