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In 2003 six Fire Companies were closed in the City of New York and this
was a mistake. The excuse used was a fiscal crisis. Recently, public safety
experts were shocked to find out that the city is quietly moving to sell off
these vital security assets. To do so defies common sense. There is now no
financial crunch necessitating the auctioning of firehouses. These
firehouses should not be sold but should instead be reopened. Greater fire
protection, not less is needed in these growing communities.
Greater population densities bring more traffic and significantly
increase in our response times. The Partnership for New York City released a detailed report titled "Growth or Gridlock?" in December 2006. The report
states that analysts forecast that the city will "add a million more
residents and 750,000 new jobs over the next 25 years." The report further
points out that "the level of traffic in the city and much of the Metro
Region has crossed the dividing line that separates economically efficient
traffic flow from destructive, excess congestion. As a result, virtually
every business and industry sector in all five boroughs and across the Metro Region is suffering losses because of congestion." These studies would seem to indicate that our response times will grow longer with the crippling impact that comes with increased congestion and gridlock. I wrote a piece in the New York Daily News on Tuesday, December 5th addressing this critical issue and will continue to carry this message to our elected officials. They also need reminding that 2005 was the busiest year in the history of the FDNY, with 485,702 total responses and this record could be shattered when the numbers are tallied for 2006.
I was delighted to be appointed by Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer in
November to serve on his Homeland Security Transition Committee. Already a
working list of the State's most pressing security issues was compiled which included border security, infrastructure, national coordination efforts, better preparedness for natural disasters, and terrorist-related events. It is crucial that fire service is recognized as being central to terrorist preparedness and prevention. The expanded role of today's Firefighter needs to be highlighted at every level of government.
On December 6, 2006, the city's Office of Emergency Management opened its new permanent emergency operations center in Brooklyn. This center, in
tandem with the $17 million upgrade of the Department's command center which opened in September, provide state-of-the art resources to plan responses to terrorist attacks, fires, snowstorms, blackouts, or any other emergency. Now that all the material resources are in place, the issue of staffing must again be revisited. In December of 2005 we renegotiated the Roster Staffing Agreement, which was set to expire, and got a five-year extension with an increase from 60 to 64 five-man Engine Companies. Staffing is primary to Firefighter and public safety and will continue to press the issue.
I was pleased that most of the UFA's endorsed candidates for national and state offices were swept to victory. On the morning of November 8th, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton joined me for breakfast, along with the Firefighters at Engine 54, Ladder 4. Senator Clinton said, "I came here this morning to thank this firehouse and really all of out first responders who take care of us everyday." As January approaches, I intend to continue to push the UFA agenda with both our newly elected officials and the incumbents.
In an interview on NY1 in October, I blasted the department for
concealing from the UFA the results of Chief Hay's safety investigation
concerning a faulty latch mechanism on the doors of Seagrave pumpers which
led to the severe injury of a Manhattan Firefighter in May. In an October
10th press conference, I further expressed my anger that this safety report
was kept secret from the UFA and that the Department failed to implement
Chief Hay's recommendation more than six months after the accident! An
estimated 95 percent of the FDNY's 200 pumpers had flawed latches. I am
pleased to report the Department after being exposed and embarrassed is
finally correcting the problem.
In November the Broward County Retirees Association hosted a retiree's
conference in Orlando, Florida. The event was well-attended and provided the UFA with an opportunity to dispel inaccurate information and provided
retirees with first-hand information on variety of union issues. The UFA is
looking forward to participating in future conferences to assist our retired members.
Two rounds of negations regarding our contract have taken place with city officials since the September/October issue of Fire Lines. I will continue to update you on our progress in both Fire Lines and on the UFA Web site www.ufanyc.org. I wish all
of you a very happy holiday season and hope that the new Year will be
healthy and safe!
Stephen J. Cassidy,
President
