Fighting for funding, parity and more in the years to come

On Thursday, Jan. 15, the new Speaker of the New York City Council Julie Menin re-appointed me to serve as the Chair of the Council’s Fire and Emergency Management Committee.

This position, which I have held since 2022, is responsible for advocacy, oversight, and legislation on behalf of the men and women of the New York City Fire Department and New York City Emergency Management.

Rather than talk about the things I have done in the previous four years, I’d instead like to use this time to look forward, and discuss the things I hope to achieve in the coming term.

Two of my biggest priorities deal with the funding of the department. The fire department needs, at a minimum of a billion more dollars than it is getting to deal with the crumbling infrastructure in our firehouses and the poor pay of our EMS.

In my tours of firehouses throughout the city, I have been repeatedly appalled to find that far too many of the apparatus floors are essentially being propped up by stilts. The floors of these stations – many of which were built back when the fire engines were still pulled by horses – are simply not prepared to deal with the weight of a modern rig. As a result, the city put these metal poles under the floors to provide support.

This was only supposed to be a temporary measure until the floors could be properly re-built, but incredibly some of these jury-rigged setups we see now pre-date 9/11. For over a quarter century, members of New York’s Bravest have been walking on poorly supported floors, and that is unacceptable.

Then of course there is the issue of EMT pay parity, which needs to be at the forefront. Our EMTs perform lifesaving work each and every day, and yet barely get paid a living wage. Again, unacceptable, and in the next four years I will continue to stand with our EMTs and demand a pay raise for these people who do so much for us and get so little in return.

On the topic of EMTs, I will also be looking into alternative transportation methods for low acuity calls. As envisioned, this would mean that the FDNY would team up with other medical transport providers to hand over non-critical calls, freeing up FDNY resources for emergencies.

For example, if a call comes in for someone who has a stomach ache and is requesting assistance, traditionally an FDNY EMS unit will be deployed, thus removing them from the field. Under this new arrangement, however, those calls can be handed off to private transport providers, allowing the EMS bus to remain in-service and awaiting the next call. In doing so, we can work to reduce response times by ensuring we have the most ambulances possible responding to the most urgent calls.

I also plan to strengthen the PFAS-related legislation we passed last year, by putting forward a bill to create voluntary PFAS screenings for our firefighters. PFAS – also known as “forever chemicals” – are known carcinogens, and while last year’s legislation will start to phase these toxins out of bunker gear, many of our heroes have already been subjected to them for years. Through a screening, we can make them aware of their exposure, and allow them to take the necessary precautions to safeguard their health.

Additionally, I will continue holding the Department of Transportation accountable for any street redesigns that don’t take the needs of local firehouses into account. We cannot continue to allow these narrowly focused planners to shut down roadways and narrow our streets without first listening to how this would impact the lifesaving work of the FDNY. We’ve all heard stories about closed roads impeding an engine, and in an emergency this can cost a life.

Last year, to combat this, the Council codified my legislation to ensure firehouse input on DOT projects in Local Law 6 of 2025. Going forward, I will make sure that this law is enforced to the full extent, so that our first responders can always get to their destination without unnecessary impediments in their paths.

And not to forget NYCEM, I intend to fight for more resources for them as well. While they might not be as large as the FDNY, they serve a vital purpose and they need to be well-prepared in the face of the next disaster.

It should be an exciting four years ahead, and I look forward to whatever challenges the future holds. Should any member of service ever need me, my door is always open, and my office can be reached at 718-738-1083. We are here for you.