Doc

Why should they fix it? All the previously innocent people who get charged with violating this broken law will pay for fixing it through the judicial system. Every person who gets snagged by conflicting and broken legislation get their day (and lose their $$$) in court to fix what our esteemed leaders didn't bother to read. Ignorance of the law is no excuse unless you're making them.

That's why the jobs go there; no occupational safety laws or environmental regulations to increase operating costs. Along with workers who are willing to work in unsafe conditions and dangerous environments for pennies to the dollar, who won't fight for their own safety, is it any wonder that every company that can is sending its work overseas to these places? It's a horrible and avoidable tragedy and also an incrimination of how big companies do business to boost their bottom line. Things like this shouldn't happen anywhere in the 21st century, but our demand for more profits and cheap Walmart stuff allow it.

I'm sure they'd drive by, but I'm sure they'll do the right thing and call in a regular unit. This ambulance is not for people like you and me.

Yeah, honestly, I'm in awe of Bill's artistry with the camera.

Moving along, I need to finish up the decal artwork and tin the exterior brightwork, plus some minor details. But it's almost complete.

The first set of decals is on, the second set will be white lettering and metallics. The Bare Metal Foil application was tricky, I haven't done it in such a long time. Besides finishing the decals, I need to add mirrors, an access ladder, scene lighting and other fixtures, and miscellaneous details. I also need to paint and install the various doo-dads and gadgets I made for the compartments. I probably won't make the February 28 deadline, but I'm in no rush. ;D

I finished it last night, more or less. There are a few more very minor details that I have to complete, but for the most part it's done.

I agree, the county should be making efforts to find money through the AFG program and I'd say even the NYS government efficiency grants, seeing as the Investigation Division is a shared service over many municipalities and fits nicely with the programs aim to make (or keep?) government services efficient and shared.
As I've been researching this boat acquisition, I've been seeing the sound logic in its purchase. It certainly won't hurt anything. It is going to be a great resource for the county and everyone who uses the river, and I'm not knocking it at all. Having an all-weather, year round marine presence on the river is essential for MANY purposes. I do agree that the county would have been crazy to not find a way to make this happen... however I also think there's a bit of crazy that the FID is hanging in the wind and talk of its getting cut is as serious as it is. It should never have gotten this far. I'm going to assume that there are yet to be revealed efforts to find the funding and I'm definitely going to support those. Now is NOT the time to be reducing arson investigation capabilities... or Sheriff road patrols or the ability to address emergencies in the river or any facet of public safety. Economic down times are when houses burn, crime spikes and people stop taking care of themselves. There is plenty of dead weight and waste elsewhere... looking specifically at the county legislative chambers and the County Executive's office. I wonder how their furloughs and pay cuts are doing (yeah, right). A chair sale is DEFINITELY in order. With all the press those things got, they're like celebrities!!!

No. I'm pretty aware that Enforcer 1 and Enforcer 2 have been used for many other roles. Supporting the DCSO dive team, effecting water rescues and search / recovery operations, and patrolling the River and Whaley Lake, among other things.
I know that the Port Authority of NY/NJ is putting up the money for this better, more capable boat...
STORY ON THE BOAT
The Port Authority is ensuring that local resources exist to address incidents in its best interest; ie, commercial aircraft ditching in the river while inbound/outbound from Stewart. I don't blame Dutchess County government for jumping on $245,000 of free boat money (especially when our county legislators can tout this windfall as the result of THEIR hard work). However, it will cost Dutchess County taxpayers $60,000 plus the continual increased maintenance costs that come with this larger boat. I'm assuming that until the DCSO got this proposal / offer from the Port Authority that the existing DCSO boats were adequate for DCSO's regular needs that don't involve aircraft crashing in water. If they weren't adequate, then, yeah, my bad.
Now, I know this isn't an "either/or" "apples-to-apples" comparison - it's not a question of either getting the boat or keeping the ability to investigate fires - but it is representative of the difficult choices that need to be made when government is operating in the red. As a member of the emergency response community and a taxpayer, I have to wonder about the reasoning in the decisions being made by my elected officials using tax monies. What was the tipping point? What made one issue more critical than the other? Was it the Port Authority's "Free Money" (despite the implicit mandate of maintaining the boat on the taxpayer dime from now on) that helped the county somehow "find" $60,000 during these hard times? Could the legislature not "find" money for the Fire Investigation Division? My concern is that while Dutchess County is stepping up to serve the needs of an agency based in Orange County using taxpayer dollars, it is simultaneously abandoning another important service to its own taxpayers. Sure, this boat will provide an enhanced service to Dutchess taxpayers; I have no doubt that having a year-round marine presence on the river is a good thing. However, with all the talk of brutal budget cutting, having to go without, and the consequences to public safety and service that these measures bring, I find it unfortunate that our esteemed legislators could find $60,000 to go toward addressing a "what if" scenario posed by an out-of-county agency as opposed to maintaining the capability to adequately investigate fires and address arson on a regular and concerted basis. I'm guessing that these "assets forfeiture funds" used to pay for the boat have some interesting terms of use.
If there is something I'm missing, please, explain it.

No. I'm pretty aware that Enforcer 1 and Enforcer 2 have been used for many other roles. Supporting the DCSO dive team, effecting water rescues and search / recovery operations, and patrolling the River and Whaley Lake, among other things.
I know that the Port Authority of NY/NJ is putting up the money for this better, more capable boat...
STORY ON THE BOAT
The Port Authority is ensuring that local resources exist to address incidents in its best interest; ie, commercial aircraft ditching in the river while inbound/outbound from Stewart. I don't blame Dutchess County government for jumping on $245,000 of free boat money (especially when our county legislators can tout this windfall as the result of THEIR hard work). However, it will cost Dutchess County taxpayers $60,000 plus the continual increased maintenance costs that come with this larger boat. I'm assuming that until the DCSO got this proposal / offer from the Port Authority that the existing DCSO boats were adequate for DCSO's regular needs that don't involve aircraft crashing in water. If they weren't adequate, then, yeah, my bad.
Now, I know this isn't an "either/or" "apples-to-apples" comparison - it's not a question of either getting the boat or keeping the ability to investigate fires - but it is representative of the difficult choices that need to be made when government is operating in the red. As a member of the emergency response community and a taxpayer, I have to wonder about the reasoning in the decisions being made by my elected officials using tax monies. What was the tipping point? What made one issue more critical than the other? Was it the Port Authority's "Free Money" (despite the implicit mandate of maintaining the boat on the taxpayer dime from now on) that helped the county somehow "find" $60,000 during these hard times? Could the legislature not "find" money for the Fire Investigation Division? My concern is that while Dutchess County is stepping up to serve the needs of an agency based in Orange County using taxpayer dollars, it is simultaneously abandoning another important service to its own taxpayers. Sure, this boat will provide an enhanced service to Dutchess taxpayers; I have no doubt that having a year-round marine presence on the river is a good thing. However, with all the talk of brutal budget cutting, having to go without, and the consequences to public safety and service that these measures bring, I find it unfortunate that our esteemed legislators could find $60,000 to go toward addressing a "what if" scenario posed by an out-of-county agency as opposed to maintaining the capability to adequately investigate fires and address arson on a regular and concerted basis. I'm guessing that these "assets forfeiture funds" used to pay for the boat have some interesting terms of use.
If there is something I'm missing, please, explain it.

You've gotta think like a politician to understand the fractured logic. You see, keeping DCSO writing tickets on the river brings in revenue. In the eyes of a drooling pork addicted politico, the FID only ever costs money. The actual service rendered to the community is not important. What will be important is which county politician will include: "Secured essential funds for the purchase of a terroristwarfighting boat for to guarantee security of freedom for American Patriots" on his/her reelection mailings, which will be sent using your money as well. We are entering a new era in government; ask not what your country can do for you, but what fees you can pay a politician to facilitate the collection of other fees from you. Presently, the cart is racing up hill miles ahead of the horse pulling it. Luckily the horse is long dead yet still being beaten with great enthusiasm and at the highest possible cost to you and me by the most expensive talent a national candidate search could secure.
Remember: "It's for the children" "The taxpayers deserve nothing less!"

You've gotta think like a politician to understand the fractured logic. You see, keeping DCSO writing tickets on the river brings in revenue. In the eyes of a drooling pork addicted politico, the FID only ever costs money. The actual service rendered to the community is not important. What will be important is which county politician will include: "Secured essential funds for the purchase of a terroristwarfighting boat for to guarantee security of freedom for American Patriots" on his/her reelection mailings, which will be sent using your money as well. We are entering a new era in government; ask not what your country can do for you, but what fees you can pay a politician to facilitate the collection of other fees from you. Presently, the cart is racing up hill miles ahead of the horse pulling it. Luckily the horse is long dead yet still being beaten with great enthusiasm and at the highest possible cost to you and me by the most expensive talent a national candidate search could secure.
Remember: "It's for the children" "The taxpayers deserve nothing less!"

There were multiple prolonged water system failures in southern Dutchess from late Thursday into late Friday. Many of the effected water districts are coterminus with Fire Districts that don't have tankers (Rombout, Village of Fishkill, City of Beacon). I believe the rationale behind Beacons request for Pleasant Valley's tanker was to keep the local tankers available for the potential adverse effects of all those alternative, non-electric light and heat sources being deployed in homes without water.

The comptroller's office is evidently angry that they were beat at their own game. Only state agencies can concoct such an "out of the box" plan. Wick's Law exists for a reason - anybody who's been involved in a construction project under the confines of Wick's Law knows this and is stronger for surviving it. It is regrettable that no congressmen or state legislators can tout this project as a personal success during their next campaign. It is also unfortunate that the project wasn't awarded to the proper contractors with the necessary political connection and campaign donation records. Indeed, the people of Nyack will suffer the consequences of a fire department operating within an uncondemned, safe structure, no doubt completed ahead of schedule and without various contractor bankruptcies, abandonment and residual lawsuits that make this nation strong. God save us all.