 Only minorities with no political representation were affected, effectively segregated and politically marginalized, preventing them from finding allies to oppose the reductions in service to their districts.If this seems a relic of past discrimination fights, the Aughts proved this not to be the case.With nepotism an issue the makeup of many firehouses still remains a profession passed from father to sons, barring lawsuits to force integration of minorities and women they continue to remain the same as they were in the 1970s era of consent decrees.