thebreeze

If your employer is crappy enough that you even had to worry about this in the first place, then I don't think the bill will realistically be able to do much for you. If in the past they would have fired you for taking off to help at a declared disaster, then in the future, sure they won't fire you after you go donate your time for a week, its illegal. What they WILL do then, being such a shining star of an employer, is wait for a while after you come back to work, and drum up a reason to leave you high and dry, unrelated to the disaster. Am I saying every boss will do this, no, but with people with attitudes that poor to begin with, they will find a way around this law to do what they want.

Mind boggling right? That this could come as a surprise to anyone.

If your employer is crappy enough that you even had to worry about this in the first place, then I don't think the bill will realistically be able to do much for you. If in the past they would have fired you for taking off to help at a declared disaster, then in the future, sure they won't fire you after you go donate your time for a week, its illegal. What they WILL do then, being such a shining star of an employer, is wait for a while after you come back to work, and drum up a reason to leave you high and dry, unrelated to the disaster. Am I saying every boss will do this, no, but with people with attitudes that poor to begin with, they will find a way around this law to do what they want.

Spoke to that LCC shortly after the incident, he did in fact look down that side, made sure it was clear, ran back and started lowering and the RMP squeezed in and parked there at just the right time, for all the wrong reasons.

Spoke to that LCC shortly after the incident, he did in fact look down that side, made sure it was clear, ran back and started lowering and the RMP squeezed in and parked there at just the right time, for all the wrong reasons.

The police officer didn't appear to be all that concerned, you can't be certain he even had the keys to move those THREE police vehicles blocking the block. This wasn't overly aggressive, he didn't smash through the cop cars at speed causing any serious damage or potential for major catastrophe, he moved them until he had enough room to get by and squeezed through. He even had his guys out of the rig spotting him as he went through. I don't think he did anything particularly terrible, stopping where he was on a tight block like that, before the fire building, isn't exactly the ideal spot for an engine. He would have further blocked out any other apparatus, particularly ladders who should be in front of the building. None of us know all the facts, but this isn't exactly a video to freak out about, sometimes you need to pull a maneuver like this, should you be trying to smash into a police car on every run? No, of course not, should the police be a little more cognizant of their vehicle positioning at a fire? Quite probably. I don't think this guy made a mistake or had bad judgement, I don't think it was the oh the fire department can do no wrong mentality either. He decided pushing those cars and doing some damage was worth the reward of getting himself into position, it looks like it worked out just fine.

The police officer didn't appear to be all that concerned, you can't be certain he even had the keys to move those THREE police vehicles blocking the block. This wasn't overly aggressive, he didn't smash through the cop cars at speed causing any serious damage or potential for major catastrophe, he moved them until he had enough room to get by and squeezed through. He even had his guys out of the rig spotting him as he went through. I don't think he did anything particularly terrible, stopping where he was on a tight block like that, before the fire building, isn't exactly the ideal spot for an engine. He would have further blocked out any other apparatus, particularly ladders who should be in front of the building. None of us know all the facts, but this isn't exactly a video to freak out about, sometimes you need to pull a maneuver like this, should you be trying to smash into a police car on every run? No, of course not, should the police be a little more cognizant of their vehicle positioning at a fire? Quite probably. I don't think this guy made a mistake or had bad judgement, I don't think it was the oh the fire department can do no wrong mentality either. He decided pushing those cars and doing some damage was worth the reward of getting himself into position, it looks like it worked out just fine.

The police officer didn't appear to be all that concerned, you can't be certain he even had the keys to move those THREE police vehicles blocking the block. This wasn't overly aggressive, he didn't smash through the cop cars at speed causing any serious damage or potential for major catastrophe, he moved them until he had enough room to get by and squeezed through. He even had his guys out of the rig spotting him as he went through. I don't think he did anything particularly terrible, stopping where he was on a tight block like that, before the fire building, isn't exactly the ideal spot for an engine. He would have further blocked out any other apparatus, particularly ladders who should be in front of the building. None of us know all the facts, but this isn't exactly a video to freak out about, sometimes you need to pull a maneuver like this, should you be trying to smash into a police car on every run? No, of course not, should the police be a little more cognizant of their vehicle positioning at a fire? Quite probably. I don't think this guy made a mistake or had bad judgement, I don't think it was the oh the fire department can do no wrong mentality either. He decided pushing those cars and doing some damage was worth the reward of getting himself into position, it looks like it worked out just fine.

It should be re-opened as 36 Engine.

I agree with your analysis of the way it's going to go when its the men vs. Chief. All I am trying to say is for people to stop saying "this is what the FDNY wanted", when its not in fact a true interpretation of the the desire of the job as a whole. Just a few staff chiefs out of touch with what's really going on and what's needed. If you want to know what the members actually need and want, maybe ask them, maybe go to a few random firehouses and ask guys what they would like to be able to better get there job done. I'm not talking about R&D either, or SOC companies, or the Rock, just regular guys getting on the engine and truck everyday, the actual end users for your product. I am positive the Pak-Tracker would be extremely low on every wishlist if it was on there at all. In terms of increasing everyone's safety I think the top of every guy's list would be getting back the fifth man in the engine, instead of trying to just keep adding gadgets to carry, but hey, that's a whole other story.

I'm aware of the extreme difference in cost, what I worry about is the impact on safety each measure has. One practically negligible, and one invaluable. I know that it's not realistic in the world today, but I don't believe you can put a price on the safety of the members. Obviously city hall and governments across the country feel differently. The voters don't care because they don't see an upfront result for themselves, but they all sure like those million new trees being planted, at least for the few months they're alive before they wither and die from neglect. Then they just come plant three more on the other side of the street.

I'm aware of the extreme difference in cost, what I worry about is the impact on safety each measure has. One practically negligible, and one invaluable. I know that it's not realistic in the world today, but I don't believe you can put a price on the safety of the members. Obviously city hall and governments across the country feel differently. The voters don't care because they don't see an upfront result for themselves, but they all sure like those million new trees being planted, at least for the few months they're alive before they wither and die from neglect. Then they just come plant three more on the other side of the street.

I agree with your analysis of the way it's going to go when its the men vs. Chief. All I am trying to say is for people to stop saying "this is what the FDNY wanted", when its not in fact a true interpretation of the the desire of the job as a whole. Just a few staff chiefs out of touch with what's really going on and what's needed. If you want to know what the members actually need and want, maybe ask them, maybe go to a few random firehouses and ask guys what they would like to be able to better get there job done. I'm not talking about R&D either, or SOC companies, or the Rock, just regular guys getting on the engine and truck everyday, the actual end users for your product. I am positive the Pak-Tracker would be extremely low on every wishlist if it was on there at all. In terms of increasing everyone's safety I think the top of every guy's list would be getting back the fifth man in the engine, instead of trying to just keep adding gadgets to carry, but hey, that's a whole other story.

I agree with your analysis of the way it's going to go when its the men vs. Chief. All I am trying to say is for people to stop saying "this is what the FDNY wanted", when its not in fact a true interpretation of the the desire of the job as a whole. Just a few staff chiefs out of touch with what's really going on and what's needed. If you want to know what the members actually need and want, maybe ask them, maybe go to a few random firehouses and ask guys what they would like to be able to better get there job done. I'm not talking about R&D either, or SOC companies, or the Rock, just regular guys getting on the engine and truck everyday, the actual end users for your product. I am positive the Pak-Tracker would be extremely low on every wishlist if it was on there at all. In terms of increasing everyone's safety I think the top of every guy's list would be getting back the fifth man in the engine, instead of trying to just keep adding gadgets to carry, but hey, that's a whole other story.

The men tend to know what they need better than anyone, it's a story as old as time. The rest of the fire service doesn't know what the FDNY wants, so I don't take stock in what they or you say. You're trying to tell me how great something is for a job you're not on. I don't walk around telling doctors what drugs to push or mechanics what parts to use. That's a salesmans job. I have no issue with Scott or the mask they provide, I'm also a fan of their FastPak and the improvements they have made to it from feedback, I do however think that the Pak Tracker is nothing more than a gimmicky money maker for Scott. Everyone keeps saying the FDNY asked for it, no, some guy trying to make a name for himself asked for it, there was no poll of the FDNY, same way we get a lot of our garbage we carry, someone not near a fire floor decided what we needed and what would work best and got together with a vendor and shoved it down our throats. You sitting here saying it's great means nothing when the men whose hands it are in say it's useless to them. It's great you guys can take the company line for Scott, I'm gonna take the company line for the men.

The men tend to know what they need better than anyone, it's a story as old as time. The rest of the fire service doesn't know what the FDNY wants, so I don't take stock in what they or you say. You're trying to tell me how great something is for a job you're not on. I don't walk around telling doctors what drugs to push or mechanics what parts to use. That's a salesmans job. I have no issue with Scott or the mask they provide, I'm also a fan of their FastPak and the improvements they have made to it from feedback, I do however think that the Pak Tracker is nothing more than a gimmicky money maker for Scott. Everyone keeps saying the FDNY asked for it, no, some guy trying to make a name for himself asked for it, there was no poll of the FDNY, same way we get a lot of our garbage we carry, someone not near a fire floor decided what we needed and what would work best and got together with a vendor and shoved it down our throats. You sitting here saying it's great means nothing when the men whose hands it are in say it's useless to them. It's great you guys can take the company line for Scott, I'm gonna take the company line for the men.

The men tend to know what they need better than anyone, it's a story as old as time. The rest of the fire service doesn't know what the FDNY wants, so I don't take stock in what they or you say. You're trying to tell me how great something is for a job you're not on. I don't walk around telling doctors what drugs to push or mechanics what parts to use. That's a salesmans job. I have no issue with Scott or the mask they provide, I'm also a fan of their FastPak and the improvements they have made to it from feedback, I do however think that the Pak Tracker is nothing more than a gimmicky money maker for Scott. Everyone keeps saying the FDNY asked for it, no, some guy trying to make a name for himself asked for it, there was no poll of the FDNY, same way we get a lot of our garbage we carry, someone not near a fire floor decided what we needed and what would work best and got together with a vendor and shoved it down our throats. You sitting here saying it's great means nothing when the men whose hands it are in say it's useless to them. It's great you guys can take the company line for Scott, I'm gonna take the company line for the men.

I've seen this play before, always the same act,
RANK AND FILE MEMBERS: "this really isn't helpful for us in most cases and can actually be a hindrance in some cases"
SUCK UP SCOTT SALESMAN: " oh no it's great, there are studies from.... somewhere, you guys are just doing it wrong, give me more money so we can keep telling you you're doing it wrong."
NYC/SCOTT BUDDY R&D GUY: "OK here's a ton more money for something we aren't really gonna use but we will make sure to put on every truck instead of doing something useful like a fifth man on the engine or a TIC for the engine boss"
RANK AND FILE MEMBERS: (collective sigh)

First, I work on the greatest job on earth, I'm blessed more than I could possibly imagine, my career is not the issue but thanks for talking out of your behind again. I will reiterate, yes he is more important than them, because while they, and you, and I, were home here enjoying freedom, he was overseas fighting for it. I worked my balls off to get my job, but I never begrudged a single person who went before me because they sacrificed their time and safety to fight for mine, and as I go forward I will applaud those who jump over me on promotion lists because of their veterans points. They DESERVE it, in fact they deserve more than this country currently gives them. The veterans points is a mere drop in a bucket for what they actually deserve. I'm over myself, I appreciate the value of others service above myself, whereas apparently you lack the ability to understand that you might not be the most deserving of something, guess you got jumped by a few vets at some point. Maybe you should have studied harder, been smarter, or served in the military and you wouldn't be so bitter.
Matt

Aside from the BS small town politics:What makes him different is that, HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY IN THE MILITARY, SO YES HE IS MORE SPECIAL. It's sad that people like you, with ideas like this who want to enjoy all the freedoms we are afforded, and the status this country has in the world, but don't want to appreciate the men and women who ensure that freedom. The veterans credit isn't awarded arbitrarily, it's points that are deserved and rightly so. Get over yourself and start appreciating the sacrifices some have made so you can live the beautiful, easy, free from fear life that we all enjoy because of their efforts.

He said borderline useless, and he's right. It's got limited applications with the FDNY. In most situations it takes away a guy from the FAST team while he stares at the readouts on a poorly designed display. If a guy goes down, usually the other companies working will be able to find him quickly, if not, then based on standard protocols you will already know the general area where the guy was, second due irons, check floor above apartment etc. The pak tracker would be most useful in a collapse or maybe a row of taxpayers on fire, other than that it's kind of useless and even might hinder a FAST team that would otherwise already have a good game plan in place. It's another tool that, if guys rely on it instead of their training, will just slow them down and make them ineffective.The RFID technology in the coats has absolutely zero to do with safety of the members.
Also, the system was developed by Scott, for Scott, to make more money, for Scott, on top of the obscene amount that Scott already charges. The FDNY and one of their Captains is just the lucky recipient for the test run/FDNY buys it so will everyone else ploy

Oh do you mean the ridiculously absurd, massive misuse of privilege, lights and sirens, public safety personnel and apparatus, all while closing down a road all for a ridiculous tradition of a wet down? Yes I noticed it right around 9:02

It's the same location, it's located in different wings in one building, but it is not the same thing by any means. 60 control is staffed by their own dispatchers and handles dispatch and communications, no training. The Westchester County Fire Training Center is staffed by their own staff and instructors and handles the training needs of the county. They are two completely separate entities, they don't cross staff or hate responsibilities. It's a good idea to get your facts straight before you open up your mouth, especially when you want to keep insisting you're right when you're actually dead wrong.

First, I work on the greatest job on earth, I'm blessed more than I could possibly imagine, my career is not the issue but thanks for talking out of your behind again. I will reiterate, yes he is more important than them, because while they, and you, and I, were home here enjoying freedom, he was overseas fighting for it. I worked my balls off to get my job, but I never begrudged a single person who went before me because they sacrificed their time and safety to fight for mine, and as I go forward I will applaud those who jump over me on promotion lists because of their veterans points. They DESERVE it, in fact they deserve more than this country currently gives them. The veterans points is a mere drop in a bucket for what they actually deserve. I'm over myself, I appreciate the value of others service above myself, whereas apparently you lack the ability to understand that you might not be the most deserving of something, guess you got jumped by a few vets at some point. Maybe you should have studied harder, been smarter, or served in the military and you wouldn't be so bitter.
Matt

Aside from the BS small town politics:What makes him different is that, HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY IN THE MILITARY, SO YES HE IS MORE SPECIAL. It's sad that people like you, with ideas like this who want to enjoy all the freedoms we are afforded, and the status this country has in the world, but don't want to appreciate the men and women who ensure that freedom. The veterans credit isn't awarded arbitrarily, it's points that are deserved and rightly so. Get over yourself and start appreciating the sacrifices some have made so you can live the beautiful, easy, free from fear life that we all enjoy because of their efforts.