Yonkers fire union claims public safety threatened without new Ridge Hill firehouse

[LineCapt 134]

Yonkers fire union claims public safety threatened without new Ridge Hill firehouse

10:54 PM, Aug. 18, 2011

Written by Ernie Garcia LoHud.com

YONKERS — The firefighters union is accusing city officials of endangering public safety by failing to build a new firehouse before people move into Ridge Hill.

The International Association of Fire Fighters Local 628 said the Yonkers Fire Department's response times in the sector including Ridge Hill's retail-residential complex already have risen "to an unacceptable level of six and a half minutes."

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110819/NEWS02/108190332/Yonkers-fire-union-claims-public-safety-threatened-without-new-Ridge-Hill-firehouse?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Westchester County, New York

[61MACKBR1 222]

The developers did indeed agree to build a New Fire House in order that the city could add an additional "Fire Company" to assist in providing Fire Department Support and Fire Supression at the Ridge Hill Site (Many people don't realize that it is not only fire supression that is involved, but First Responder Support as well).

Ridge Hill does pose response tmie issues, based upon the current locations of the neareset firs stations (Station 10, Station 11, Station 12 and Station 14). There was talk that the city was looking at the King Fence property to use as the site to build a new firehouse (Speculation was that a New Fire Station 10 would be built, to house the current Engine 310 as well as to house a New Ladder Company (Ladder 77?) to support Ridge HIll

Amazingly, with the Ridge Hill Complex almost set for completion, the developer has not yet come to the table with the City Executives (Ammicone, etc, etc) to get the New Fire House built and the new fire company in place, to conincide with the completion of Ridge Hill.

Why doe certain promises and committments alwasys get delayed and pushed aside? (All it is going to take is someone to have a Heart Attack at one of the Ridge Hill Stores, and because of the current extended response time delays, YFD is unable to get there in time to help. Then, at that time, the "You know what" whill hit the fan.

Edited August 19, 2011 by 61MACKBR1

[barbosa10 7]

A new Fire house and Police station needs to be built within Ridge Hill, not in the surrounding area.

[x129K 1,393]

I for one would hate to see 10 Engine's house closed or moved out of..it is one of the City's most traditional looking houses!

[61MACKBR1 222]

Just read where someone posted that the developer agreed within the contract for the Ridge Hill SIte Project to pay 3 millon dollars to build a new fire station as well as to pay and contribute 35% of the annual operating cost for the new fire company (New Ladder Company). I agree with this posted that this is a good deal for both the City of Yonkers as well as the residents of Yonkers. 3 Millon dollars plus an annual subsidy for an increase in fire protection should not be tossed away.

This benefits the entire city not just Ridge Hill.

[INIT915 1,119]

Just read where someone posted that the developer agreed within the contract for the Ridge Hill SIte Project to pay 3 millon dollars to build a new fire station as well as to pay and contribute 35% of the annual operating cost for the new fire company (New Ladder Company). I agree with this posted that this is a good deal for both the City of Yonkers as well as the residents of Yonkers. 3 Millon dollars plus an annual subsidy for an increase in fire protection should not be tossed away.

This benefits the entire city not just Ridge Hill.

Annual funding for how many years?

[Bull McCaffrey 162]

Out of curiosity YFD asked for a new firehouse and both an engine and a truck. Does anyone know what the PD is getting up there?

[helicopper 1,050]

Out of curiosity YFD asked for a new firehouse and both an engine and a truck. Does anyone know what the PD is getting up there?

They're getting the shaft!

Same as the FD.

[61MACKBR1 222]

Link to letter drafted by Attorney retained by both YFD Union and Residents:

http://yonkerstribune.typepad.com/files/warren-reiss-letter-re-ridge-hill-08152011-copy.pdf

Also additional information below (as outlined in the Yonkers Tribune):

Yonkers Firefighters Union (I.A.F.F. Local 628) has retained the services of legal counsel to represent them and a group of negatively impacted Yonkers residents in seeking to compel the City of Yonkers, Mayor Amicone, City Council President Chuck Lesnick, and Forest City Ratner to live up to the promises and assurances made during the approval of the Ridge Hill Village project.

The City Council was the “Lead Agency” in the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) for the Ridge Hill Village project and as part of their approvals for the project, the City Council adopted two (2) “Findings” Resolutions mandating, among other things, the establishment of one (1) additional Truck Company for the City of Yonkers (with 35% of the annual costs being attributable to the Ridge Hill Village project and the building of one (1) additional Fire House (with $3,000,000 of the construction costs to be paid for by Forest City Ratner).

“To date, despite the opening of several entertainment and retail stores, and with more stores scheduled to open before September, absolutely nothing has been done to build the new Fire House or staff the Fire Company promised to the citizens of Yonkers” said Barry B. McGoey, president of the Yonkers Firefighter’s Union. “We have raised this issue on numerous occasions for at least the past three (3) years to the Mayor, the City Council President and the entire City Council. We were met with excuses and empty promises with Mayor Amicone blaming the Yonkers City Council for not appropriating money for the purchase of a suitable site for the fire house and the City Council blaming the Mayor for not identifying a parcel of land and negotiating a purchase price. It’s way past time for both the Mayor and the City Council to stop playing the blame game and to do their job.”

In a blistering letter to all of the above parties, the attorney for the Yonkers Firefighters states that all parties involved “have completely and utterly failed to follow through on the necessary measures to ensure that Ridge Hill would not and will not adversely impact the City’s ability to provide adequate fire protection services.” The letter calls upon the City Council to enact legislation requiring: the City to immediately locate and acquire the necessary land for the Fire House; directing the City to commence design and construction of the Fire House as soon as feasible, and requiring Forest City Ratner to immediately fund a $3,000,000 escrow account to cover its share of the costs of that new Fire House. Alternatively, the City Council should revoke or rescind the approvals and zoning changes it made for the project.

Local 628 President McGoey said “I have instructed our attorney to take all steps necessary to ensure that the mitigation measures promised in the SEQRA review and the resulting findings (the construction of a new Fire House and establishment of an additional Truck Company) are implemented and that the City and the developer deliver on the promises and assurances they made when they sought approval of this massive project. We have been joined by numerous residents of the surrounding area who were quite vocal in opposition to the project when it was proposed because of the negative impact it would have on them, including the drain on fire and emergency services. It was because of their legitimate fears that both the City and the developer agreed to provide the area with additional fire protection services. Indeed, the developer agreed to put up $3,000,000 towards the construction of a new Fire House in order to secure a (second) favorable vote from the City Council as Lead Agency.”

McGoey continued, “We are hopeful that Forest City Ratner will join us in requesting that the City live up to the promised additional fire protection, not just for Ridge Hill Village, but also for the neighboring communities. Forest City Ratner has promised $3,000,000 towards the construction of a new Fire House, but it is the City’s obligation to design, plan, and build the Fire House. We expect Forest City Ratner to live up to every promise they made to the citizens of Yonkers, including the one that they would mitigate the negative impacts the project would have on fire protection services for the rest of Yonkers. As good neighbors and responsible developers we expect Forest City Ratner to join us and request that the City of Yonkers implement the mitigation measures outlined in the SEQRA Finding and construct a new Fire House and establish a new Truck Company.”

McGoey concluded, “We are going to hold the City of Yonkers and Forest City Ratner to their promises. To do otherwise would endanger the safety and lives of the citizens of Yonkers and the residents of Ridge Hill, as well as the safety and lives of the Yonkers Firefighters.”

[x129K 1,393]

61Mack - are you a Yonkers fireman?

[61MACKBR1 222]

Nope

61Mack - are you a Yonkers fireman?