WPIX-11 TV Reporter Mario Diaz on Temporary Restraining Order Placed on City of Yonkers

Click onto the center of this page if you do not see the letters NDN and an arrrow pointing to the right of the screen to activate the WPIX-11 reporter Mario Diaz report on the Temporary Restraining Order Placed on the City of Yonkers:

 

 

Yonkers Tribune thanks WPIX-11 for allowing us to share this news report with our readers and viewers.

Comments

[Sadsack]

Sue Gerry, you just got owned by Mario Diaz.

[Concerned Citizen]

Nice piece....... good job Mario. Let's shine a light on the hypocrisy of Mike Spano. And the buck does have to stop with him.

[yonkers citizen]

typical bully fashion by the yfd...why dont you pick on someone your own size.

[LoL]

This administration just got kicked hard.

[yonkers citizen]

MIKE...TAKE AWAY THE FIRST RESPONDER RESPONSIBILTY FROM THE YFD. IT IS WITHIN YOUR RIGHT AND IT IS THE ONLY REASON THAT THERE IS A MANDATORY MINIMUM IN THE CONTRACT. TAKE THE FIRST REPONDER AWAY MAYOR AND HIRE THE AMOUNT NEEDED TO PROTECT THE CITY.

BTW...SIXTY FIREFIGHTERS CALLED OUT SICK LAST WEEK. WHAT A JOKE THE YFD HAS BECOME.

[threesidesto truth]

Taking away the first responder program would put a private company as the primary responder in the city.
That is a "for profit" entity that will put money before citizen care.
The Police also handle medical emergencies., but to have them fill the void you would have to hire more anyway.
Sixty firemen out sick sounds high and I agree if thats true. I hope admin is tracking the care/whereabouts of those members.

[Sad Days In Yonkers]

THREE RING CIRCUS IN YONKERS REGARDING THIS WHOLE SITUATION:

1) Everyone intelligent citizen knows that the city is under-staffed within the Fire Department. For a city of our size, population and the number of older buildings, along with the median age of our citizens rising, given the fact that the city does utilize the Fire Department as the Primary First Responder Program, this city is extremely short staff and does not have enough companies to cover it. It has been this way since the late 1970's, which was the last time that the City of Yonkers had the proper staffing and Fire Company Levels to properly cover and protect the city. The City Administration needs to recognize that promises made by developers, such as Stu Lenards, Costco, Home Depot, Ridge Hill and the Downtown Development need to HONORED (Where the heck is that Ridge Hill Firehouse that the Ridge Hill Developer promissed???). Mayor Ammicone did nothing to force the businesses he attracted, to pay to the city what everyone thought they would be forking up. To this I say that Mayor Spano needs to get right on the door step of these developers and businesses and say "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"

2) While I totally agree that the Fire Department in the City of Yonkers is understaffed and does not have enough companies, I also believe that the Sick Leave and Pension Plan that the Fire Union has in place, will eventually play a major factor in bankrupting the City of Yonkers. Unfortunately (and it is indeed a reality) a majority of our city's firefighters do take "advantage" of how loose the terminology of the contract that Firefighter Union has with the City of Yonkers. Yes, Mr. McGoey can say that the contract was negotiated in good faith with the "then" city leaders, and yes, the former administration who ALLOWED this contract to be passed should all be sent back to one of the city's kindergarden classes in order to be re-educated. BUT, the Sick Time/Over-Time situation is being abused BIG TIME. Mr. McGoey and the Firefighters are no dummies. They know when they have the city by the "You know whats". And Mr. McGoey knows it so well, that he will go "Toe To Toe" with Mayor Spano to fight for it (And yes, we all know that Mr. McGoey and the Firefighters Union has "Political Clout" within the Judicial System, to force things to go their way, as well. Mayor Spano is trying to "Reel In" this Overtime/Sick-Leave abuse, to help offset financial suicide for the city. To this I say to Mr. McGoey and the Firefighter Union - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH !!!

3) It appears as if Mario Diaz and Channel 11 are the ONLY local television station (out of the MAJOR STATIONS in the New York Metropolitan Area) who are even covering this situation. Mr. Diaz is taking it right at City Hall, and specially Mayor Spano and in the case of his report of the other day, Sue Gerry. Is Mr. Diaz and Channel 11 within their right to question whether or not the Mayor is holding back the funding it was supposedly given by the Federal Government, for new firefighters to be hired as well as Ms. Gerry's residency in the City of Yonkers? ABSOLUTELY!! However, the feeling many are now taking towards Mr. Diaz and Channel 11, is that it is trending towards it being more "One Sided" (on the side of the Fire Fighters Union and Mr. McGoey). In order that the reporting is "Un-bias" many would also like to see Mr. Diaz and Channel 11 to do, is to dig "as deep" (on the same level as he is taking it to both Mayor Spano and Ms. Gerry) in regards to the sick leave and over-time abuse by the members of the Yonkers Fire Department. Let's see Mr. Diaz confront Mr. McGoey as well, all during the same report. Finally, where is Channel 7, 4 and 2 as it relates to this story? Is it not important enough of a story to cover? (Channel 11 and Mr. Diaz believes it to be). Could it be that Channel 2 feels that it would be a "Conflict of Interest" to have their station "Dig Deep" into this story, because their lead anchor on their local morning news program is the wife of the Mayor??? Could the other 2 "Major Stations" (WNBC and WABC) also feel that is they come to Yonkers and dig deep, it could result in a "Political Mess"?? Maybe that's why an Independent Station, such as Channel 11 has decided to do the story? Its really sad when fair, un-bias, and educated reporting by ALL MEMBERS of the Local Media, can't go on. To This I say to both Mr. Diaz, Channel 11, Ms. Calvi and Channel 2, and Channel 4 and 7 (and even News 12, Channel 9, and Channel 5) - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Wake up citizens of Yonkers. It is US who are having to pay the expense and burden of all of this POLITICAL NONSENSE !!!!

[DONT THINK SO]

60 people did not go sick the other day. More bull people are writing about. News 12 reports what ever city hall wants them to.Mario Diaz is bringing out the truth and whats wrong with that. Its the same ole same ole, sick leave abuse and overtime. Anybody outside the dept. listens to what they want to here. There are over 400 ff's and Officers that do take a vacation and also 37 vacancies that need to be filled. Gerry and Spano do not want to fill them cause they want the OT to inflate so they can throw the ##'s back at us down the road about the OT abuse. Mean while people are hurting out there and they do not want to hire. I would rather see the 3% hike in my taxes go to the workers than sit in city hall or pay for Gerry'S SECURITY(YES SECURITY). She has a security detail follow her around. WAKE-UP YONKERS!!!

[yonkers resident]

Any reasonable person without an agenda would notice that this news report was clearly one-sided. Also, there has been a lot of talk on this site about this federal grant to hire firefighters. Is that a re-occuring grant that will continue to pay for the new hires year after year or is it a one shot?

[Sad Days In Yonkers]

To Don't Think So: I strongly feel that everyone in the City of Yonkers wants the TRUTH to be heard LOUD AND CLEAR, whether it implicates Mayor Spano and Ms. Gerry as being in the WRONG and/or Mr. McGoey and the Firefighters Union as being WRONG.

If Mayor Spano, Ms. Gerry and the City Administration is ultimately found to be WRONG then they all should PAY for their wrong doings. On the other hand (and it well might be BOTH SIDES are wrong), if Mr. McGoey and the Firefighters Union are ultimately found to be WRONG, they also should PAY for their wrong doings.

All we ask is for fair and unbias investigation and reporting by ALL the Media (PIX11/Mr. Diaz, News12, WCBS, WNBC, WABC, etc, etc)

[Arch Stanton]

Even if she does have a residency waiver, it does not set an example for all of the others who are obligated to reside here. But if she really did move in as she says, then there is no need for a city car whatsoever. In fact, Sue Gerry should follow Bloomberg's lead and take mass transit.. Why does she need a security detail??? Was she threatened??? More cops babysitting in an already undemanned city, especially on the east side of town. Wonderful!!!

Well, it was an excellent reporter here who unlike News 12 will ask the tough questions. Is he the son of Arnold Diaz??Yes, you have to wonder if Channel 2 is taking a hands off stance in Yonkers due to Mary Calvi's hubby. Marsha Kramer from CBS would be the best person to dig into this whole thing. It would not be a conflict of interest for Channel 2 to report anything on Mike Spano. Kelly on Fox 5 News has hosted daddy NYPD Commissioner Ray numerous times...PHIL REISMAN, WHERE ARE YOU ??????? WHERE IS THE CONGRESSWOMAN WHO OBTAINED THE YFD FEDERAL GRANT????

"That's my story and I'm stickin' to it"

Arch Stanton

[Sad Days In Yonkers]

Arch - Agree with your statement 100%. Mr. Diaz should ask Ms. Gerry the hard questions. And yes, if Ms. Gerry now has residency in the City of Yonkers (which she should have had from the beginning), she should take public transit to work or have her own transportation and not rely on a City Owned Vehicle. As far as a YPD Security Detail, it well "may be" that it has been reported that she has been threatened by someone or some group of people and to which, should be the case of any high profile city employee who has been threatened, they should be provided a security detail until such time that the individual(s) have been found and severely punished for such action. As far as Mr. Diaz's reporting is concerning, kudos to Mr. Diaz for demanding answers from Ms. Gerry. But I would also like to see Mr. Diaz demand similar answers from Mr. McGoey as it relates to the alleged overtime/sick leave abuse.

You can't just report on the issues from only one side of the street.

[Gus]

How aboutwe find out exactly what does abuse mean. Is it an abuse when someone is injured on the job? Is it an abuse when someone had surgery and is missing work?(not an on the job injury) I thought an abuse is when someone repeatedly calls in sick just to get time off. I could bet that there are some real abusers so go after them and get rid of them.

[Arch Stanton]

Sad Days,

What recommended manpower number should THE Yonkers Fire Dept consist of and where does this ratio to population number come from???? If Sue Gerry was threatened, then take her for target practice and issue her a pistol carry permit!!! The cops are stretched way too thin for all of this baby sitting as they are more undermanned than the YFD is...

Thanks

[DONT THINK SO]

I like you want everyone to know the truth. YFD went over budget about $1,000,000 in the last 5 years total. That is about $200,000 per year. A city with a budget of about $950,000,000 per year do you think we are abusing our job? There is so much that the citizens of Yonkers does not know and Spano doesn't want you to know. Do some homework and find out how much over budget are the rest of our civil servants. You will be very surprised. Buy the way the 37 ff's that are looking to get hired were already budgeted. Do you think the money they save by not hiring these guys will be saved for a rainy day? No they will find somewhere to spend.

[yonkers citizen]

MIKE...TAKE AWAY THE FIRST RESPONDER RESPONSIBILTY FROM THE YFD. IT IS WITHIN YOUR RIGHT AND IT IS THE ONLY REASON THAT THERE IS A MANDATORY MINIMUM IN THE CONTRACT. TAKE THE FIRST REPONDER AWAY MAYOR AND HIRE THE AMOUNT NEEDED TO PROTECT THE CITY.

BTW...SIXTY FIREFIGHTERS CALLED OUT SICK LAST WEEK. WHAT A JOKE THE YFD HAS BECOME.

[Sad Days In Yonkers]

A) "If" Sue Gerry "fudged" her residency requirements in any way, shape or form, she should be immediately removed from her job and replaced. Mayor Spano then should immediately call for a Press Conference and apologize to the city for allowing it to happen.

B) "If" 60 Firefighters called out sick and the "Records" show that only, say 50% of that number were out due to injury, previously reported and confirmed, 30 people out sick during one week is outrageous and uncalled for. That, in any book, in abuse.

[anon]

If there really are abuses out there in the YFD, address the issue. Call out the offenders. Issue a warning. If it continues, file charges and fire them. Why is this so hard to do? Maybe because it doesn't exist? If it does exist, why the delay in dealing with it? Something doesn't smell right.

[Anon]

You don't cut the First Responder program or companies because of a Sick Leave or Overtime problem. This endangers citizens lives and firefighter lives. Put appropriate adminsitrative personnel and safeguards within the department to handle the alleged abuses.

[Porky]

Residency? Fudged? What Hypocrites phoney bastards you
are. Yonkers should check out this new list of F.F.'s that is
crying for hire. How many of them are Yonkersites.
I heard over fifteen are from East Fishkill. The word
is out. Ask how the screening is done for the fire dept
hiring. It is fixed. It is crooked. One investigator
wanted to get to his son. He did.

[Gus]

Thats a good point since the PD does the investigations

[Yonkes In Peril]

The ENTIRE CITY OF YONKERS, from Mayor Spano, to Sue Gerry, to McGoey, to the Fire Department members who cheat, to that DOPE who is one of the DPW Union Leaders who was caught on video tape, using language that even the toughest skinned individual would cringe at (and made us ashamed that he represented Yonkers in anyway) should all be investigated and FIRED

[Porky]

Hey, Gus, Not true. Yonkers Fire Arson Investigators do part of the investigation. The Yonkers Fire Comm. does another. The police just do a criminal background check. Residency and the interviewing are done by the Fire Dept.
Let Cronyism, Nepotism, and F--- the regular guy live on. Who is watching?
The short term Ex-Comm. was a pro at F---ing people. That was when this group, comming on, was sorted out. Check into it.
Above all else never believe a word of what they tell you. Lie upon lie, over and over. No one is watching until now.
Why did all his guys(Ex-Comm.) quit, or run away to long term sick leave?
KARMA IS A BITCH!!
Someone look into what was done.. Look at the names.

[EDDY]

Which Yonkers Fire Captain is getting an extra Fifteen Percent in his salary?
Fifteen Percent for being a crony and charter member of n elite clique.
There was no transfer or interview for his position. He was best friends with the Comm who hand picked him.
He has done no firefighting duties for twenty years yet he gets all the benefits plus Fifteen Percent.
He makes more than anyone else on the job and answers to no one. He was given a bonus by his crony the short term ex-comm. The ex-comm. who supposedly looked out for the men. His budget had laying off 34 firemen and eight lieutenants. "Looking out my tukus."
He is not even certified to go to a fire. Yet he makes Fifteen Percent more, plus he gets a car to take to his home out of state.
When is this going to come to an end?
I hope it gets addressed

[union and proud of it]

It must be good to have an axe to grind, especially when you haven't a clue about the investigation process. All the Arson guy does is take their picture, because the department has one camera.