hudson144

How many more subpoenas is it going to take before Ernie throws in the towel???

Happy Ending? Looks like its just starting!!! lol

Amazingly this morning as I drove past city hall there was a white flag hanging from the roof and alot of people dressed in suits entering the building. One guy even had a hat on that had 3 letters visible" FBI". Around the same time there appeared to be a dip in power throughout the city. Rumors have it that it was from all the shredders operating throughout the city. Ironically 4 con ed crews were in front of fire headquarters on lincoln ave all morning working on wires there,maybe there is a surge of some kind. Does anyone know what the hell is going on?

BREAKING NEWs; members of the Philadelphia FD have filed a lawsuit against the FD. I do not have all of the particulars at this point but the suit was filed this past week and should be in the press any day now. They have been in a battle also there against the FD. This is wide spread both in the FD/PD throughout the nation and is finally turning around for most involved. Something about the promotional process. Blazing_Battles.htm

Concerned_American_Firefighters_Association.htm

thanks jimmy for the support, many others are behind me on this issue also, yes black and white! its very unfortunate that at this point in my career i have to hire a lawyer to fight for something that many before me had to fight for. This time it will be fought in court! I have stated recently that i feel bad for the guys on the new list. the sickness of knowing that because you have scored well on the test doesn't mean poop! As i have mentioned before this has been an issue that has repeated itself over and over. For those of you that don't know and are lucky enough to work in a dept that goes down the list when promotions are to take place the stress level that builds on you is sickening! Lets not forget a well respected captain from FDMV who indirectly died from this BS! A massive heart attack in his late fortys. well,thats my age now and believe me its not going to get the best of me! I had my 3 months of no sleep, thinking about it for 24/7, the monetary loss, loss of weight (didn't apply to me) etc. Another guy from the previous list passed away in his fortys also most likely because of stress! I will not mention names here because i respect the privacy of all involved but some members sat on the list for over a year being #1 before a word was mentioned for promotions! As i have done my homework on this topic i know that out of the 4 major citys in westchester co. mount vernon is the only dept that does not fill the vacant position asap. when i say asap that is when the spot opens up when someone retires. One of the best feelings I had recently was going back to work after being off all summer. Getting back into a routine of working on the job! One of the most satisfying moments i had recently is handing the Chief of the Mt vernon fire department the business card of my lawyer who will be in town sometime in the near future to take depositions from the Mayor on down through the ranks of the other members involved with this fiasco. Don't ever believe that you can't "FIGHT CITY HALL" because the fight is just starting!!! Be safe JJC

LT Jay- very good point however we are a step ahead of you. A chapter of an organization is in the process of being started right here in Westchester County. The organization CAFFA (CONCERNED AMERICAN FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION) was started by Chicago firefighters a few years ago. The organization stands for "EQUAL" hiring and promotions across the board! They have a voice in what goes on within the Chicago Fire Dept. The president of the Chicago CAFFA states that it has made a difference and CAFFA represents ALL! If you are #1 on a list you are # 1 no matter what ethnic background you come from. No skipping to get to the other guy that is #4 etc. In Philadelphia Fire dept. the CAFFA charter has put their mess in order also. The President states " we have members of CAFFA that come from all ethnic backgrounds and we believe in doing the right thing for all! These chapters are popping up throughout the nation because of many discrepencies throughout both the fire/police services. The Westchester CAFFA will also be open to all! WWW.CFDCAFFA.COM go to the site and see what its all about. Hudson.

One week later and still no reply to the EEOC from FDMV???

As of today the Mount Vernon FD has not met the Sept 26 deadline to answer the charges filed against them to the EEOC,Also the mount Vernon Fire Chief has been advised today that a lawyer has been hired to represent me against the city of Mt Vernon / Mt Vernon FD . Attorney Andrew Fleming recently won a landmark case in Buffalo NY where 13 firefighters were denied their promotions because the Fire Chief and mayor allowed the civil service lists to expire when there was vacant positions available. I just want to pass on that I appreciate the support that I have been getting in this situation, jjc

Yes grumpy I am aware of the Buffalo situation in fact i met with Mr Andrew Fleming in syracuse yesterday and I have retained him as my attorney!!!!! Mr Fleming is the lawyer who represented the "BUFFALO 13" !

FDMV has to respond to the EEOC as of this wednesday 26 sept 07. The complaint was filed back in july and the investigator states the the fire commissioner "has to" reply! we will see what happens??? As we all know alot is going on in mount vernon politics, it should be an interesting few months ahead. sit back and enjoy the SHOW!

STLtoday___News___St__Louis_City___County.htmSTLtoday___News___St__Louis_City___County.htm

remember- the word "ROUTINE" should not exist in the fire service!

White firefighters allowed to sue over cancellation of promotion lists By Matt Gryta NEWS STAFF REPORTER Updated: 09/13/07 6:54 AM Thirteen white Buffalo firefighters were granted the right Wednesday to sue the city for financial damages and possibly belated promotions over what State Supreme Court Justice John A. Michalek found to be the race-based premature cancellation of civil service promotion lists. Michalek ruled that the city clearly allowed the promotional lists to expire “as a result of a race-based or race-conscious decision” because of concern over a suit filed several years ago in U.S. District Court by black firefighters. Andrew P. Fleming, chief attorney for the white firefighters, called the decision “a win for men who put their lives on the line every day.” He said the next step will be a meeting with the judge to schedule discovery (evidence- gathering) on financial damages, to be followed by a trial. Fleming said the exact amounts he will seek for his clients haven’t been determined. “We haven’t talked dollars yet,” he said. Adam W. Perry, a private attorney retained by the city for the case, said the decision will be appealed because Michalek’s findings are “clearly erroneous and contrary to law.” The parallel firefighter suit brought by the black firefighters “will control the rights” of all Buffalo firefighters on promotions, Perry said. That case is before U.S. District Judge John Curtin. In the state court case, Fleming challenged the premature canceling of Fire Department promotion lists in 2005 and last year. Those canceled civil service lists would have made his clients eligible for promotions to supervisory positions. But Leonard Matarese, the city’s commissioner of human resources, voided them, which Fleming claims was illegal. Fleming cited sworn testimony by Matarese that the eligibility lists were canceled prematurely for racial reasons. Fleming said the quashing of the promotional lists cost his 13 clients “various economic opportunities, including increased salary and benefits.” State civil service law requires eligibility lists to remain in effect for one to four years, and the city had allowed such promotional lists to remain in effect the entire four years, Fleming said. The case involves Firefighters Eugene Margerum, Anthony Hynes, Joseph Fahey, Timothy Hazelet, Peter Kertzie, Peter Lotocki, Scott Skinner, Thomas Reddington, Timothy Cassel, Matthew S. Osinski, Mark Abad, Brad Arnone and David Denz. mgryta@buffnews.com 161755_2_.html

When you read the article it says they have the right to sue, thats an incorrect statement. the "BUFFALO 13" won their case! Now they have to go back to the table to negotiate their awards. This is a landmark case in the fire service. According to one of the "13" alot of the members were denied promotion because they held up the list allowing the list to expire. Possible belated promotions and financial damages are going to have to be figured out in the near future.

With the fall session just about ready to start anyone we know attending? Good luck! It was 20 years ago for my class. class 2/87.

nothin worse than drivin down the road and seeing a pair of white BVD'S WITH THE BROWN STRIPES hanging on the line!

170? Great for the citizens and firefighters of WPFD!

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has launched an investigation into the wrong doing in July when 2 white firefighters were denied a promotion to the rank of Fire Lieutenant in Mount Vernon. The promotions were halted after a letter from the Vulcan Society of Westchester was submitted to mayor Ernie Davis as the firefighters were in the final stages of the interview for the 2 vacant positions. The claims that the Vulcans had made have no merit and the letter written by the Vulcan Societys president Curtin Bracy (Chief Al Everetts brother in law) still has not had any re-buttle from the Mt Vernon law dept who was supposed to investigate the claims from the Vulcans. This will be an on going battle with the Vulcans with more information pertaining to this situation to be brought out sometime soon.

Along with the EEOC the audit that was done recently by NYS CIVIL SERVICE on Mt Vernons civil service someone better open their eyes to see what the hell has been going on there. The audit has alot of discrepencies accross the board not only the fire department.

Good luck Lianne for joining the ranks!

FDMV hiring 5 for the fall academy, many times in the past they made promotions at this time also. Still 2 vacants spots!!! Wonder whats going on this this time? whats your thoughts------>>>>>>> Another note- yesterday while at work the new president of the VULCANS assured me that what happened to my promotion on July 6 was not personally directed towards me. I am so relieved that I now know that the Vulcan society of Westchester had no intentions to destroy my future in the Mount Vernon fire Department and THAT IT JUST HAPPENED TO TURN OUT THAT WAY. Ed,I give you alot of credit for confronting me with this information. Now I can sleep better knowing that the Vulcans had nothing better to do that day and that it was not a personal attack on me. I can certainly sleep better now. FF J Carroll FDMV

full criminal background/full psychological evaluation??? I didn't know they still did that in the fire service!!!! I must be out of the LOOP!

its just a little bit of marijuana, not like its 98 lbs of it! I know of a place that rehired someone In the fire dept. who was busted for 98 lbs of pot! so whats the big ''DEAL"!!!!!!!!!

53? I don't know if I can count that high!!!