Pork Partially Funds New YFD Fire Rescue Boat By Hezi Aris

YONKERS, NY – When former NYS Senator Nick Spano  was last in office, he was instrumental in directing $50,000 in pork funding for use by the Yonkers Fire Department for the purpose of purchasing a new fire rescue boat. Upon losing his tenure to Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the pork, instead of being delivered, was instead frozen in Albany. Since that time, Yonkers Fire Department has sought the efforts of Assemblyman Gary Pretlow and Assemblyman Mike Spano, among others to their benefit. YFD personnel claim they are in desperate need to replace one of the two presently commissioned fire rescue boats. The cost of a new rescue boat is approximately $150,000. Only last week, Assemblymen Mike Spano and Gary Pretlow received approval of their request for $50,000 for the benefit of Yonkers Fire Department. The project director for this funding request is William Fitzpatrick.

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Those familiar with the fiscal challenges presently facing Yonkers, it is improbable to suspect Mayor Phil Amicone will find the additional $100,000 for a new fire boat. The strained relationship between YFD and Mayor Amicone is legendary. Until Mayor Amicone nods his approval, the $50,000 allocated for the purchase of a new “toy”  to cruise the developing waterfront will stagnate in an unrevealed and unknown allocation line, hidden from prying eyes, in a yet to be approved 2009-2010 budget; likely to be allocated for purpose or purposes never to be divulged. For those who remember, the rebuilding of the Sador Lane Walkbridge had at one time received a $50,000 allocation. It was never revealed. In time notice of its existence was lost from future budgets. Additional funds valued at $40,000 were appended to the initial request. The $90,000 allocations have yet to be utilized for the purpose to which they were granted. Since their allocation, a woman, attempting to use Sadore Lane Bridge to cross from one side to another, fell because of the evident disrepair of the bridge. She suffered brain injury and won a lawsuit against the City of Yonkers to the tune of $1.95 million.

It would behoove the City of Yonkers to place the $50,000 in an interest bearing financial instrument until the balance of the necessary funds are raised for the purchase originally stated. It may not balance our books, folks; it’s simply the beginning of fiscal responsibility.

Comments

a disgrace if this is allowed to be purchased

Anyone remember when the NYC fire dept had to come to a rescue of a person in the hudson in Yonkers awhile ago.

Remember the picturers of the Yonekrs firemen skating by on a ski boat--how ridiculous they looked. Getting in the way of the REAL men rescuing the person

There is no additional money for this "toy." Hezi's last paragraph says it all. Put the $50,000 in an interest-bearing account for now. And leave it there as long as necessary for that purpose only. For instance, it should not be used to pay for gas for all those unnecessary city cars and SUVs.

Fire departments throughout the majority of the country are responsible for water rescues and other water emergencies.The citizens of inner cities want their police to concentrate on crime,not medical,auto accidents and water emergencies.When taxpayers call for more cops it is in response to criminal activity.Two fire boats for Yonkers though is one too many.

Yonkers has ONE waterfront. Why should it have two fireboats? It shouldn't.

The YPD also has a rescue boat in the water.

What's going on in Yonkers?

The Police should concentrate on the crimes out on the streets and not waste resources on the Hudson River. Maybe the police overtime would have been reduced several hundred thousand dollars (from the $19 million in OT spent) if they didn't spend money staffing the YPD rescue boat.

And the Fire Department should only need ONE fire rescue boat. What's wrong with the present boats? There are two of them already. More than enough for the present time. Perhaps when the waterfront is fully developed the fire department can justify the expense of a new boat - until then, the present vessels should do just fine.

THE REAL BIG QUESTION IS HOW MANY FIRES HAS THE FIRE BOAT PUT OUT ?? IF NONE THEN IT'S NOT NEEDED AND THOSE PROMOTING THIS WASTE OF PUBLIC FUNDS SHOULD BE FIRED.

I agree, and if there is a fire on the waterfront, if Yonkers needs help, it comes from neighbors on the river also. Perhaps if the fire boat must be purchased, then it can be a shared purchase for our nearest river communities, since it may benifit them also. Likewise, if Dobbs Ferry want to buy a fire boat, Yonkers can help with it so we don't have to buy our own. This must be shared.

LOOK THE CLOWN SAID WE ARE BROKE, THEN WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS.

Again as what was posted yesterday, if anyone was able to get within 100yds (Fitzy had his Goon Squad protecting the perimeter), one would be able to see how many "YFD Special Operatios Trucks" FITZY had out a yesterday's drill, as compared to what the YPD, Metro North, Empress and Yonkers Civil Defense has. I'd bet that YFD has as many if not MORE that all of these other agencies combined. And for what? ALL OF THIS EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE MANAGED BY A UNIFIED WESTCHESTER COUNTY - DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FIRE AND EMS DEPATMENT and NOT by Fitzy and the YFD. Combine all Fire Agencies and EMS into 1 Single County Agency and you would have an effective and cost efficient department. Instead we have excess all bundled up just for Fitzy and the YFD and no one else (Hey Mount Vernon FD, I'd bet you would love to have some of that excess equipment to help everyone out in Mount Vernon? But with Fitzy around, you cannot play with his toys - Sorry)

If someone should be held accountible for this unnecessary excess (2 YFD Fire Boats - Fitzy are you NUTS?) it FITZY.

Look at this $100K PLUS New YFD Chassis/Tractor. How many time will this be used? (outside of Fitzy's Drills)

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2144814400102545909RACtnX

What about this training trailer that should be the County's and not Yonkers? (Isn't there a Westchester Fire Training Center in Valhalla)?

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2706146360102545909QXLZVz

Yesterday's drill was not open for Public Observation, but you could have bet the bank that Fitzy had WABC, WCBS, WNBC, FoxNews, UPN, News12, and the Westchester Journal News there. Fitzy made sure that he has his picture taken with every Political Heavyweight that he invited. Why? Simple! To get more taxpayer money to buy new toys just for Yonkers. As the other poster said, when will everyone wake up and admit that this all needs to be part of and managed by the WCDEM and NOT Fitzy and the YFD.

Whose the PORK? Pretlow and Spano or FITZY?

If Westchester County DEM would control ALL Fire Boats in the County, all of these boats could be stratgetically placed along all County Waterfronts, and could be used by all "County Controlled" Fire Departments, including Yonkers, for any emergency. So, instead of Yonkers having 2 for themselves, 1 "existing one" would be in Yonkers, and the other 2 new ones could be used up near Dobbs Ferry, and maybe New Rochelle, etc etc). Fitzpatrick's ego is standing in the way of this.

This Fitzy character needs to be reigned in and we definitely need a new fire commish....one with a brain.

you can add a new mayor to that.

The city only needs one fire boat in the Hudson,but the YFD does need other water rescue equipment for the Saw Mill,Bronx River and other flood area emergencies.The YPD should concentrate on fighting and preventing crime.

Its NOT Pagano, its FITZPATRICK. Pagano is NOT the individual who is abusing our tax paying dollars. Its Fitzpatrick. We don't need a new fire commissioner. We need a New Chief of Fire and Special Operations. And the person who is in this position currently? Fitzpatrick, that's who. By the way, our Mayor and Fitzpatrick don't get along at all (Fitzpatrick and YFD Union Leader Fox are tied like a tight knot). That's why the Firefighters did not support Amincone during this past election.

Pagano is the Commissioner and therefore, the buck stops with him. He was never qualified for the job in the first place. Just another union thug with a big mouth and no brains. What an embarrassment.

ABOVE POST IS CORRECT, IF PAGANO CAN'T CONTROL AND LEAD, HE SHOULD BE REPLACED. WHO RUNS THE YFD HIM OR FAT FITZ. SPEAKING OF FAT FITZ, MAYBE SOME OF THAT 50G SHOULD BE USED TO SEND HIM TO A GYM. I DON'T THINK THE GUY COULD CARRY A CAT DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIR LET ALONE AN ADULT PERSON.

Heck with spending $50K for a Fitzy Exercise Program. Have Fitzy run the Sadore Lane Overpass Stairs for 4 hours a day for 12 weeks and maybe then he might be able to get into shape without spending a dime. (Oops, those stairs are too close to Carlos Pizza, which is one of Fitzy's favorite eating holes).

Did anyone see the brand new BUS that Fitzy had down at the drill yesterday. How many times did they "acutally" had the "OLD BUS" out at an actual fire? Why the need for a brand new bus? As Hezi said above, someone has to go in and take a look at how many "Toys" Fitzy has acquired over the past few years, that are either unnecessary OR should have been acquired by the county. Just looked at that Tractor Trailer that the other posted had provided the photo for. If that is not an excessive toy, what is? Someone needs to look into that FITZY

Why is Fitzys weight an issue and there is no mention of the buluga size police officers and supervisors?

All of them (YFD &YPD) should be made to take annual physicals and if they don't get in shape get off the job.

Hey, don't even go there fireboys! The men and women of the YPF are in the best shape of any law enforcement agency in the county. This subject is about Fitzys' poor spending habits and about the weight of police personnel. The subject of Fitzpatricks' weight is open for another forum subject.

meant NOT about the weight of Police Personnel

Just saw that New YFD Bus compared to the Old YFD Bus. The Old YFD Bus was adequate enough to handle the needs of the Yonkers Fire Department. why the spending for a new fire department bus. with out city budget in serious question, why would our City Council ever allow a city official, such as Chief Fitzpatrick, to be allowed to ask for a new bus, neverless 2 new fireboats? Mount Vernon's Fire Department Personnel have to live in trailers and have a severe lack of adequate apparatus to cover their city and Chief Fitzpatrick has the gaul to ask Mr. Spano for money for 2 New Fire Boats? (and gets a new bus). If I were a member of the FDMV, I would have a mass protest outside of Chief Fitzpatrick's office, outlining his poor spending management compared to what the standard needs are within the Mount Vernon Fire Department.

Here are the bus photo links

Old Bus # 1:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2726861340102545909oEZCpW

Old Bus # 2:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2045726870102545909gSOqWV

New Bus:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2131141170102545909wLQyQw