nycemt326

Some clarifications. First, the city doesn't give a rats behind who runs the ambulances. Neither does the city council. The fire department would like to run the entire system, but that is a very expensive proposition. The only people actively pursuing an all FDNY EMS system is Local 2507. EMS DOES NOT TURN A PROFIT IN NYC. Not for the FD and not for the hospitals. The only people making money are the commercial operators, and their 911 profits are razor thin. Senior Care only began going after 911 when their growth in the transport sector stagnated. By becoming a hospitals 911 provider they also become the primary transport provider.
No matter what anyone working for FDNY*EMS says the dept has no desire to suddenly take over EMS. They don't have the equipment, budget, or staffing to make it happen. The usage fee that is to be assessed upon all of the hospitals was not designed to chase them out of the system. If it was, then why not charge something astronomical like $1 million per unit rather than the thousands per unit they settled upon? Because they wanted to get as much money without any added responsibility. This was a measure to close a budget gap. If you think chasing voluntary units out of the system helps that, please see above.
The dept has no ability to unilaterally take over EMS. They tried to kick transcare out of the system years ago, but lost badly in court. The hospitals have a contract with the city and as long as they uphold their end of the deal they keep their units.
EMS is currently "overstaffed". We were approved to hire above head count for two reasons. The first is the financial house of cards many Brooklyn and Queens hospitals are currently dealing with. Several hospitals are very close to bankruptcy proceedings or outright failure. There have been informal conversations about shuttering EMS operations and what that means to hospitals and their bottom line. The second reason for being flush with members is the revolving door that is EMS. For the past 6 years except for a few pauses we've been hiring constantly. Part of that has been the expansion of the system but a lot is also in response to a hiring binge and system expansion 25 years ago. We have a large number of members coming up on retirement. We also have members frequently leaving for other careers. The biggest destination in the coming years is going be to fire where we will see several hundred current members go.
Since St Vincents closed NY Downtown has been chomping at the bit to pick up more tours. They added an overnight coverage to one of their ALS and another 24 hour BLS. The rumored addition of a Rescue unit to lower Manhattan is not to prevent another unit from operating. Their operation is funded by federal grant money and at this point is still a rumor. The dept is not preventing anyone from running more units. Bronx Lebanon added an ALS and I believe there were two new voluntary units in Brooklyn last year.
I would expect EMT hiring to continue at its current pace. Another 60 EMTs were pulled from the streets to go to paramedic training starting today and there has been more and more BLS overtime available recently.

*DISCLAIMER* This is not a Hospital vs FDNY response.
Currently, there is about 125 Voluntary units in the system. Montefiore North (Old OLM) so far has been the only hospital to drop their EMS system without the entire hospital closing.
While I have heard the same stories about fdny pushing the hospitals out of 911, I don't think at this point in the City's budget or FDNY resources, they would be able to handle putting out 125 trucks to cover all at once. I do know that the fire department does want all 911 EMS to be run by them eventually, but when is hard to say. You have large networks like NY-Presby and LIJ that won't get pushed out by operating fees.
As for staffing, they would need to hire a lot more EMTs and Paramedics.

I hate to hear this. I know a couple guys still at Monty north and Mike M. is a great guy.

Same thing they were thinking when they merged the Sheriff's office, and the Fire Department.

Why would you want it removed, wouldnt you want to be aware of things that go on? Its a learning experince.

Absolutely, if the IC from Hastings had asked YFD to protect the exposure, and then H-O-H shut down two or three lines.....
Like Bad Box said, this is NOT a criticism. My job had one of these years ago, only problem was the vehicle was pointed downhill TOWARDs the exposure. We filled the driveway 3 feet deep with foam to extinguish.
Think about the "wash-down" run-off that goes into the storm drain. Where does it go? Does it accumulate to explosive levels someplace else? Or being Hastings, does it just flow into the Hudson....
Something to think about for the next time. Every job is a learner. Takes nothing away from the effort the Brothers made there.

Hi Mike,
I didn't consider my comment to be a criticism. When I was on the job we frequently would sit around the kitchen table after a working fire or an unusual emergency and do an informal critique. It was never used as a method of pointing fingers or attaching blame, rather it was used as a learning tool to help us to find the best methods for dealing with the myriad of situations that we as firefighters frequently encounter in our profession. Our goal was to always be prepared to do the best, most efficient job of protecting civilian lives and property while maintaining safe practices at the same time. IMHO the photos and videos of fires and emergencies that appear on this website can prove to be a valuable learning tool. Posters should show respect when making suggestions as well as make sure that you are suggesting procedures, equipment, etc. that is 'tried and true' as opposed to something you have dreamed up and never put to the test at the drill site. Other than that, I think we all need to admit that none of us know it all, always do everything right and can't benefit from a good suggestion now and then. If we want to continue to improve as fire rescue personnel, we'll have to be open to the real world experiences of Brothers who have been there and done that enough times that they have something to offer to the newer generation of folks on the job.
Stay safe ...

Unfreaking believable. This city loves to crap all over first responders every chance they get unless it's an election year.

That's another politically union correct answer. The real life story is if you are one of the companies dispatched to a fire and you have to cross a picket line you will cross it, IAFF member or not. If the strikers interfere with the F.D. in any way then you let the P.D. handle the strikers and you go about your duties. As a firefighter you swore to protect all life and property. There was no exception clause to the oath you took. Now when you are off duty you can support any and all picket lines and the job can't say anything about it. As long as you stay within the bounds of the law.
If you refuse to do your duty and not cross a picket line you could find yourself on charges and losing time/pay. And maybe your job.
In the case of the Yonkers strike years ago, many of the career and combo department just outright refused (ahead of time) to respond to any call in Yonkers. This way it didn't put the IAFF members of the M/A departments in an awkward position. Lucky that there was no large scale emergencies that would have required the career departments to respond. If you are dispatched you must respond. When I say dispatched I mean that the chief or ranking officer of the department ordered his companies to respond. If you refuse you may be put on charges and may even lose your job.

The paper is white.

Dude, wake up. They are taking away rights that these unions fought for. It is anti-American what those states have done. It is not the unions that have put the municipalities in the spot they are in. The republicans are pitting the working class against each other. (It's not fair that the unions have this and the rest of the workers don't. Vote republican and we will get rid of the big bad unions) Do you really think that the non-union citizens will see any difference in their taxes? You are kidding yourself if you think the residents will get a tax break if they strip the unions of their collective bargaining rights. The unions are not to blame. Nor are they unwilling to make concessions. But don't sit there and say that we have to cut this and that and watch those cutting get raises and if you think it hasn't happened you are insane. They are destroying what so many have worked for. It is not right.
Your comment of making sure unions are kept in line... what exactly do you mean? The unions have to negotiate every single thing in their contracts with... yup the municipality! So don't sit there and say it is the unions fault, the contracts have to be agreed to by both sides. The unions have not strong armed anyone. They have fairly negotiated their contracts. So you are saying well done to Oklahoma because you think this will be what is best for the union members themselves but not the union itself? So basically the cities can now say you will get this for pay and this for vacation and this for medical and if you don't like it you can go work elsewhere. So how is this better for the union member???

What exactly was said that is so offensive to Police Fire, EMS and other emergency service personnel? As a responder who was present that day when both towers came down and who lost a lot of friends I take great care in issues evolving around 9/11. I think he picked a poor topic to include in his game but I am not offended by it.
To me this sounds like a very poor attempt at humor by this bartender. I don't think there was any intentional malice towards public safety personnel. Regardless of how many police are stationed at this new precinct they will not be able to stop another plane from crashing into the Freedom Tower. Using the tower as an airport. I believe that is what his reference to an airport is all about. As for the costs, he is right, there are going to be tremendous costs associated with this staffing level which will be borne by the taxpayers. With a family member involved with NY City budget issues I know that staffing this site will require reducing police manpower levels in every precinct in the City because they don't have the money to increase manpower by hiring large numbers of new police officers. The federal government will pay a portion of the security costs but they will never come close to the actual costs that NY City and it's taxpayers will be assuming for years to come. This knowledge in no way diminishes the need for security or the costs of protecting our Freedom and should not be construed as supporting budget issues when making security decisions.
I am all in favor of rebuilding at the sight and building even bigger to show our country's resolve against those who attacked us. They will not put us down and we will come back stronger and better. But the reality is the terrorist have the same attitude and will view this tower as their number one target. Terrorism expert around the world have deemed this site as a target and fully expect another attack. It might not be tommorrow or ten years from tommorrow but there will be another attack. Look at the resolve of the terrorist after the 1993 attack (which I was also at). They were beaten but not detered and came back 8 years later when we let our gaurd down and became complacent.
I think people need to step back and take a look at what really happened here. This was a piss poor attempt at humor. 9/11 is such a raw emotional issue for so many that it is often considered a personal attack by public safety personnel when someone mentions something other than remembrance and honor for those lost on that day. The bartender made a mistake. It is normal human behavior to become defensive when confronted like he and his boss were. To think that they don't respect the feelings of police or firefighters because they didn't immediately give an apology is some how tied to 9/11 goes a little far.
To my eleven buddies that never came home, you are with me every day.

Another well written article that will fall on the deaf ears of the few. The average citizen, of all races and backgrounds, is not in favor of this ruling. Let merit prevail! I'm so sick of the whining and complaining when things aren't just handed to you in this city. Last week I was sickened watching the NY City Council hearing on the snow storm. Councilmembers wanted to know why Public Housing wasn't adequately plowed and shoveled...uh, to the residents: You get what you (don't)pay for. Other council members wanted to know why people in the "Welfare to Work" program weren't getting paid by sanitation when they showed up to shovel. Uh....'cause you're already getting public assistance and shoveling a little snow for it isn't the worst thing ever. Along the same lines, I love how the FDNY should mirror the population that it serves, like it has some obligation to offer city residents jobs. What? I always thought it was to hire the best from the candidate pool and provide the best possible service. Where would I get a crazy idea like that!?
Guess what!? Life isn't fair. You get an equal shot, a fair written exam. Actually, it's more than fair, it's a veritable bunt! However, someone loses! That's that. In fact, most people lose and you can't please everyone. End of story.
The Judge is still holding onto the final decision, impeding the city's ability to appeal. They will as soon as they have the ability.
***Crack*** There goes my soap box! Thanks for listening, rant over.

According to the court case of Tennessee v. Garner, the use of deadly force is justified when an officer has probable cause to believe that an otherwise unarmed suspect, through his escape or means of escape, poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others. (The court case also states that the instrument used to dispense the deadly force is of no consequence.) The totality of the circumstances in this case, as viewed through Garner, renders the entire issue moot. Danroy Henry was drunk and used his vehicle in a manner similar to that of any other perp with a weapon, and quite frankly, he and his buddy got what they deserved.

Some of us do!

Its a 6 month min untill they call you just be patient and also try working some where else in the mean time to get some experience

as the bay sits now

I thought we were on the same side here...isnt the public what matters? In one breath some of you scream about doing the right thing for the public, and manpower and response. And in the next breath you go out of your way to knock everything Volunteer of FASNY related. In reality this bill wont be much but if it helps get 1 or 2 more people out to a major incident isnt it worth it? Isnt it worth it to the Chief in charge or IC at the "big one?", not to mention the rest of the firefighters on scene? Whatever happened to supporting the idea of goodwill and helping your community?? Most of the Dept.s this bill is aimed for probably get 1 or 2 "big ones" a year if that. We are not talking about workers leaving for every alarm every day.
I doubt it will have any "economic impact" your pulling at straws with that one, there are way to many other things to worry about as an employer then if an employee misses 2 days work during the year at a fire. I doubt his company is going to suffer a "reliabilty hit" because his worker was fighting a major fire, in fact some poeple might look upon that as an admirable thing to do for the emploee and employer. I bet the company could get some good press out of doing something like that, run some ads with a picture of the employee and the fire "We care about our communities"
Again JMO

Question; if your store or business is on fire and your protected by volunteers, would you rather they go off to work or show up to your store/business and put out the fire?

The auto industry received faster action then the men and women that worked at the WTC site post 9/11. Our tax dollars should be spent on our people, our safety and our future. The working man (and woman) contributes tax money every payday to fund our politicans' interests which generally don't reflect the concerns of those paying into it.
I predict a civil war of some form within the next 10 years. Illegal aliens, foreign countries and other douchebags continue to benefit from our hard work. Like you said, enough is enough... and that time has already come!

I need to rant a bit.
After reading this thread I am just frustrated at how the United States Government has turned its back on the 9/11 first responders. I think it's disgusting that Congress is allowing first responders to die because of their inaction. Thousands of men and women worked countless hours on the pile and this is how they get repaid? How many more people have to die before we can get this bill passed?
What happens when its a nuclear or biological attack next? Are we going to have to sit and wait and watch more people die? It's truly disheartening.

If we wanted free food we shoulda been cops

"Is disregarding the PUBLIC'S SAFETY the way to save money?" is the real question here.
Emergencies arent consistent, nor predictable, but isn't that the point of having the boxes, "just in case of an emergency"? Hello, McFly- IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR GAWSH SAKES!
Granted, there are abusers, and maybe the city should discuss how to identify the abuser(s), like take a snapshot and a fingerprint scan when the button's hit, or something, and fine them a hefty sum. Ever heard of "people with disabilities" before? And how about POOR people, who can't afford a cellphone? Even if you have a cell, the signal isn't always there.
Is it really worth the risk of endangering the mass public by removing those boxes to save money? That's scary when people are concerned more with money than the public's safety. I'm sure they can budget or cut things in other areas that doesn't compromise the public's safety!

Then you run into the risk of someone who is suffering a medical emergency and is unable to talk.

The problem is, members of the FDNY come up with the questions for the test for DCAS.
I took the last test in '07 and can't believe the whole "the test is discriminatory" argument. If minorities don't want the job, you cant force them to take the test. If they do take the test and fail, its nobodies fault but their own. It's really going downhill because of the Vulcans, they got the college credits reduced and now you just need to work a job for 6 months without any college, whats next? Completely eliminate the exam like Chicago is considering to do with PD? They shouldn't be called the Vulcans, they should be called the Vultures.