News From City Council Member Eric Ulrich

NYC Council Member Eric Ulrich Celebrates Opening of Rockaway Beach for Summer

Council Member Eric A. Ulrich (R-Queens) joined Parks Department officials, residents and colleagues in government on the boardwalk at Beach 97^th Street in Rockaway on Friday to celebrate the annual opening of the city’s public beaches. After reminders from Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe to stay safe this summer, the officials and residents sampled some of the food available on the boardwalk this summer and tried their hand at beach tennis.

Ulrich said, “As we all know, Rockaway continues to be one of the city’s best kept secrets. It’s a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family, and to enjoy the beach. There are lots of new and exciting amenities this year, and I encourage everyone in Queens to visit this summer and discover the beauty Rockaway has to offer.”

In all, the City boasts 14 miles of beaches that attracted 19 million visitors last year. New this year will be food concessions run by Rockaway Beach Club, LLC, which will serve tacos, po’ boys, arepas, enchiladas, Italian ices and more at snack bars at Beach 86^th, 97^th and 106^th streets. In addition, a mile of new boardwalk is open this year along stretches between Beach 23^rd and Beach 81^st streets.

NYC Council Member Eric Ulrich: Additional Police Presence Needed at Aqueduct

Council Member Eric A. Ulrich (R-Queens) is asking the NYPD to assign additional police officers to the 106th Precinct in advance of the planned September opening of video lottery terminals at Aqueduct Race Track in Ozone Park.

The new racino is expected to draw more than eight million visitors each year, and local residents and Community Board 10 have already expressed concerns about the current staffing levels at the local precinct.

Ulrich said, “In order to keep our streets safe, we are going to need more cops at the 106^th Precinct. My constituents should not have to worry about any rise in crime that might emanate from Aqueduct. We need to do everything we can to guarantee a good quality of life for the neighborhoods surrounding the track. This request is more than reasonable.”

Ulrich had the opportunity to speak directly with Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly during a recent Public Safety Committee hearing and in a May 18 letter to the department. He requested that the new officers be assigned beginning in the new fiscal year so they will have time to acclimate themselves to the area before the racino opens.

In the letter to Commissioner Kelly, Ulrich wrote, “While the new racino is scheduled to open later this summer, many of my constituents are still concerned about the level of police protection the community will receive from the NYPD. Despite the fact that vehicular and foot traffic will increase, it still remains unclear if and when the local precinct will receive additional police personnel. Undoubtedly, more police officers will be needed to patrol the residential neighborhoods surrounding the facility… I believe this request is warranted given the size and scope of the new venue and the necessary planning that will go into maintaining a good quality of life for area residents.”

NYC Council Member Eric Ulrich Statement on Mayor's Plan to Close Engine 294 and Other Fire Companies

Council Member Eric A. Ulrich (R-Queens) released the following statement on the Mayor's plan to close 20 fire companies around the City, including Engine 294:

“The Mayor’s plan to close Engine 294 and other fire companies around the city is downright dangerous. Response times will go up and lives will be put at risk. Woodhaven and Richmond Hill desperately need adequate fire protection and emergency services, especially since many of the homes there are attached, wood-frame structures. We simply cannot balance the budget by putting people in harm’s way. Mark my words - budget cuts like these can be deadly and I will do everything in my power to fight them.”

NYC Council Member Eric Ulrich Co-Sponsors Bill to Prevent Children from Being Exposed to Pornography in Public Libraries Council Members Eric A. Ulrich (R-Queens) and David G. Greenfield (D-Brooklyn) announced bipartisan legislation on Sunday that will protect children at New York City’s public libraries from exposure to Internet pornography. The legislation would make it a misdemeanor criminal offense for any adult to view pornographic materials within 100 feet of a minor in a public library. Ulrich said, “This is a common sense piece of legislation aimed at protecting our children while they spend time at the library. Kids shouldn’t be exposed to sexually explicit content, and taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for it either. This is a serious concern for many people who don’t want their children subjected to this form of public indecency.” Greenfield said, “I am a strong supporter of our public libraries and the value and rich experiences that they provide to New Yorkers. Part of that experience, however, should not be traumatizing children by exposing them to sexual predators and debasing pornography. Our bipartisan legislation would send an unmistakable message to sexual predators: expose yourself to children and you will go to jail.” The legislation would make viewing pornography within 100 feet of a child a misdemeanor carrying fines of between $1,000 and $10,000 and the possibility of jail time, as determined by a judge. Because the proposed legislation is narrowly tailored to protect children, it is expected to pass any constitutional challenges.

NYC Council Member Eric Ulrich Statement on Mayor’s Proposed Budget

Council Member Eric A. Ulrich (R-Queens) today released the following statement in response to Mayor Bloomberg’s FY 2012 Executive Budget:

Ulrich said, “This is a very difficult budget. Even though years of prudent fiscal planning helped the city weather the recession better than most, cuts still seem inevitable. I’m especially concerned about the impact potential teacher layoffs will have on class size in our schools, and I’m also worried about the proposed firehouse closings. As an alternative, I am encouraging my colleagues to seriously consider some of the recommendations that have already been made by the Independent Budget Office. Rest assured, before the City Council adopts the budget, I will do everything in my power to protect vital services and persuade the Mayor to find money elsewhere.”

NYS Senator Joe Addabbo's Statement on the Proposed Cuts to NYC Homeland Security Federal Funding

NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens), released the following statement on the New York State Senate Homeland Security hearing held on Friday, April 8, 2011, and the proposed cuts to New York City’s Homeland Security federal funding:

It was my intent to participate in a focused hearing which was to examine the security of the New York City residents, and surrounding areas, ten years after the tragedy of 9/11. Based on the testimony of witnesses and my questioning of those witnesses, my main concern continues to be the governmental funding and interaction of the entities involved in maintaining the safety of individuals, namely the NYPD, FDNY, MTA and Port Authority. I intend, as the ranking member of the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, to continue my efforts in finding the means available to improve the safety and security of people locally and throughout the city and state.

Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, jr. Statement on the Fire Destruction of O’Neill’s in Maspeth

NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens), released the following statement today on the fire that destroyed O’Neill’s in Maspeth (in business since 1928):

I was saddened to learn of the fire damage and closure of O’Neill’s. It is my intention, and that of my office staff, to offer our assistance to repair and re-open O’Neill’s as soon as possible in order to restore this historic restaurant and bar, which for decades, had served so many satisfied customers and had been a place of employment for dozens of individuals. I am hopeful that this popular Maspeth icon will be up and running in the very near future.

Council Member Crowley Statement on Fire that Burned Down O'Neills Restaurant

Updated:


Council Member Elizabeth Crowley (D-30, Queens) stated: "O'Neill's Restaurant has been a staple in Maspeth and has served the people of Queens for almost a century. Last night's tragic fire was a loss for the whole community and serves as a reminder that, no matter how bad the budget is, it remains critically important to protect our fire services."

9/11 Flag Project for the Rotary Club of South West Queens at Prima Pasta on April 26th

A firefighter from the FDNY will be doing a presentation on the 9/11 Flag Project for the Rotary Club of South West Queens. 


 To get more info on the 9/11 Flag Project log onto:  http://national911flag.org/

What: Presentation on the 9/11 Flag Project

When: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 7:15 p.m.

Where: Prima Pasta Cafe, (back room)

161-50 Crossbay Blvd., Howard Beach, NY

Hosted by: Rotary Club of South West Queens

Pasta dinner will be served.

Open to the public on a 1^st come, 1^st served basis however,

you MUST R.S.V.P. by email: reachfos@aol.com or

by calling: 718-845-1429

Feel free to pass this on to others.

City Council Member Crowley Rallies With Unions to Protect Workers' Rights

 L/R: Tom Sullivan, President of the Lieutenants' Benevolent Association; Council Member Elizabeth Crowley (speaking at podium); Norman Seabrook, President of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association; Owen O'Hara, the Honorable Elizabeth Crowley's son; Harry Nespoli, President of the Sanitation Workers' Union; Sidney Schwartzbaum, President of the Assistant Deputy Wardens Association.

Remarks by Council Member Elizabeth S. Crowley

City Council Fire & Criminal Justice Services Committee, Chair

“Right now worker’s rights are under attack. The war on labors is not limited to Wisconsin or Ohio or Indiana, it is happening here in New York.

“Everyday we hear government officials threatening pensions and we can see these threats in proposals that cut our uniform services and our teachers. There are forces that are not trying to balance budgets—they are trying to break unions. This is not democracy—this is union busting.

“One of government’s most important responsibilities is to keep people safe. Our uniform services risk their lives to protect us and it’s up to us and the city to protect them. Our construction workers risk their lives and do dangerous jobs for our city’s benefit and we need to treat them like human beings—not like slaves.

“Our uniform services and laborers have a tough job and let’s face it: if we take pensions away, if we take away health care benefits, if we take away our bargaining rights, we will drive away qualified men and women to take on these dangerous and sometimes deadly jobs.

“This year, we remember the 10th anniversary of the attacks on September 11th in which 343 firefighters and 27 police officers died and more continue to die as a result of their heroism on that day. This tragedy should serve as a reminder of what the dangerous and sometimes deadly job our city workers face; and it should motivate us to speak out to protect the rights that so many people have died for.

“In solidarity – and only in solidarity – we will fight this war and we will win.”

Remembering Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire with Serf Maltese - wnyc radio

Serf Maltese shares memories of his grandmother and two aunts who were amung the 146 victims of the 1911.

Avella To Bloomberg: Stop Blaming The Unions by Liz Benjamin - Capital Tonight

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NYC Councilman-turned-Senator Tony Avella sent a letter today to his erstwhile political foe, Mayor Blooomberg, accusing him of taking an “unconscionable” stance on the so-called holiday “bonuses” he’s trying to eliminate as part of his pension reform push.

The Queens Democrat, who ran a longshot run for mayor in 2009 (losing the Democratic primary to then-NYC Comptroller Bill Thompson), is siding with the more than 33,000 former NYC cops and firefighters who receive that amount every December as part of the Variable Supplement Fund.

The bonus was established in 1968 and, unlike other pension benefits, is not constitutionally protected. Doing away with it would save the city $200 million a year, Bloomberg mantains.

But the unions – and now Avella – note the bonuses came about as a result of the collective bargaining process. In exchange, the city was allowed to adopt a more aggressive pension investment strategy to reduce its annual direct contribution to the pension funds. (This reportedly saved $4 billion, Avella said).

Avella called the mayor’s characterization of the VSF as “Christmas bonuses” disgraceful, adding: “Your attacks in this regard on the city’s uniformed personnel, who put their lives at on the line every day throughout their careers, is unbecoming for a mayor of the City of New York.”

Letter to Mayor Bloomberg re VSF

Police and Fire Unions Accuse Mayor Bloomberg of Trying to Steal Their Pension Benefits by Sally Goldenberg - NYPOST.com

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Cops, Firemen: Mike Lies on Pensions

A bitter feud between Mayor Bloomberg and the city's police and fire unions erupted yesterday when enraged labor leaders called the mayor a "liar" and a thief for proposing to end a $12,000 annual pension sweetener they claim was negotiated in good faith.

"As we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Mike Bloomberg wants to say to firefighters and police officers who were there that day and didn't die, 'I'm going to steal money from your pocket.' It's outrageous," Uniformed Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy fumed at a City Hall press conference.

He and his counterpart at the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, Pat Lynch, insisted the city reaped a $4 billion economic windfall after the unions allowed it to invest their members' pensions in the volatile stock market in 1968 that was the condition for handing members supplemental $12,000 pension payouts.

"This is a lie campaign, a media campaign to get everyone thinking that we're getting something we don't deserve," Lynch fumed.

Under then-Mayor Ed Koch, the city negotiated with the unions in 1988 to pay retirees a fixed amount -- then $2,500 per member annually -- from the "Variable Supplement Fund," rather than let the payments be determined by earnings. That set amount has since increased to $12,000 per retiree.

Bloomberg in his upcoming budget wants to end the benefit for retirees, for an estimated savings of $1 billion. But Cassidy and Lynch vowed to wage an advertising campaign and personally lobby city and state lawmakers to reject Bloomberg's proposal.

Final approval for the mayor's plan rests with Albany, but Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Gov. Cuomo have not taken public positions.

Nor has City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, whose members might asked by Albany lawmakers for a "home rule" vote before the issue can be sent to the legislature.

Bloomberg defended his comments against the unions' accusations, saying he has not mischaracterized the program and he continued to call it a "Christmas bonus."

"I don't know what they're talking about. We certainly didn't put out anything that, to the best of my knowledge, isn't accurate and true," Hizzoner said.

Bloomberg said the savings from reduced pension costs could spare schools from massive cuts that could be coming in the next city budget.

"We have to make a decision: Do we want to send out Christmas bonuses or have more teachers?" Bloomberg said.

sgoldenberg@nypost.com

Hearing on Bloomberg's 911 Fix Raises More Questions - WNYC

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The City Council scrutinized one facet of the Bloomberg Administration's 911 rehab Tuesday, a week after residents filed at least two wrongful death suits alleging loved ones died during the December blizzard in part because of a dysfunctional 911 system and extensive delays in EMS response time.

The hearing, which included three Council Committees, all with jurisdiction, was billed as an update on the Administration's controversial Unified Call Taking System instituted back in 2009.

Lieutenant James McGowan, with the Uniformed Fire Officers, told the council panel that the system -- in which NYPD 911 operators handle the call intake on FDNY assignments then pass on essential information via computer under the new protocol -- regularly generated the wrong addresses and incomplete job sheets.

"I get at least 11 of these a day," said McGowan, referring to the forms the FDNY had to create to keep track of the defective referrals generated by UTC.

The Bloomberg Administration's point-man on the $2 billion 911 rehab project, Skip Funk, was not present at the meeting. So it was just the uniforms on the line of fire with NYPD 911 point-man Deputy Chief Charles Dowd doing his best to keep his testimony confined to the narrow topic the Council had originally scheduled.

Deputy Chief Dowd defended the shift to Unified Call Taking as efficient. But he went around and around with Fire Committee Chair Elizabeth Crowley over whether the UTC was actually adding time to fire responses. He conceded his 911 operators might take as up to two minutes assembling the facts before relaying the call to the FDNY. He said he had no numbers on what the average time his 911 operators were taking.

The Bloomberg Administration starts the official response time clock only after the FDNY gets the call -- excluding the 911 intake time, which the unions argue has gotten longer under UTC. Uniformed Firefighters President Stephen Cassidy called that "Enron accounting."

Response times have become highly politicized. The city has known since September 11, 2001, that its emergency call system's Achilles heel was handling massive call volumes. And as recently as the December 26, 2011, blizzard, callers got busy signals and long waits.

NYPD Deputy Chief Charles Dowd told City Council members the new software the City is testing also has problems and is vulnerable to high volume.

"I can tell you, based on some of the testing we have seen, that the software is, is failing when we do high volume tests against it," he said.

For Councilwoman Gail Brewer that disclosure was only the latest in disappointments having to do with the project.

"The software is a problem, the contracts are a problem and delays obviously means money," Brewer said. "At least for three or four years we have been dealing with the same issues. It's like Silly Putty. We can never quite get out finger on it."

Earlier this year, City Comptroller John Liu blew the time-out whistle on one 911 related contract. He wrote a letter to Mayor Bloomberg and invoked the CityTime payroll contract scandal when referencing his concerns about phases of the 911 overhaul. Liu said parts of the $2 billion 911 fix are prone to poor project management, blown deadlines and cost overruns, with one phase ballooning from $380 million to $666 million dollars.

The Bloomberg Administration said it's spent only $650 million dollars so far. A spokesman insists the new system will be a vast improvement when complete.

The Council pledges another full blow oversight hearing on the whole project.

Weather Emergency Declaration Issued by Mayor...

New York City Office of Emergency Management
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
12:30 PM

WEATHER EMERGENCY DECLARATION

At the direction of the Mayor, the public is hereby advised that significant snowfall has been forecast for the evening rush hour tonight, through tomorrow's morning rush hour. The snow is forecast to taper off this afternoon before becoming more severe this evening and overnight.

1. The public is urged to avoid all unnecessary driving for the duration of the storm and until further directed, and to use public transportation wherever possible. If you must drive, use extreme caution. Information about any service changes to public transportation is available on the MTA website at http://www.mta.info/.

2. Any vehicle found to be blocking roadways or impeding the ability to plow streets shall be subject to towing at the owner's expense.

3. Effective immediately, alternate side parking, payment at parking meters and garbage collections are suspended citywide until further notice.

4. The Emergency Management, Fire, Police, Sanitation, and Transportation Commissioners will be taking all appropriate and necessary steps to preserve public safety and to render all required and available assistance to protect the security, well-being and health of the residents of the City.

Major Mid-Year Budget Cuts Avoided in Deal Negotiated by the City Council « News from CM Melissa Mark-Viverito

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The City Council has negotiated a deal with the Bloomberg administration to avoid mid-year budget cuts to core services, from case management for seniors to shelter beds for homeless youth, as well as to defer increases in recreation center fees and parking meter rates. This deal only applies to the current fiscal year, which ends in June.

By proposing alternative cuts, such as a reduction in the Department of Education’s private contracting budget, the Council was able to:

• Defer proposed nighttime fire company closures
• Restore funding for nearly 200 ACS staff positions in the areas of child welfare and child protective services
• Fully restore case management services for seniors
• Fully restore runaway and homeless youth programs and preserve the number of available slots in other afterschool programs
• Defer parking meters increases above 86th Street and outside of Manhattan
• Defer the doubling of recreation center membership fees

The City still faces a $2.4 billion deficit for the next Fiscal Year and the Bloomberg administration is already proposing over a billion dollars in cuts for Fiscal Year 2012 (which begins in July). Melissa strongly maintains her position that the only way to fully address these recurring budget deficits is to ask thewealthiest New Yorkers to put in their fair share through progressive taxation.

Diamond Won't Crack! Railway Explorer Fights Eviction from Subway Tunnel He Discovered By Andy Campbell - Courier-Life Newspapers

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A film series wanted to present a movie in Bob Diamond's Atlantic Avenue tunnel, but the city put the kibosh on it. Photo by Tom Callan

A legendary railway explorer will sue the city to regain access to the abandoned subway tunnel under Atlantic Avenue that he rediscovered decades ago, but was evicted from earlier this month.

Bob Diamond — who has runs tours of the defunct tunnel since “discovering” it in 1980 — announced on Thursday that he plans to sue the Department of Transportation for cancelling his tours, plus the popular Rooftop Films’ “Trapped in the Tunnel” event earlier this month, after the FDNY declared the tunnel a fire hazard.

Diamond’s suit will argue that the city barred him and the films without allowing him to address the FDNY’s concerns about air quality and the tunnel’s lone emergency exit.

“The FDNY gave us a list and said to fix it [but] the Department of Transportation says, ‘No, you can’t go in there anymore,’ ” Diamond said. “This is on the DOT’s head!”

Diamond and Rooftop Films received the last-minute notice from the FDNY on Dec. 10, followed closely by the ban from the Department of Transportation — more than 30 years after Diamond rediscovered the tunnel and started his tours.

The tunnel has also hosted film events before, as recently as August, with no complaints from the city.

But this time, the FDNY said that there could be “many deaths” if something went wrong inside. The city hasn’t fully explained its newfound interest in the tunnel, but noted that it’s the city’s prerogative to revoke access. And access to and egress from the tunnel has long been an issue, as it takes an hour to get everyone in and out with the one entrance — a manhole just west of the intersection of Court Street and Atlantic Avenue.

Diamond has a few ideas to fix the problems, such as reopening defunct exits along Atlantic Avenue — but he claims that he’s been denied access to do the work several times.

It’s yet unclear exactly what Diamond’s lawsuit will claim, but he said that the damages he’ll request would be “significant.” Rooftop Films had claimed that it lost $7,000 due to the cancelation.

acampbell@cnglocal.com

9/11 Responders React to the Filibuster of the Zadroga 9-11 Healthcare Bill - The Daily Show

Worst Responders

Senate Republicans filibuster the Zadroga bill but pass tax cuts for the wealthy, which is great news for firefighters who make over $200,000 a year. (05:18)

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9/11 First Responders React to the Senate Filibuster
9/11 first responders express their thoughts on Mitch McConnell's tearful sendoff of a retiring friend and Jon Kyl's reasons for why the Senate can't work after Christmas. (08:55)

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
9/11 First Responders React to the Senate Filibuster
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Mayor Bloomberg to Unveil Massive Layoff Plan Today for City Workers by Sally Goldenberg - NYPOST.com

CROWLEY CONCERNED OVER PLAN FOR NIGHTIME FIREHOUSE CLOSURES
 

"I am deeply troubled by the Mayor’s proposed nighttime closures because they will put our public safety at risk," said City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley (D-30, Queens), Chair of the Fire & Criminal Justice Committee. "Only five months ago the Mayor made an agreement with the City Council to keep all fire companies open and fully operational.  We go through the budget process to lay out our priorities for the entire fiscal year-- that included the $37 million allocated from the City Council to avoid closing fire companies.” 

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Mayor Bloomberg today is expected to order thousands of layoffs next year in bruising budget cuts intended to close a massive gap, sources told The Post last night.

Bloomberg will announce the widespread job reductions and service cuts as he tries to close the nearly $3.3 billion budget deficit the city is facing next year.

In September he directed all agency heads to cut 5.4 percent from their current budgets and 8 percent from their spending plans for next year.

The cuts were lower -- 2.7 percent this year and 4 percent next year -- for the Department of Education and the four uniformed agencies, the NYPD, FDNY, Sanitation and Correction.

The total cuts over the next 18 months will total at least $1.5 billion.

The Department of Finance is expected to take a steep hit of about 100 layoffs, several sources said.

The mayor will also announce reductions in staff through attrition.

When asked about layoffs yesterday the mayor replied, "Doing more with less always means fewer people because 80 percent of your budget is spent on salaries and benefits."

One source familiar with what the mayor will announce today said Hizzoner will drop the budget ax hard on services for seniors, libraries and cultural centers, while trying to spare the NYPD and Department of Education.

The mayor also is expected to propose closing 20 fire companies at night -- a tempered plan after his suggestion to completely shutter 20 fire companies last year faced resistance.

The City Council ultimately restored funding for those companies.

Additional reporting by David Seifman

A Quick Pitch Might Get You in Trouble with the Law by Stephen Geffon - Leader-Observer

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Putting up party tents without obtaining the required permits can get you in trouble with the law. Just ask the owner of a home near 117th Street and Linden Boulevard in South Ozone Park.

Last Friday evening, a multi-city agency task force, led by officers from the 106th Precinct, descended on a South Ozone Park residence that put up party tents without the necessary city permits, according to precinct Community Affairs Officer Ken Zorn. He said the police were responding to community complaints.

Zorn said the homeowner had put up a large tent encompassing the whole property, adding that the way the tents were erected, there was no way to exit the property if there was a fire because port-a-potties blocking the exit.

Zorn said that, under the law, if you are holding any type of event and putting up a tent in a fenced location with more than 75 people you need to obtain a temporary assembly permit. He added that the Department of Buildings (DOB) must inspect the tent to make sure that it is structurally sound, and that the Fire Department is also required to inspect the structure to ensure that it is safe.

Zorn said the owner of the house was issued two Environment Control Board violations by DOB; one for operation of a temporary place of assembly without a permit and the second for erecting tents on a property without the required permit.

He reminded residents who are planning to hold large parties that city permits are required for these events. “It’s a parking issue, it’s a quality of life issue to the surrounding residents," said Zorn. "We’re looking to educate the public to have safe, fun events.”

Unions Representing Over 30,000 NY Firefighters Endorse Gllibrand for Senate...

UFA, UFOA Praise Gillibrand’s Leadership As Chief Senate Sponsor of James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, Fast-Tracking Legislation Toward Passage

Gillibrand Secured First-Ever Senate Hearing on Long-Awaited Legislation

Kirsten Gillibrand today formally received the endorsement of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 94, AFL-CIO and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, IAFF Local 854, AFL-CIO, representing more than 30,000 active and retired New York City fire fighters, fire marshals, and fire officers.

The New York City firefighters and fire officers praised Senator Gillibrand for her leadership as the chief Senate sponsor of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, and her efforts to fast-track the legislation toward final passage in the coming months. Nearly16,000 FDNY responders are enrolled in the WTC Health Registry, waiting for lawmakers to deliver the care they need.

“In her short time as Senator of New York State, Senator Gillibrand has demonstrated leadership and distinguished herself in the U.S. Senate,” said UFA President Steve Cassidy. “She has shown a great knowledge and understanding of the difficult and dangerous job performed by New York City Firefighters and we look forward to working with her to get the James Zadroga Bill passed in the U.S. Senate.”

“Senator Gillibrand has demonstrated an unusually deep and detailed understanding of the horrific damage done to New York City firefighters during and after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center,” said Captain Alexander Hagan, President of the UFOA. 

“Everyone knows that 343 members of the FDNY died that day, but Senator Gillibrand is one of only a few who understand that thousands of firefighters who survived the attack have been sick and dying since.”

“I am honored to have the support of New York’s brave firefighters and fire officers,” said Senator Gillibrand. “They know the 9/11 health bill shouldn’t come down to a partisan fight. We have an undeniable, moral obligation to pass this bill and provide care to the thousands of heroes and survivors who are suffering, dying, and waiting for us to deliver the care they need. It’s time to seize this opportunity and keep our promise to the heroes of this country who came to our rescue on 9/11.”

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support last month, sending the legislation to the U.S. Senate. Senator Gillibrand successfully garnered the support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to bypass a lengthy and uncertain committee process, sending the bill straight to the Senate floor for a vote in the next legislative session. Earlier this year, Senator Gillibrand secured the first-ever Senate committee hearing on the landmark legislation that 9/11 first-responders across the country are waiting on to deliver the care they need.

The long-awaited legislation would provide monitoring and treatment for WTC responders and local community members, as well as monitoring and treatment for responders who traveled from all across the country to help in the clean-up effort following 9/11. The bill would also invest in research into new conditions of the diseases many first-responders and community members suffer from as a result of exposure to the toxic fumes of Ground Zero.

Nearly 16,000 responders and 2,700 community members are currently sick and receiving treatment. Over 40,000 responders are in medical monitoring and more than 70,000 individuals are enrolled in the WTC Health Registry. While most live in the New York/New Jersey area, at least 10,000 of those who are sick or being monitored for signs of illness today live all across America. In fact, citizens in all but four Congressional districts across the country could be affected by toxins from the 9/11 attacks.

New York Rejects Plan on Firefighters’ Test Bias by Elizabeth A. Harris - NYTimes.com

Bloomberg would rather spend millions and risk public safety than obey court order to hire more minority firefighters

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The City of New York said Friday that it would not hire a new class of firefighters using proposals laid out by a federal judge, who had ruled that the test used to screen Fire Department applicants discriminated against African-Americans and Hispanics.

In a letter to the judge, Nicholas G. Garaufis of the Federal District Court in Brooklyn, Michael A. Cardoza, the city’s corporation counsel, said all of the judge’s five hiring methods involved race-based quotas that were “both illegal and unwise public policy.”

The city’s decision is the latest move in a long-running legal battle over how to diversify a firefighting force that remains overwhelmingly white.

Judge Garaufis ruled in August that the exam for firefighters used by the department discriminated against blacks and Hispanics, and he issued a temporary order prohibiting the city from hiring firefighters.

But in hearings before Judge Garaufis, the city said that if it was not able to hire a new class of firefighters, it would incur millions of dollars in overtime costs per month. The city wanted to hire about 300 firefighters.

In response, Judge Garaufis offered the city five methods it could use to hire a new class, which would, he wrote, “adequately balance the court’s duty to eradicate illegal discrimination with the need to safeguard New York’s citizens and firefighters.”

Some of his proposals were meant to ensure that the class of firefighters that was hired would have the same percentage of blacks and Hispanics as the applicant pool that took the test. Other proposals would diversify the pool of those eligible to be hired by replacing the lowest-scoring white candidates with minority candidates who had lower scores.

“I’m a little bit surprised and confused by the city’s response,” said Darius Charney, a lawyer with the Center for Constitutional Rights, which is representing the Vulcan Society, an organization of black firefighters. The group is suing the city, claiming discrimination.

“They’ve been saying all along they wanted to hire a new class as soon as possible,” Mr. Charney said. “They were presented with a way to do that that complied with civil rights laws, and they chose not to. They’re contradicting themselves.”

The city, however, saw it differently.

“All of the options were quota based, and the city does not believe that that’s good public policy,” said Georgia Pestana, one of the city lawyers involved in the case.

Ms. Pestana said the city’s need for new firefighters was “just as urgent as it was last month when we held the hearings.” But, she added, “we decided it was important to stick to our principles; we’ll figure out a way to deal with the economic hardship this is going to cause.”

Endorsement: Uniformed Fire Officers Association Endorses Assemblyman Mike Miller

UFAO Praises Miller’s Support of First Responders

As the Primary Election season gets underway, Assemblyman Mike Miller of the 38^th Assembly District in Queens has received the endorsement of New York’s prominent Uniformed Fire Officers Association.

The UFOA represents more than 2,500 Lieutenants, Captains, Battalion Chiefs, Deputy Chiefs, Supervising Fire Marshals and Medical Officers of the New York City Fire Department.

“In Assemblyman Miller, we have a dedicated partner who will stand with us to protect New Yorkers and ensure that our first responders have the resources they need to keep our families safe,” noted Alexander Hagan, President of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association. “Assemblyman Miller has been with us on the front lines, fighting to keep our local firehouses open so that Queens families have the protection they deserve. The UFOA is proud to stand with 

Mike Miller in his bid for re-election to the State Assembly.”

Assemblyman Miller stated, “I am incredibly honored to have the support of the leaders of New York’s bravest. My record in the Assembly shows that I am dedicated to protecting the safety of the families in our community, and there is no better way to do that than to ensure that our local firehouses have the funding and resources needed to get the job done.”

Elected to the New York State Assembly in 2009, Mike Miller has been serving his community for more than 20 years. As a resident of the 38^th Assembly District for nearly his entire life, Miller is a graduate of Archbishop Molloy High School, Queens College and the University of Georgia CUNA Management School. His record includes expanding emergency services, improving public safety and strengthening our local schools. As a Board Member of Community Board 5, he advocated for more affordable housing, expansion of services for seniors and additional after-school programs for children. As the Capital Campaign Director for the Greater Ridgewood Youth Council, Miller helped increase the organization’s operating budget to more than $5 million. Miller has been recognized for his anti-graffiti efforts, as well as his commitment to supporting adults with mental disabilities in founding the Forest Park Aktion Club.

The 38^th Assembly District includes the Queens neighborhoods of Glendale, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, and Woodhaven.