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I was interested in the content of the article, am glad I was able to find it and get the link up here. First: This is a discussion going on right now, and Tom DiNapoli our Trustee has taken no position on it. Second: It reads like a structured loan arrangement, not a "pension raid." I think the Governor knows what happened when his father tried that. Third: Back in the day, Carl McCall fought Mario Cuomo in court, and the absconded with funds WERE returned to the pension fund. Forth: The 7.whatever percentage drop in the fund balance is a result of the fund being heavily invested, long in the stock market. The PREVIOUS quarter saw a return of nearly 18 percent. The chief is right. Keep a watchful eye over what shenanigans they may attempt to pull up in Albany. But right now, this is nothing to be panicking about. The NYSPFRA keeps a VERY watchful eye on all things occurring in Albany. JOIN the RETIREES ASSOCIATION TODAY. Example: The ENTIRE Yonkers fire Dept. joined; every single member. There is an example all of you should take back to your locals at your monthly meetings and DEMAND.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20111123/NEWS05/111230320/Tappan-Zee-Bridge-funding

Imagine what could happen if they get the bright idea to fill the bathtub with bath salts and bud light......

Better left for helocopper, crime cop, INIT915, or JJB to explain, as I'm not LE either.

One reason I can think of for NOT wearing an illuminated vest; a felony traffic stop. If you have to approach a vehicle with your weapon drawn, at least one other officer doing the same, why "light" yourselves up for a potential perp; making yourself an easier target? Traffic accidents? Yeah, I'd wear one.

Good thing he landed on his rear end, obviously where his brain is located. Maybe it knocked some sense into him. BUTT I doubt it....

Sad but totally true post Cap. However the hindsight I'm referring too is looking back from today at what has been occurring here on EMTBravo. I remember numerous times when this topic was discussed, and you personally had to eat a lot of crap aimed your way by the people you mentioned in your post. (Edit: I also remember supporting the posts of guys who were obviously angry with the subject, but I thought it was at least a start to get them involved in the discussion.) I felt/feel morally obligated (and having worked my career in the dysfunctional system that is south Westchester firefighting) to support the Study, and the position you've advocated for a very long time. The silence, the complacency, the utter frustration of trying to deal with a disinterested membership (Edit: not the EMTBravo membership, the career and volunteer firefighting membership) makes me ask Jack to insert the head-banging emoticon here_____.

Thank you for sharing this piece of history chief. It's amazing how they lengthened the frame and body, and built custom parts, ending up with a three ton behemoth. The transmission; standard shift 3 on the tree?

The jobs are going to get squeezed. Stress levels, already high to begin with, are going to go up. There will be more frustration on the part of the regular foot soldiers out there doing the jobs, and finger pointing at the bosses, and boards of commission who apparently cannot keep up with the times, and the changes in operation that are required. This tax cap law is going to give many districts and departments an easy out to lay people off; instead of focusing their energies toward the efforts of consolidation that are required. I must say in hindsight, the arguments and discussions that have been taking place on this board for a number of years appear to have been ahead of the times. We've kicked it all around, dissected where the jobs need to be looking, but the decision makers apparently haven't been reading enough of this material. Now they'll be scrambling to play catch-up in the few years ahead, but the damage is already occurring; witness the six layoffs at NRFD. I read a piece about Eastchester, they're letting go 3 of the 4 civilian employees of the PD, and a number of laborers from the highway department. I really hate to even think this but, we're going to see more of this in the near future.

Get well soon P.O. Tillistrand. God bless you for the work you do protecting Pelham Manor, and may God watch over you and your family through these trying times. Most of us in public service know who the real heroes are; you Sir fit that title. Thank you for all that you have done and sacrificed in the name of public service.

And I'm not buying this argument as to why you'd be against taking a transfer. You stated very clearly your reason for being against it; it would take some OT out of your pocket. This is just another reason to rail against taking a transfer you thought of after stating your opinion; your original thoughts had nothing to do with "somebody's son or nephew." Sorry.

I'll take your last couple of comments on face value in that I will not infer from them anything that has to do with me personally. If I am wrong please enlighten the board as to what you are referring too. The point I was trying to make about the career chiefs; they commissioned the consolidation study for south Westchester. While there in no movement with regard to that study (that we are aware of on this board anyway) that does not mean the career chiefs cannot start acting proactively when dealing with issues such as hiring. Think about it; ten departments combined, one of which is in the process of laying off six members. If the departments were combined, would this be happening? Or would the cost savings and effectiveness of a combined service make this not the case? The fact that each fiefdom has it's own residency list would become a non-factor if all recruits were being hired for a larger partial county system. There would be more retirements as older members with more than their time in, would be hard pressed to adopt to a new command structure, new assignments that took them out of a cushy house somewhere in the 'burbs and put them down on 3rd and 3rd in the Vern. There would be more opportunity overall. I still respectfully disagree with your assessment; I mean it would have to be an environment of near desperation for this to be the case. Yet, time and again we hear and read so many good things about the brotherhood, and that it is alive and well. I'd like to know what the Greenville guys think, as it is my understanding they were one of the departments that took in members from another job that were being laid off. Maybe they could provide some enlightening facts to the board.

Yes I'd be pissed. But, a compassionate chief who would take a transfer could also handle that situation properly by bringing in the potential recruit, explaining the situation, and telling him a spot will be available for him, in conjunction with discussions of the career chiefs. This is where the Career Chiefs Association could have a major positive effect. If they all discussed the situation and looked at the list of potential recruits who could be effected, they could all act together to absorb the impact of the transfers; ie, agree that the recruits will be hired at some point by somebody. Communication amongst the chiefs of these small departments could minimize the effect of bringing transfers across these antiquated district lines. Another important reason to dust off the consolidation study. But still Bro, we could all take a small hit to help each other out in these difficult times. Could we not?

Fir Na Tine (MEN of Fire) I was actually going to write a defense of your post; I thought for sure you were being sarcastic. It's quite obvious you were not, you are dead serious. I think your post summarizes the mindset of what has taken hold in many of the locals in the fire service; hoorah for me and mine, screw everybody else. Did you ever think; what if the roles were reversed and it was your job on the cutting block? Wouldn't you hope that another job would consider taking on an experienced firefighter, with all the required NYS training and certification in the world? The Brothers who might be losing their jobs in New Rochelle did nothing wrong to be losing those positions. I would hope if I were in that position, some chief somewhere would still understand that Brotherhood extends beyond the ridiculous boundaries which still separate the smaller jobs in south Westchester. As far as padding your pension goes, how much extra would you expect to be making without all of your slots filled on your job? Whatever happened to this thing we call "The Brotherhood"? Where everybody sacrifices just a little for the greater good? I'm glad I'm retired now, if your mindset is prevalent on the job. And you of all people who always rail against "lowering standards". What exactly do you think you are advocating for in this post? To me, you have stated just about the lowest standard a "Brother" could stoop too. "Men of fire" Fir Na tine....not "Boys of Greed."

Mike, If it were up to me, I'd form a committee of employees such as yourself, the people who know the inner workings of the municipalities, and task you with coming up with a consolidation plan. I'd bet you people could do a better job than any committee filled with political appointees, whose first priority would be to save the political appointment jobs, and put everybody else's @ss on the chopping block.

Let's start planning a ten-year Anniversary celebration? All y'all are invited to "The Sport Fishing Capital of The World" (that would be here in the upper Keys of Florida)

This is just plain insane...eliminate the entire department basically, except for prisoner transport? What are they smoking over there? Edit: This would mean no county SWAT Team right? Greaaat idea.

OOOOO...no eye protection while operating the Jaws....I'm tellin'....

If it comes down to six Brothers being laid off, I would hope the surrounding municipalities would do the right thing and hire these guys as transfers. I remember this happened with another city and places like Greenville stepped up. What say ye, Eastchester, Scarsdale, Hartsdale, Fairview, etc?

It would be interesting to hear different points of view from up and down county as to how well or how far fire departments have come in the past couple of years regarding the all critical fireground component of implementing a FAST or RIT during IDLH operations. Would members please share with the board their department's procedures (doesn't have to be name specific, particularly if there are still incidents occurring where in YOUR opinion FAST/RIT is not meshing integrally, or as efficiently as you think it should be into your initial fire attack). Of course, if your department has become particularly adept at implementing FAST and this is something you take pride in; please share accomplishments with us here on the board. I'd love to read about the training, dept. policies, furtherance of mutual-aid understandings between yours and your neighboring departments cooperation, things of this nature. All things FAST! When I left the job in 2006, there were many gaping holes yet to be filled in accomplishing FAST for many smaller departments. The first AFG I successfully authored in 2002 was RIT equipment/training specific. This topic, and being proactive about it remains near and dear to my heart. So please, let's hear it; the good, the bad, the ugly. There's always room for improvement, and the day will come in Westchester or the upper counties, where a good, prepared, well thought out FAST approach IS going to save the life of a Brother. The time you take here to post your thoughtful responses could very well make a difference for, or give a great idea/s to another member reading it. Ready? Set? Go! Edit: It would be nice to hear from dispatchers as well.

I vote for "Vernosanan" (Ver-nhas-ahn-ann)....rolls off the tongue easier.

Many times these injuries are serious and potentially career ending. Prayers for the stricken officer, may he be blessed with a not too severe injury, and a speedy recovery. And for the rest of us: MOVE OVER AND AWAY from a traffic stop!!! "Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel....."

Short answer, no. Schools would be better, gymnasiums, easier to keep track of people coming and going. Communities should pre-plan; preposition adequate resources: cots, electric strips, MRE's. There's plenty of room. Down this way, Monroe County (which consists largely of The Keys) has an emergency shelter up on the mainland in Miami-Dade, with adequate signage to direct residents who wish to stay there, how to get there. With hurricanes being the major threat, they've had plenty of experience in preparing for evacuations. They even have "re-entry" stickers for your vehicle; the furthest West are a #1 for re-entry, middle Keys #2, upper Keys #3. Easy way for LE to allow folks back in who belong here, and keep bad guys from coming in. It's also made easier when you only have one road in.

I remember the night I joined; at work and Joey Pinto told me about the site. I love my membership number "1020"="proceed with caution." I love being involved with the site. It's been tough at times; relocating to South Carolina, then Florida, physical pain issues from the job, etc. I was proud to hold the "points that don't matter lead" for a very long time, but it got to me, and I'm glad that Barry holds that title now, as he's done so much for the fire service in Westchester. He's a man ahead of his time unfortunately for Westchester. They should get up to his speed, and many of the problems with staffing and response we discuss on the boards here could go away. Our conversations could shift to how well a consolidated service gets the rigs and manpower to jobs, and how the District could get in the game with Yonkers and FDNY. I hope I'm around to see that day come; in the meantime I still love kicking around all the stuff we do here on the board. Great job of moderation by a dedicated team, and Seth, a visionary whose dream of an effective website is slowly coming true. Keep up the great work, and thank you all.

I'm on my second Sprint Blackberry Curve w/Nextel Direct Connect. My gf uses a Sprint Samsung/Google Intercept. First thing I'd advise no matter what phone you carry; choose to also carry the insurance. My first BB had a software malfunction, and I had the $7.00 a month insurance. Got the phone replaced with an overnight delivery, because we were in South Carolina at the time, for free. Regarding the phone comparisons: Blackberry QWERTY keyboard. Samsung has both, slide out QWERTY and touch screen. Blackberry does much better on battery life, and recharge time is much shorter. Samsung runs through that battery and takes hours for a full recharge. Forget about the Browser in the Blackberry. I also have a Toshiba Netbook with a Verizon 3G WWAN. For $35.00 a month I have seriously fast, portable internet. The Samsung/Google does great for internet, has an awesome GPS, all the services and apps work great. The BB does excellent texting, the e-mail "push" as it's been called here is also fantastic. The Samsung does those same functions just as well. The BB costs $70 a month with the insurance. The Samsung costs $97 a month with limited talk time. Overall, each phone has it's advantages. But the Blackberry browser is useless, so if I had to rely on my phone for portable internet, then the Samsung/Google would be the way to go.