New York City Fire Department Commissioner Salvatore Cassano testified before the City Council Monday, saying 20 fire companies will be closed overnight in an effort to close a $60 million budget gap.
Cassano told members of the Council’s fire and criminal justice committee the closings would include a mix of engine and ladder companies.
A complete list is expected to be released by the end of this week.
The decision, however, is not sitting well with Council members.
“I think this decision if allowed will increase the likelihood that New Yorkers and firefighters will be injured or killed,” said City Councilman James Oddo of Staten Island.
A combination of engine companies and ladder companies will likely be closed, some on a rotating basis from 6 p.m. until 9 a.m. The list itself will be based on several factors, including response times and number of fires reported.
Cassano says he does not have a choice, and that the closures are preferable to other alternatives to closing the budget.
“I’m given a budget to run and I come up with the way we’re going to cut. This is my idea. If I could come up with other ways to do it, I would love to come up with other ways, such as a fee on accidents, which has caused a furor,” Cassano said.
A proposed fee for when FDNY vehicles respond to car accidents has also drawn major backlash from lawmakers.
City Councilman Peter Vallone says he’s drafting a bill to forbid the fee.
Another money saving tactic includes the removal of a fifth firefighter in 60 engine companies starting February 1. The staffing agreement was made under the firefighters contract with the city. But Cassano says he believes the city doesn’t need union permission anymore — something the firefighters union disagrees with.
“I think this administration has decided that given they have a fiscal crisis the rules of law do not apply and they’re just gonna bully us. It’s not going to happen,” said Uniformed Firefighters Association President Stephen Cassidy. “We’re eventually going to have a fight about staffing because it’s important. It’s about firefighter safety, it’s about public safety.”
By rule, the city must give 45 days notice to community boards and the City Council about which companies will be closed overnight, which means the closures could take effect by mid-February.
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(Source: NY1)
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One Response
So the City Council is railing against Firehouse closings and fines while at the same time enacting the budget cuts that made them necessary. I’m not blaming the City Council. They’re just trying to get elected by a population that wants lower taxes and more Government spending.