x635

Now I'm really interested, because Mr. Feiner has stated to me via email that this housing will be made available to "paid" employees of the town, not just volunteers. I understand the housing costs are out of control, and something needs to be done to make this town more affordable for us "blue collar workers", but even if I could afford a house in this town, the taxes are INSANE. This town spends money like it grows on trees...literally. They spend on every concievable outllandish thing, with no concious to the taxes in this town. What I'm truly concerned about is service provided to the citizens, many of which are my friends and family. To tell you the truth, I feel much more comfortable knowing that when I pick up the phone, I know what I am getting (with the exception of EMS at times) Now, if my tax dollars go to subsidize this housing for both PAID and VOLUNTEERS, what is the end result? I'm very confused?

And here is a completed one, just after being delivered to the CT DOT Purchasing Acceptance Facility in Rocky Hill. [attachmentid=1626]

Bonus Shot: Here's some brand new Internationals awaiting outfitting as CT DOT trucks. [attachmentid=1625]

See this thread: http://emtbravo.net/index.php?showtopic=14954

Today, I visited Union Station in New Haven,CT to photograph M-7's in a unusual locale. During this trip, I shot several other trains, including many from the New Haven Railroad/Connecticutt Commuter Rail fleet (some of which will be posted on x635Photos.com soon). My question is, does the New Haven division own a bucket, brush, and soap? Because their cars were absolutely filthy. I know these cars are old and tired, but I feel that a good top to bottom scrubbing would be healthy. I'm also aware that the shops crews have their hands full even keeping these cars on the rails, but what good is the Stamford wash facility if it's going to sit their broken (according to MNRR conductor at Union Station) . I feel that a clean railcar is part of good maintainence, and a good reflection on the railroads image. I'm lucky to be a Harlem line passenger...for the most part, the trains are always clean. The few times I have traveled on the New Haven line, the cars are always filthy, inside and out. A large amount of citizens, and very wealthy CT citizens, use this transportation several hours a week. If they are going to have to suffer in old, tired cars, why not at least try to make them spiffier until 2009? Here are some photos: (Amtrak Genesis was towing Metro North M-7 cars)

The other night, after hearing for a long time about how great it was from my in-laws, I finally got to try Nanuet Pizza, on Middletown Road in Nanuet NY. Now, this place is definelty from another era...it's a hole in the wall, but I definetly like the vibe. An old school community resturant for sure. It's refreshing to go to a place like this, and to have places like this still around. Anyways, the pizza. I thought it was awesome! The cheese and the sauce...nothing special there. But the crust was very different...unique. It was pie-like, I want to say. Very thin, flaky, and buttery. Definetly worth a try if you're in the Nanuet area. I'm told this pizza is locally famous, and there have even been requests from people all over the world who wanted it shipped to them or wanted franchise rights (though the owners turned them down).

Shame! Shame! Shame! There is only one Nanuet Pizza (and it's from yes, the Nanuet Resturant!)

OK, so I see MTA PD cars, new and old, in both grey and white schemes. All with the same striping. At first, I thought they were switching to grey cars. But then, I saw this brand new car in New Haven recently. Why are some grey, and some white? [attachmentid=1620]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'm sad they had to go red. EVERYONE has red, lol. Lime is unique and looks good too....although red is a safer color.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Hubcaps on a RMP? I don't like the white as much, I liked the grey....matched the trains. Steel wheels all the way.

I'm aware that it's an International, thanks. This is x635 here. I was just unsure of the year and body make, hence the question marks.

And here's another angle, from the officer's side....this old Mack is in very, very good shape. Hope it goes to a good home. [attachmentid=1622]

So, every now and then, I see this trailer, marked for Westchester County PD, going north on Central Ave in Hartsdale, usually around 1500hrs. It's towed by a County Parks & Rec Chevrolet Silverado, and followed by a marked County PD unit. What roles does this trailer serve? (Sorry for the cruddy shot, I have to get in always while it's in heavy traffic) [attachmentid=1616]

Tyler Fire covers the Hudson Valley section of NYS. Firematic covers Long Island and NYC. Sharp looking engine!

Let me make some things clearer here in order to better my point. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY VIEWS PRIMARILY APPLY TO THE TOWN OF GREENBRUGH AND ITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING INTIATIVE. Greenburgh is made up of the unincorporated town (Greenville, Fairview, Hartsdale), for which the Town Supervisor is mainly responsible for , and several incorporated villages (Ardsley, Hastings, Tarrytown, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Irvington) that have their own mayors, budgets, etc. It seems every time one of the volunteer firefighters does something good in the VILLAGES, the Town Supervisor lauds their accomplishments. Many times, a "gift" is accompanied by this lauding, whether it's him promising/giving them free access to the town pool, championing their subsidized housing cause, or saying that they should get 10 points on Fire/PD civil service exams......to get this......get more volunteers recruited and retained so we don't have to go career. Huh? Meanwhile, there are three highly trained, highly motivated, excellent career departments within the incorporated Town Of Greenburgh, that rarely, if ever, get attention from the Town Supervisor. Could it be because the majority of these firefighters don't vote in the town? (Many used to live in the town, but the skyrocketing taxes and housing prices forced them north) Greenburgh Police provides ALS for the villages using a special program. This comes out of the Town's budget basically, with some payments from the Villages. I'm not sure how this deal works, but this shows if Greenburgh can contract to the villages for EMS and Animal Control services, then they (with the fire districts of course) can figure out a way to provide fire staffing in the villages if ever needed, too.. Anyways, I'm getting a little off my point. With a volunteer department, yes, you are going to get manpower, and in some cases, more then a career department. But having to provide all types of incentives that cost money to accomplish this does not make sense to me. Having a career department, you will get a defined response at all times. I admit, at one time I thought housing for vounteers was the best thing on earth. Sure, volunteeers should be able to live where they are serving! After all, we cannot afford housing here!!!! My views on this changed after looking deeper into the real issues. If volunteers are going to be provided housing, pensions, tax breaks, even in some departments reimbursment for fuel, then volunteer firefighters should have to meet the same exact standards as careeer firefighters, because they are, in a way, being compensated for the job. Not only this, these programs are taking away jobs from the many, many young men and women who are seeking careers as firefighters and only providing a short term, unstable solution to the problem. True, not every volunteer wants to be a professional/paid firefighter. But in my opinion, this is a profession, and something where it's tough enough keeping up as a career, and I don't see how people do it as a volunteer. I give volunteers a lot of credit. But imagine someone coming into your profession, doing the job for free, getting free or substantially discounted housing for it, tax breaks, etc...not to mention they don't even have to meet the same standards as you do. It's not fair, right? Also, as mentioned being a firefighter nowadays is not the same as it was in 1960....yet there are so many departments living like it is. But that's not what it's about for me. What this is about is this. I think having a regional or townwide career FD is the future for town. These funds being spent for all these "incentives" to recruit and retain volunteers could be applied to building a career FD. Also, to all the young people who fight for the subsidized housing, put your energy and fight for career positions within your department. These jobs could be YOURS. This, in my opion, is the best long term solution to serving our public. I guess what I'm getting at is at what point do we draw the line between career and volunteer? Subsidizing Volunteer housing leaves open many issues...what happens when these members who get the housing get older or injured, what happens if they volunteer just for the house, what happens if they decide to move, and what happens when they are away,etc. Subsidized housing IS NOT the answer to fixing staffing or response problems. Sure, Mr. Town Supervisor, Career Firefighters do cost money, but so do your extensive parks staff and program, $20 million new library, $50,000 a year "Assistant To The Town Council", etc. But when it comes to spending money on issues that truly affect the safety and welfare of the citizens of Greenburgh, seems you just want to take the cheapest/easiest way out, ignore the issue, or give it the attention in the form thats going to get you the most votes.\ And as for the school that thinks that a career FD costs more, chew on this. Add into the fray the amount all these "incentives" cost, then add how much the redundancy in costs having several different FD's with duplicate resources costs. I AM NOT TRASHING THE VOLUNTEERS AT ALL. I just feel, as Westchester's one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, that we should be taking large, progressive steps NOW towards the future, not applying band aids and other temporary fixes.

That is AWESOME! GREAT find! That really should say "TL-15" on it though! P.S. I just ordered their Code 3 Quantum Engine.

Date: 11-27-06 Time: 1656hrs Location: Lake St/ Stewart Place Frequency: Units Operating: E67, L32, R88, White Plains EMS, WPPD*ESU, WPPD Description Of Incident: 2 Pedestrians struck Writer: x635 1658hrs: E-67 on scene, E-67 Lt. confirming two pedestrians struck, requests expedite on both ambulances.

And here's the MTA Bus I rode on. Almost exactly the same as Bee-Lines, except this one didn't have Hillary Clinton on board. [attachmentid=1595]

Here's E-6 in quarters. Cruddy shot. I really need to get a lightweight, portable tripod. [attachmentid=1594]

That's what I do. I give them the money directly. Maybe sometimes I'm being duped, maybe sometimes they buy alchol with it, but at least it's going directly to them and I hope bringing some help into their day. Even $5 goes a LONG way for these guys, or even a nice cup of hot coffee.

A LAFD Active Fleet List has been posted on http://www.lafirephotos.com This list is accurate as of 10-17-06 Very interesting! *In Microsoft Excel format. If you don't have Excel, a free Excel reader is available from Microsft via their website.

I also got this shot of FDNY E-6's Quarters: [attachmentid=1593]

Tonight, after going for a ride on a MTA Bus Orion Hybrid-Electric down Broadway from downtown (which was very cool!), I got off in Time Square to take the subway shuttle back to GCT. Meanwhile, FDNY Engine 65 was just completing a EMS call with St. Vincents Midtown EMS, and I caught this photo of them departing the scene. I like this photo, especially becuase of the billboards in the background. [attachmentid=1592]

I was in Manhattan this evening. Something came into my mind. Why are there homeless veterans in this country? How can we let those who have fought for the lifestyle and securities we have in this country go homeless and hungry on a street? Now, I am aware that some is caused by mental illness, etc, but that's not always the case. I find this disgusting that we let our nations veterans suffer while we decide on how big of a plasma TV we should get, or how big or fast our cars can be. Our VA's are rotting away, even with a whole new generation of veterans coming out of Iraq. Our veterans should be cherished and well taken care of. There should be ample employment, food, shelter, and healthcare for each and every one of them....and not a single one should go forgotten. This isn't only a responsibilty of us, this is a responsiblity of our politicians, many of whom nowadays haven't even seen time in the service.

http://x635.blogspot.com/2006/09/wacky-wor...eal-estate.html I wrote about the European Health Spa back in September. I wrote a story suggestion to the Journal News back in October. The article coming out now is an awful long time to be doing research for such a short article Or maybe they got the ideas from the NY Times, which consequently got the ideas from me!