A powerful adversary emerged Thursday to slam Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to close 20 FDNY companies – Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Silver, one of the most influential pols in the state, railed against the mayor’s proposal to shutter two fire companies in lower Manhattan – and accused Hizzoner of using the threatened closures as a “pawn” in the budget game.
“I think it’s inappropriate here,” said Silver, “and I think it’s inappropriate to use them as a negotiating pawn each year.”
Silver denied that a shortfall in state funding to the city was the reason behind the potential closures, claiming Bloomberg put a bull’s-eye on the FDNY units years ago.
“The mayor has always proposed closing firehouses,” he said. “I think that’s his own negotiation with the City Council.”
The tentative list of endangered companies – many of them in prominent politicians’ districts – was turned over to the City Council on Wednesday. Bloomberg has said shuttering 20 companies would save $55 million and help close the city’s budget gap.
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