Brooklyn Daily Eagle - May 05, 2010

Terrorist Car Bomb Attempt Is One of Reasons Cited

"Yes, we're looking at tough times ahead. Does that mean that public safety is suddenly negotiable? Absolutely not!" said Councilman Gentile. He was standing with more than 100 people, about half of them firefighters, in front of Engine 242 on Fifth Avenue near 92nd Street on Monday. "Every firehouse is a sitting duck. The first responsibility of government is protecting its people.

"Fire companies save lives. And the mayor thinks those lives are worth sacrificing to a budget deficit?" said Gentile, joined by Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, a Queens Democrat who chairs the council's Fire and Criminal Justice Committee. The rally also included several Bay Ridge civic leaders.

Fire Department spokesperson Jim Long told the media that the mayor's plans to close as many as 20 firehouses does not mean any or all of those will close and none are on a list.

"Back in October, Mayor Bloomberg stated to the media that he had no plans to close any fire companies," said Crowley, standing next to three firefighters' union leaders and a protester in a Grim Reaper costume with illustrated flames. Holding placards were firefighters and Brooklyn Chinese-American Association protesters.

"Today, only a few short months later, we are looking at the potential closure of 20 fire companies and as many as an additional 42 companies outlined in the state's doomsday budget," Crowley said. "Just Tuesday, President Barack Obama praised the FDNY for its response to the potential bombing in Times Square."

The additional 42 closures come under Gov. David Paterson's proposed budget cuts to AIM (the Aid and Incentives to Municipalities) statewide.

"In times like this, when America and especially New York City are vulnerable to a terrorist attack, we cannot even consider reducing the size of our fire department," she said, adding that "fires don't care about budgets."

A statement by Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer (D-Brooklyn/Staten Island) noted the dangers in proposed Albany budget cuts. "In practical terms, this budget would eliminate over $300 million in funding for New York City, placing essential services such as Engine 242 on the chopping block." She and Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny pledged their "steadfast support" to keep all city firehouses open.

"To the mayor, we say, 'Find the money.' We'll help you find it and save our firehouses," Gentile pledged. Treasurer Ed Boles of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association asked the crowd, "Tell the mayor that it is morally wrong to close firehouses. This year there have been over 300 lifesaving rescues as of April 30. Save firehouses! Save lives!"

`Playing Russian Roulette'

With Boles was President Steve Cassidy of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, who said, "Over the last five years, firefighters have responded to more emergencies than ever before."

With the proposed cuts, he warned, "The mayor is playing Russian roulette with people's lives."

District Manager Josephine Beckmann of Community Board 10 told about the swift response of firefighters to a house fire on her block. Chair Jane Kelly of the Bay Ridge Community Council's Public Safety Committee spoke of firefighters' bravery.

Civic and political leader Ralph Perfetto told the loss of his nephew, firefighter Joseph Agnello, in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, noting that his name is the first on the firefighters' 9/11 memorial. Agnello worked at the Middagh Street firehouse in Brooklyn Heights and is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery.

As Perfetto spoke, the Hook and Ladder 109 fire truck, headquartered on Third Avenue at Wakeman Place, pulled up in support of the cause. Over Engines 242's doors are the words: "The Pride of Bay Ridge." A sidewalk plaque showed that Engine 242 was established on Feb. 1, 1896, showing the length of time it has been on site.