Cassano to Be Named Fire Commissioner

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

According to this article in the New York Times...Salvatore Cassano will be named the new FDNY Commissioner to replace the retiring Scopetta.

According to the article Cassano is a 40 year veteran of the department who has served in various command functions for many years including Chief of the Department as well as being cited for bravery multiple times.

Any thoughts from the brothers on this news...

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/21/cassano-to-be-named-new-fire-commissioner-2/?hp

[M' Ave 1,466]

All in all, this was probobly the best decision.....lets hope he doesn't forget where he came from.

[SRS131EMTFF 471]

NYPost article:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/sal_cassano_named_new_fdny_commish_95Bsh7dGEdLvjihSWGS3mM

Dailynews article:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/12/21/2009-12-21_fire_department_names_salvatore_cassano.html

[JBE 328]

Kind of mixed about this, especially after his testimony in front of the city council two weeks ago concerning UCT. We'll see what happens.

[x635 4,066]

This is a tough time to be a Fire Commisioner in any city, let alone New York. He has a tough road ahead of him, but I've heard lots of good things about him so I wish him the best of luck!

[Reliance 29]

What is the difference between Fire Commissioner and Fire Chief in NYC.

[Bnechis 3,961]

What is the difference between Fire Commissioner and Fire Chief in NYC.

Commissioner is a civilian administrative head of dept.

Chief is the highest operational (field) position.

[x635 4,066]

Commissioner is a civilian administrative head of dept.

Chief is the highest operational (field) position.

So, does Cassano have to technically "retire" from FDNY, or is this a promotion and can he maintain his same civil service status?

[Reliance 29]

Commissioner is a civilian administrative head of dept.

Chief is the highest operational (field) position.

Thank you - in other words a political patronage appontment

[ny10570 745]

Commissioner is a position in the Mayors office, so he has to retire from the FD. As it is, he is months away from the mandatory retirement age of 65.

Cassano has been a big proponent of integrating EMS into the fire side. It'll be interesting to see what happens and what changes will occur in the Fire and EMS chief staffs.

[Remember585 815]

Who will replace him as Chief? Any rumors?

[paratrooper75 41]

Now that they have a new Commissioner I will hope to see if the city sets some academy dates.

Edited December 22, 2009 by paratrooper75

[FirNaTine 370]

Unfortunately like all appointed positions you become a puppet of the administration and nothing but a "Yesman" to the Mayor. If you don't, you'll just be replaced by another lackey. It's unfortunate but most of the time these individuals do forget where they came from.

[M' Ave 1,466]

Rumor's on the street about a new Chief of Dept. are;

Edward Kilduff - A.C. Brooklyn Borough Commander

Richard Tobin - A.C. Chief of Fire Prevention

Thomas Galvin - A.C. Chief of Training

Robert Sweeney - Chief of Operations

The latter two are rumored to have been tapped, but are not interested in taking the position.

As for Chief Cassano and Fire/EMS integration. This is a bad thing, both for Fire and EMS. These are two separate jobs with separate needs and they shouldn't be combined, not at all. The only advantage it serves is to the city's bottom line and it's at expense of service.

[ny10570 745]

Meet the New NYC Fire Commish, Salvatore Cassano

The city's most troubled department gets a new boss with blood on his hands

By Wayne Barrett Tuesday, Feb 9 2010

A couple of weeks after Mike Bloomberg announced that 40-year fire department veteran Salvatore Cassano would replace Nicholas Scoppetta, the commissioner he had served as a top aide for eight years, the mayor went to the FDNY's Brooklyn headquarters to boast about the new record low in fire deaths.

Bloomberg attributed the decline to innovations at the department, praising Cassano in particular without mentioning that deaths are down to a similar degree in every city in America where cell phones are sold. Then the mayor introduced Cassano as "Nick," a slip of the tongue suggesting just how little change Cassano's appointment represents for the city's most troubled department.

http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-02-09/news/meet-the-new-nyc-fire-commish-salvatore-cassano/1