Lowey and Engel Announce $177,000 Grant for Yonkers Fire Department

Federal Funds to Help Fire Department Upgrade Equipment

WASHINGTON, DC -- Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland) today announced that the Yonkers Fire Department will receive a $177,000 federal grant to purchase an emergency vehicle driving simulator.

Powered by Qumana

“It is vital for local fire departments to have the equipment they need to protect themselves as they work to keep us safe,” said Lowey.  “This grant will benefit all residents of Yonkers who can have confidence that their first responders will be well-trained to respond quickly and safely to emergencies.  I am pleased that the Department of Homeland Security has recognized and is addressing this need.”

Rep. Engel said, “Firefighters are often the very first responders and they must have the equipment necessary to deal with any emergency situations. This money will help to keep the residents of Yonkers safe and secure.”

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program which is administered by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Grants and Training in coordination with the U.S. Fire Administration, awards grants directly to fire departments and EMS agencies.  Funds may be used to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, emergency medical service programs, fire prevention and safety programs, and to purchase new fire equipment.

"We look forward to the grant, and Congresswoman Lowey is always helpful to the Department,” said Yonkers Fire Chief William Fitzpatrick.  "The grant will be used to purchase an emergency vehicle driving simulator, which helps train the firefighters to use the fire engines and emergency vehicles."

Comments

[Uncle Rico]

Are you kidding me? What a bunch of crap!

More toys for Fitzy - When will the madness stop? "Wake Up Yonkers!" Hmmm - Let's see? A Driving Simulator? 2 Jet Water Ski's for YFD for Water Rescues (why have 2 fire Boats for YFD that never gets used. {YPD's boat gets the bulk of the work on Hudson River). A Burn Simulator Training Trailer that should be up at the County Training Center?

Enough with the "Yonkers FD takes care of itself and is great comments" This stuff belongs up at the WCDES Training Center in Valhalla for everyone Fire Department in Westchster County to use and NOT just for Yonkers.

Mount Vernon FD can't get front line fire apparatus in service to protect the City of Mount Vernon but Lowey keeps giving Fitzy more taxpayer money to buy unnessary toys to fuel his huge ego.

PS - Fitzy just received 2 New 75' Tower Ladder Trucks to replace TL71 & 75. They got a new command vechicle earlier this year. A Mack Granite Trailer Chassis to tow what???. They are expecting a New Collapse Apparatus, 2 New Engines to replace 308 & 309, and a New Foam Truck later this year.

Mount Vernon has what? A department that has broken down trucks with men who work for FDMV who just want the best equipment to help protect the city, but just seem to fall short.

This is INSANE !!!

a waste of taxpayers money - when john mccain is elected , there will be an end to earmarks and pork spending

I heard that Fitzy spent $150,000 on equiptment, and $27,000 on cheeseburgers.

That's crazy!

Now we will hear from the union members of the fire department who will defend Chief Fitzpatrick to the end, saying that he cares about the city and does everything in his power to secure funding from homeland security grants (still taxpayers monies) to make Yonkers a safer place to live. Safe is one thing, unnecessary waste of money is another. Is that true what the 7:13 poster said? Jet Water Ski's for the Fire Department? Is that nuts? For what? Fitzpatrick needs to be held accountible at a public meeting for his historical poor spending habits.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

This is what democrates like to do. Spend taxpayers hard earn money to give them selves more press.

Amen Brother to that (I see that Fitzy's Goon Squad has arrived with their Waaaa Comments)

McCain will put a stop to all this b.s.

Time to dump Ms. Lowey for giving them this money to waste in the first place.

[LIPSTICK PIG]

OINK OINK

[LIPSTICK PIG]

OINK OINK

wasn't this issue brought up months ago pertaining the overspending by the yonkers fire department? if i remember correctly chief fitzpatrick was taken to task at that time for unnecessary waste of federal homeland security grant money that would only serve yonkers that might be better off used throughout westchester county and not just yonkers. why do we continue to allow chief fitzpatrick the ability to lobby thru congresswomen lowey for funding that is highly questionable. is chief fitzpatrick teflon? what hold does he have over the government heads wtihin our city?

I'm a dem but I'll be voting against these 2 horrible representitives when they come up for re-election. I'll vote republican just to rid us of these 2 panderers.

Its a federal grant, it has nothing to do with a democrat or a republican representative announcing it. These are competitive grants which every fire department drafts and fills out paperwork to address the greatest good to the greatest need.
The Dept of Homeland Security makes the final approval not Nita Lowey or Engel.

Grants are by far a better tactic of obtaining money than Member items and Federal Appropriations. It is only then when it doesn't matter who your elected official is.

Then why bother announcing it for publicity?

And it does matter. These politicians don't care where the money goes they just want the publicity. And just like McCain these 2 wonders have been in these positions way toooo long.

Lumping McCain into what Nita Lowey dose is really pathic. Everybody knows McCain is against earmarks and pork barrel spending. Nice try.

how about just putting a stop to all grants, member items, pork, etc. bottom line is it is all taxpayer money no matter who gives it out.just reduce all taxes accordingly, stop the handouts, and all departments will be treated equally.by the way, the dept. of homeland security is a joke. this money has nothing to do with stopping terrorism.

To 4:06 PM - The answer is to have the Mayor of Yonkers and its Citizens put a stop to Chief Fitzpatrick applying for all of this grant money. Instead the head of the Westchester County DES should be putting in these requests (yes, you can say that he fails to do so, so why punish Chief Fitzpatrick). Well maybe Chief Fitzpatrick needs to look out for the well being and homeland security of the entire county of westchester and not just yonkers (and his personal ego). If a disaster hit Briarcliff and if the Homeland Security assets were not "immediately available" to respond to the Briarcliff area because all of the Federal Homeland Security Grant Money went to Yonkers and Chief Fitzpatrick, and if the disaster ended up "eventually" affecting Yonkers, then what would the citizens of our city say then? (Gee, why didn't the County have funding to help support Homeland Security). The issue is that Chief Fitzpatrick has to be stopped for applying for Federal Grant Money for "Driving Simulators" "Jet Water Ski's" "Mack Granite Tractor Trailer" that just sits and really does nothing and other unnecessary items that just are acquired to fuel his ego.

Is chief Fitzpatrick retiring soon to take over the head food taster at Carlos restaurant?

Actually chief fitzpatrick is retiring soon and taking over the county training center. Than the county will finally start getting new equipment. As for Mt. Vernon maybe they should just budget money for new fire trucks. Hey maybe Denzel Washington can by them one

McCain and Murtagh will win in a landslide.McCains poll numbers are rising dramatically and the looney leftists are in a panic.

One could only wish that Fitzpatrick retires and moves to the North Pole to live with Santa Claus. He's the next best thing to Nina Lowey and Federal Grant Money. He shouldn't be allowed within 10 feet of the Valhalla Fire Training Center should he eventually retire. He is a disgrace to every citizen of the city of yonkers.

All the blah, blah , blah about development and how good it is for Yonkers.

Read below, this is the real Yonkers. No money, a deficit Yonkers budget of $100 million dollars and Amicone goes on with his hiring spree to employee and enriching of all his family and friends.

These jobs are all currently listed on the City of Yonkers website. Qualifications for these jobs, High School or GED education. Don’t take my word for it, go to the COY website. $92,000 Tech Svs Sup, GED Education, $98,000 Data Base Adim , two yr college or equiv?
Come one, Come ALL it’s the New Phil Amicone, BIGGER THAN EVER, Yonkers Taxpayer MONEY GIVEAWAY.

Oh and the Senior Asst to mayor is $107,000 and only 21-30 hours a week. Hmm who’s mother is that for.

Development is BS, it’s a cover for the rape of Yonkers Amicone is doing everyday.

Amicones Gameplan, “Watch the shinny bobble called development just don’t watch what I give away every day”.

CURRENT JOBS FOR AMICONES FRIENDS:

BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT
Salary/Pay Rate: $65,437 - $69,439

TENANT RELATIONS AIDE (SPANISH SPEAKING)
Salary/Pay Rate: $40,463 - $46,125

TECHNICAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR
Salary/Pay Rate: $66,719 - $92,329

SENIOR ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR - LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR - CONTINUOUS EXAM
City of Yonkers As they occur $65,092 – $90,077
Board of Education $67,700 - $98,000

Manager, Environmental and Sustainable Development-JOB OPENING
Salary/Pay Rate: $60,000-$85,000 Depending Upon Experience

What does Fitzpatrick do all day for his $118,000 a year job? Goes to maybe 2 fires a month and just sits in his car and uses his walkee talkee barking out orders to Battalion Chiefs, who are just as qualified to give direction. Otherwise, he just sits behind his desk and fills out Federal Grant Application Forms to continue to spend taxpayers dollars on Jet Ski's (Imagine Fitzpatrick on the Hudson River on a YFD Water Jet Ski?) - Now there's waste!