Head Of FDNY Union Calls Potential Fire Company Closures 'Civic Insanity'
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Angry fire officers launched a campaign Thursday to stop Mayor Michael Bloomberg from closing up to 20 fire companies in the city.
Captain Al Hagan, head of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, along with fire officers and firefighters announced a six-week campaign to fight the potential closings.
"We're warning that the severely diminishing fire coverage on the 10th anniversary of the World Trade Center amounts to civic insanity," Hagan told reporters, including 1010 WINS' Stan Brooks.
Hagan Calls The Possible Fire Company Shut Downs "Civic Insanity." 1010 WINS' Stan Brooks
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Standing outside the headquarters of Engine 10 and Ladder 10 -- across the street from Ground Zero -- Hagan took a shot at Mayor Bloomberg one day before he was to deliver his doomsday budget message.
"We don't have millions of dollars to sway the opinion of the public with expensive TV ads and glossy mailings," he said.
Citing a $600 million budget gap, Mayor Bloomberg is expected to announce significant cuts across the board, including to the FDNY and NYPD.
That argument was not convincing enough for Hagan, who said "if you cut 20 fire companies, people will die."
"The entire world knows that the agency that will be responsible for responding to and mitigating the effects of the next attack will be the FDNY," he said.
