YONKERS, NY -- June 29, 2012 -- Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano today said, “With the recent resignation of Yonkers Fire Commissioner George Kielb, I have the duty of appointing an interim commissioner while the administration begins its search for his replacement. To ensure the safety of Yonkers is not in jeopardy during this transition, I have appointed present Yonkers Police Commissioner Charles Gardner to oversee the duties of both the Fire and Police departments. I have the utmost confidence in Gardner’s ability to manage and lead the best Fire Department in the country as we consider possible candidates for the new Fire Commissioner.”
Save money and let Gardner have control over both departments. commisoner chong does the same in whiteplains..
Posted by: WELFARE RULES | June 29, 2012 at 11:59
Another appointment, SpaNO has been so busy with appointments when has he got time to be running the City?
Posted by: No time at all | June 29, 2012 at 14:56
He isn't running the city. Other people are. He has essentially become a figurehead, and all he does is attend parties, ceremonies, and openings, etc.
Posted by: Anon | June 29, 2012 at 15:39
Yeah like Gardner doesn't have enough to do with the police department already. How can he possibly run two of the city's largest departments, and keep them functioning at top gear. He can't.
Posted by: Gimme a break | June 29, 2012 at 15:41
HA HA HA HA HA WELL PLAYED Mr. Spano!!!
Get ready to bend over boys the party is just about over!!!!, GREAT JOB McFoolie!!!!
Posted by: Nelson | June 29, 2012 at 16:05
white plains is a 1/4 the size of yonkers. Any more brilliant ideas? Get a job and contribute to society instead of hiding behind a keyboard.
Posted by: ex-volliechief | June 29, 2012 at 16:26
JUST HIRE AN EX FDNY chief. straighten out the cry baby scamming low life conn and NJ living fireman . NONE OF THEM LIVE HERE Volunteers all the way 25 percent will take care of shortages.. THIS is all the Fatmans ideas LOL
Posted by: GAME OVER | June 29, 2012 at 17:01
GARDNER CAN HANDLE THIS. Fireman are like dpw workers.... what is the big concern. I PICK THINGS UP AND PUT THEM DOWN... They let everything burn to the ground anyway SURROND AND DROWN LOSERS GAME OVER FINALLY A MAYOR WHO stand up to you guys HA
Posted by: GAME OVER | June 29, 2012 at 17:03
Its quite obvious the next fire commissioner will be from outside the YFD. Ask the YPD how that worked out for them. Boy oh boy,those arrogant greedy bastards really screwed themselves,
Posted by: EH | June 29, 2012 at 18:32
Hahahaha!!! Just you stupid fiofitas wait! They will bring in a washed up FDNY retread who will turn you guys upside down. Just like EH did for the YPD....just ask any cop....they will never recover from him....stupid fiofitas, you guys outmaneuvered yourselves!!! Hahaha
Posted by: Hueylong | June 29, 2012 at 21:58
Let me think a moment. If the police commissioner is now in charge of firemen, that means they will be supervised and watched over by PD...no? Hahahaha....can't wait to see the look on their faces when a captain (or better yet IAB) inspects the firehouse and takes their beer!!!!
Posted by: Louieloo | June 29, 2012 at 22:02
It amazes me how many useless comments are posted on here, all probably by the same useless individual. Do you really think Gardner is going to do anything? Do you really think they'll bring volunteers into Yonkers? And to the fool who keeps writing fiofitas on every article it's old already, it wasn't funny when you first wrote and it's not funny now. Get a life people,all your fantasy land Yonkers scenarios WILL NEVER HAPPEN! Because just like the union employees who do nothing, this administration will do nothing! Nobody who has ever stepped foot in Yonkers City Hall, neither council or mayor, HAS NEVER AND WILL NEVER care about the citizens of Yonkers. Our village idiot mayor claims he won't burden the taxpayer with higher taxes, well Mr.Mayor what was your plan if 628 gave up their fight and you had these six million dollars sitting around in a contingency fund. Tax refund? Would you have given the citizens their money back? Its an absolute shame what goes on, and all you people do is bitch and moan about the unions. Well sorry to break it to you people, but you know what?Mr.McGoey is way sharper and way more intelligent than Mayor Gump up in city hall. So I'm sorry you voted in an individual with the iq of a snail to run our great city, and I'm sorry the unions are able to have someone with intelligence representing them. But like the movie The Distinguished Gentleman, you voted for someone because of their name, a name that has been tarnished as far as I'm concerned, not because they were qualified.After this term, the name Spano will never have a place in politics again. So Mr. Mayor, maybe Dick Gidrons old place will hold a spot for you as a salesman, because you sure looked sharp trying to sell that Lincoln on News 12 the other day.
Posted by: Get out fast | June 30, 2012 at 01:01
Wow guess u r an angry Firemen this is the same fire department that fucked mike 8 years ago for the clown then 4 years later u guys worked ur ass off against the clown and he burried u guys hahahahahahaha maybe its time to be a firemen where u live oh forgot then u couldnt fuck the taxpayers here with ur bullshit contract relese ur contract to the public and lets see how many taxpayers stick up for u
Posted by: Fcuk the YFD | June 30, 2012 at 08:01
Awesome, when do we get deputized and get our guns???
Posted by: Anon | June 30, 2012 at 08:47
An angry fireman, no not at all. But I'm sure you're some angry Paison who didn't get his rightful seat behind a city desk 8 years ago. Your language shows me the intelligence level you're on, just about the same level as Mr. Mayor. And you come on here calling Phil the clown, when the buffoon, who got his budget kicked back to him, up in city hall is by far one of the biggest clowns to step foot in City Hall. The years he spent twiddling his thumbs in Albany obviously didn't teach him anything. I don't remember Phil ever getting his budget kicked back,. John Murtagh was absolutely right, Spano is doing nothing but appointing people to positions they aren't qualified for. Nader Sayegh, John Khader? Didn't these guys get thrown out of the primaries four years ago for falsifying signatures? Didn't these guys strongly support Cousins when Jolly Old Saint Nick lost his seat in Albany. They must have stroked Mikey pretty good. So until this dull minded twit starts making some wise decisions that Lincoln will be the only thing at City Hall prrrrrrrrrring like a kitten. Now get back in to Giulios, you're pastas getting cold.
Posted by: Get out fast | June 30, 2012 at 09:56
Here's something to refresh the readers memories;
http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2007/08/15/sayegh-thrown-off-ballot-in-yonkers-independence-mayoral-primary/
Posted by: Get out fast | June 30, 2012 at 10:18
Commissioner Gardner is a professional and I would like to see him become " Public safety commissioner" he can run both departments as a professional! The fire dept. needs a professional, after the last 9 years of having someone who was NOT a professional running the fire dept.Pagano ruined the fire dept. sick leave abuse, stealing fuel, stealing monies from the unions, under pagano, it was like animal house, do what you want and I will put my head in the sand! Pagano was the worst commissioner in fire dept. history!Period!
Posted by: knowhow | June 30, 2012 at 11:37
Stupid fiofitas are their own worst enemies for gods sake!...haven't you neanderthals learned that you suck at the political game? you always seem to get screwed!...imagine if you stuck to fighting fires!...uh, wait, you cant do that because there aren't enough fires in the city to justify your existence....haven't you realized it yet? the public does not give a fu*K! the people that support the finances of this city don't care less if the entire Nodine Hill burns to the ground....so your stupid signs are useless...the SOMEONE"S GONNA DIE rhetoric is played.....stupid piggy played that one out...do some research...the city of Detroit averages 12-16 fires in a 24 hr. period ...you guys dont even have that many fires in a year!! And no Fireboy, a grease fire in someone's kitchen doesnt really count!...so have some humility, get off of the soapbox and go back to sleep.....
Posted by: MovedFromYO | June 30, 2012 at 12:01
Moved from YO but you still see the signs? Comparing the YFD to Detriot, Michigan, who until a few years ago had a population of over 1 million people? Less than 12-16 fires per year? C'mon Sue, you can do better than that.
p.s. Shouldn't your sign in be "Never lived in YO"?
Posted by: anon | June 30, 2012 at 12:33
You're name says it all, worry about where you live. Clearly the Executive board knows more about politics than this administration.
Posted by: proudly serving yonkers | June 30, 2012 at 12:41
Gas stealing? Like they did at the first precint for 3 or 4 months, but that was quickly hushed after it made the news.
Posted by: Get out fast | June 30, 2012 at 13:30
As you get your tax bills next week, think about this- the Board of Education money pit consumes approximately 60% of your tax bill, the other 40% goes to maintain all the rest of city services, fore, npolice, dpw, roads,parks, etc. So who is screwing who here?
Posted by: Tax Man | June 30, 2012 at 13:54
Hey Get Out Fast YONKERS FIREFIGHTER - While you say you are tired of reading the comment "fiofitas" on every article, everyone is tired of reading about the FREDO references by your moron UNION FIREFIGHTER DOPES. It cuts both ways. You have no problems dishing it out, but you can't take it. As others have said, just wait until someone with FIRE FIGHTING MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE (such as someone say from Chicago, Philadelphia or another major city in the United States) comes in and cleans house with all of the Union Non-Sense and starts running the department with Financial and Logical positions in mind. Then, maybe then, the department can then add positions (without the having the BURDEN on Baloney Union Negotiated Overhead) and additional companies. Many many people would love to be able to get a job, with a financially sound base salary and benefits that are in line with every other working person in this country (how about a 401K program and NO PENSION, just like the 85% of the rest of us who work for a living each and every day).
Local 628, your days are numbered !
Posted by: Yonkers Financial Responsibility | June 30, 2012 at 15:45
And the first person from Chicago or Philadelphia will say" where the hell is everybody,I cant work like this ." The only fire dept in the country without a staff is what's in store for the new commish. By the way, has anybody received the letters from their homeowners insurance notifying them about the increases yet ? Its ok ,I'm sure the interim commish is very knowledgable about the ISO .
Posted by: Rock Quarry | June 30, 2012 at 16:25
The YFD are in total fear of an outsider who may know how to run a fire department. I just hope they are prepared for what they are walking into. I doubt any member of YFD will cooperate with an outsider, judging by past history of their "professionalism".
Posted by: outsider in | June 30, 2012 at 16:52