firefighter36

Bulls*&t. I don't anyone (especially those who could find themselves in this position on any given day) who'll accept this as the new reality. I don't want to do more with less. I want to do what's necessary with the appropriate resources. I'm getting tired of this fight every spring. Firehouse closures....pensions ruining our economy...B.S!
Why are pension contributions up? Because of dwindling returns on the city's investments. Well....they should have planned better for a downturn in the market. Perhaps they shouldn't have said, "we're doing so well on our returns we can skip our annual contributions". I never got to skip my contributions. My pension didn't get any better when they were making money hand over fist in the market. They want it both ways. Make money with our money when times are good and take more money from us when times are bad. They made bad bets and now the public has to buck-up in the form of more tax dollars to pension payments. They mismanaged money and want to blame unions and pensions for teacher lay-offs and firehouse closings.
They made agreements with the unions that they could afford. They played fast and loose in the open market and took a beating. We didn't benefit when they were up, so why should we pay when they're down.
Wouldn't it be nice to see politicians take the blame for their mistakes? Guess that'll be the day....

I don't know, I mean like two people posted something negative about the photo, the actions of the Troopers as directed by the Incident Commander. I think the blow back comments from that were a bit much, but I understand.
We all need to remember the major differences between the urban operation of emergency service, and those occurring in the 'burbs or the sticks. When you work for an organization of virtually unlimited resources, the delineation of responsibility is necessarily more defined.
However in the outer areas of cities and beyond those lines of responsibility become more blurred toward simply a common goal of eliminating a threat, or rescuing those in need, treating them. However it must be done, by whomever is tasked with the immediate or secondary responsibility.
I remember a mailman helping on of our guys raise a ground ladder to effect a rescue.
An ambulance operator hooking up a hydrant for a one man engine performing a forward lay.
It goes on.
If these three guys had been a couple of carpenters working next door, and the mailman, this story doesn't even surface. There are everyday people out there who regularly come upon emergencies they did not ask to be near, yet still spring into action to help victims and first responders.
We as a people are loaded with angst these days. We've lost our collective sense of humor. Many are so economically squeezed the pressure is almost unbearable. People are going crazy out there; too many of them.
Thank God there are still so many people on the side of civilization, who step up, who help out. That is what we a people still are, despite all the chaos around us. Stay safe.

No we should request that law enforcment should maintain a security zone so the buffs and general public can be kept safe.

Put turnout gear on these guys and what do you have - a disciplined company operating as a team with a supervisor.......

I do not agree with this at all. I certainly have the Highest Respect for Any State Troopers or City/Town Police officers for that matter.
The fact that if they get hurt, this is Not their job. And who is guarding the hen house while these Troopers fight this fire. If I saw this nd wanted to commit a crime somewhere on their beat, I know there could be a delayed response giving me a better chance to get away with it.
If they were firefighters dressed in civilian clothes doing this, we would be the first to critize them for not wearing the proper gear.
I think Somebody mentioned that they were glad that a State Trooper took the hose line and started to fight the fire. Did I read that right ? A firefighter was glad that a State Trooper took the hose line to fight the fire. Should a firefighter take a gun from the Troopershands and shoot a suspect ? It doesn't make sense to me reading that.
I don't think any State Trooper should be honored for doing this. And personnelly if I was the Chief, I'd be speaking to their supervisor explaining why Firefighters fight fires and not State Troopers.
If I was going for surgury, would I want my electrician who just put in a new fuse panel to open my heart.
I really can not believe some people would agree with this. Maybe they ment well, but should I be pulling cars over for speeding, or should I leave that for the people who are trained (and paid) to do it.

Since the NYS Fire & Police pension system is fully funded (at 107%), is mandated in the state constitution and the state bills each FD or Municipality for each employee. And no career FD in NYS has its own pension system. Can you please identify which career FD you are refering to?
Is it possible that the fund may become underfunded? Yes, we have had 3 govenours try to raid it, one even withheld payments, but the courts ordered him to repay it with interest.
At the same time can you list who is regulating the LOSAP funds? and how they are being handled?

Years back we had a problem in a number of the elementary schools (and Middle & High schools) and would get called there multiple times every night. THey would not let us have keys or install knox boxes. They would pay the custodian double time to come in. It always took 1-2 hours to get them there (the all lived in town). Over the course of 1-2 years they ran up a fine of over $60,000. We finally got fed up and told them: no key.... get there in 15 minutes or we will use Chief Haligans Key. That solved the response time, but not the alarms or the bill. Till the School system sent us a bill of $40,000 for opening the high school to hold FD Civil service testing. We sent their bill back with an adjusted bill stating they now only owed us $20,000.
Since that time the problem appears to be greatly reduced.

...really?

I normally avoid these topics since I work for a dealer but you're WAY out of my area so I'll give you my opinion.
100% cotton is always going to have issues with color retention. Most manufacturers will claim they have the latest technology to prevent fading, shrinking, etc. Its cotton. Its going to fade, its going to shrink. Accept that now so you aren't surprised later on.
Elbeco has a 100% cotton line that came out this year. I have a couple of the navy blue polos with the mic tabs and no-curl collars. They size pretty big out of the box to accomidate for the shrinking that will occur the first couple washings, so keep that in mind when you're sizing with them. But after a few washings they settle in to what I'd call a "normal" size. Very comfortable, all in all a good shirt for the money. The color retention is slightly better that the others I've tried, so there's that. They also make 100% cotton pants, but no button up shirts like FDNY has. I don't sell too much of their FR line but I believe there is one available. Elbeco re-inforces the crotch in their pants, I've never had a pair come back for a blowout yet.
I don't wear 100% cotton pants, but the FR pants I own are Topps Firewear. All in all not bad. FR stuff is usually VERY stiff and uncomfortable IMO, but Topps' are decent. They also come in 4 pocket, cargo pants and have the button up shirts you're looking for in the colors you mentioned. They can also do the embroidery direct from the factory which is a plus.
Blauer has both a 100% cotton and NFPA compliant FR line, as does Horace Small. Might want to check into those.
Here's the bottom line for both:
Cotton Positives: Decent prices, comfortable
Cotton Negatives: Shrinking, color fading (use COLD water people, it goes a LONG way to keeping your stuff professional looking)
FR Positives: Protection, less color fading
FR Negatives: Sometimes very stiff, EXTREMELY expensive, you'll see what I mean the first time you have to buy a set.

Career Politicians are the Entire problem. Everything was negotiated fair and square with both unions and the city. If there was aproblem then it should have been taken care of. But in good faith, the fire fighters, police officers, or any other union agreed upon what ever deals were made. The politicians had their chance to change things as they saw fit.
If there's any blame here, or in any other city for that matter, BLAME THE POLITICIANS. They are the ones that have the final say.
They are the first ones to pat themselves on the back when things go good, but when ever things start to get a little sour, its time to point the finger at somebody else.
I wouldn't trust any politician anywhere. They are only interested in their own political future, and clearly, at least to me, they use the uniformed services to their advantage when its best for them.
My theory is that politicians are not the answer, "they are the probem".
I wish people wouldn't get sucked into their B/S.

Passed on to me from the "sights of FDIC."
It's time we start hitting the gym and not the fast food guys. Cutting out soda, replacing it with water, and sugars/fatty foods for fruits and vegetables will contribute to significant weight loss even without working out. Adding a training regiment of light duty, walks/jogs around a track, or even a stair climb/ decent in your own firehouse/home, will significantly improve your health.
I was always a fit guy, but recently I saw myself starting to get overweight. Went from 5'8" at 155 lbs, and about 10-12% body fat, to 173 with about 16-18% body fat. I immediately stopped eating and drinking crap, and lost almost 10lbs without working out in a month.
Time to get with the program guys. It's totally doable, and everyone should be jumping on this train. If not for you, how about your family.

So some people think PO's should get a free ride, some think FD &/or EMS should. Their are pro's & cons to each. Now here is the irony; When MTA gives free rides, they are loosing money and yes they may be gaining safety/security. Now because MTA can not manage to balance its books, we have the MTA payroll tax. That means that on the New Haven Line in Westchester the Mt. Vernon PD & FD, Pelham PD & FD, Pelham Manor PD & FD, New Rochelle PD & FD, Larchmont PD & FD, Town of Mamaroneck PD & FD, Village of Mamaroneck PD, Harrison PD & FD, Rye PD & FD and Porchester PD all pay Metro North and provide the primary safety & security.
Now add all the other police and fire (career/combo) depts. in the counties covered by MTA are also paying them.
Now in the City of New Rochelle's case we are paying about $250,000/year to MTA. For that money we get to respond to all there EMS calls, the jambed elevators (over 100/year), the brush fires, etc. Our police are asked to cover till MTA PD can respond (no knock on MTA PD, they have a huge area to cover) and our DPW gets to plow the railroad access.
Most of MTA's safety and security is provided by the local PD, FD & EMS and we get to pay them for the honor.

And just alittle advice there young man. If you're smart, you won't put all your eggs in one basket. Yonkers is a Great Dept and if I was a young guy, I know how you feel. It certainly would be something that I would work for.
But, in the meantime, continue to take every test you can for wherever. I ended up taking six test and I didn't get the dept I wanted (Bridgeport, Ct). But I got on the job somewhere else. Did my thing. Had a Great time and retired after some 30 years.
I hope that you are lucky enough to get Yonkers. Just keep in the back of your mind, there's other depts out there that you should also be applying for.

Amazing video! Close doesnt describe it....a blessing perhaps!

Next three obvious questions:
1. What will happen with all of their apparatus?
2. What will happen with all of their money?
3. Where will they pop up next?

My contingency plan was asking to keep the helicopter at my house but I was promptly laughed out of the boss's office.
The idea for an eight month vacation didn't go over any better.
Rush hour will be the worst time in both directions but they are at least trying to "lessen the blow" with tow trucks (and I'm sure HELP trucks and additional SP) posted there to move disabled/accident vehicles as quickly as possible. That's about as proactive as you'll see in NY.

1) what are they trying to hide?
2) trespassing in city hall. some smart a** lawyer, will take a pic. get fined and sue them. are in violation
3) so when the clerk takes your pasport photo, will they be fined or when DPW needs to photo the building to put a repair proposal together are they in violation?
4) wha tabout the press? Are they excluded from filming
5) can you imagin that the mayor will no longer allow himself to have his picture taken in his office while shaking the hand of some big developer (i.e. contributor)?
Another well thought local law.

Time to "retire" early and go on Welfare...gaurenteed money, zero work hours, no bosses and free medical & no worries about the state pension system

Unless you want to keep your head in the sand and adhere to some strict ideology, you have to see that the pension benefits allotted to prior generations of civil service employees are no longer sustainable in today's economic climate.
And, if we're going to be honest about it, those pension benefits were justified in order to attract persons into civil service as, then, civil service compensation was notably less than private sector compensation.
In the last 40 years however, civil service compensation has in many instances, increased to match or even exceed private sector compensation.

Seeing the above makes my blood boil.
It is partisan horsesh1t.
This nation create ENORMOUS new wealth each year and will continue to do so, what has changed in the past few decades is how this wealth is distributed.
The people at the top through buying members of Congress, state legislatures has advocated for changes in the law that allow a CEO to be paid tens of millions for firing tens of thousands.
CEO pay has gone up 400% while ordinary worker compensation has gone down in the same time period.
If some of you want to accept the current political dogma from both parties that all our fiscal woes are the fault of TAX PAYING civil servants you do so at your own peril.
One political party only advocates for the already rich and corporations, the other party advocates for illegals and thinks money grows on trees, NEITHER party gives a damn about the hardworking middle class.
You can't demand pensions be cut or eliminated for working people as Cuomo has while demanding another tax cut for the rich and an increase in welfare.

The answer to the bullying problem is Boxing Lessons

All I can say is, watch for what anyone wishes or knows will be the best. The only thing that would be the best in Dutchess County is the Consolidation of ALL FIRE AND EMS into 1 (One) Countywide Fire & EMS Department...
To those who think they know so much about this specific report and it's findings, that are not even released or known by the department it involves yet, you know nothing about it and basically should
"KEEP YOUR BIG PIE HOLES SHUT", give the respect of waiting for the report and it's finding to come out at the March 22, 2012, 7pm press release being made at the Town of Poughkeepsie Town Hall on Overrocker Road.
Thanks for understanding this delicate situation, as it will not only affect the department involved, but it's neighbors and could and should very well lead to what I stated before "COUNTYWIDE FIRE & EMS", since every single department in the county could and would benefit from it then..

The "Senior Guys" will be the ones that were brought up by their parents with a work ethic, and not to question the authority. These will be the guys that make it that long, and the most respected guys on the crew. Among all the garbage, they will stand out.

I TRY not to post about work...and certainly would never* badmouth the Job...however, lately I have a streak of "luck" where if I am off, we have a fire at work...and if I am at work, we have a fire at home..like RIGHT THIS VERY FRICKIN' SECOND...so i keep posting about that...mostly tounge in cheek...
But there are MANY on my friends list that post WAYYYYYY too much about work shenanigans..
(* never say never, I know!)

The Vulcan Society IS Racism in the FDNY. This is a group with one agenda and they do not care about how they achieve their goal. Every day they operate is another day they do damage to the FDNY, the services it renders and the lives of New York City residents.

I vol. for the community and the experience. What "perks" are you talking about?The last meeting i went to for free food was... never. I go to drills, thats it. None of the dance bs or any of that.To me its a job, not a social gathering.