MARCH TO SAVE FIREHOUSES IN WOODHAVEN - MONDAY
Currently on Mayor Bloomberg's desk is a plan to closing up to 20 fire companies by July 1st, 2010. The city of New York wants to do this in order to save $37 million. They also plan to reduce personnel by about 400 to save $8 million more.
Now, we don't know for sure which fire companies will be closed -- but we need to fight and make sure that Engine Companies 293 and 294 are not among them. We all remember the horrible fire on 96th Street from last year. Imagine how much worse that would have been with either 293 or 294 shut down!
That was a windy day -- much like the wind we experienced this weekend. If the fire department hadn't responded so rapidy, an entire block or more could have been lost.
With that in mind, there will be a march and a rally Monday, May 10th. The march will start at Engine Company 293 (87th Street and 89th Avenue) at 9:30 and end up at Engine Company 294 (101st Street and Jamaica Avenue) where a rally will be held. Elizabeth Crowley, Eric Ulrich, Joe Addabbo, Mike Miller -- all our elected officials are expected to participate. We had a chance to speak with Assemblyman Mike Miller about this Friday Night --
Yes, it's short notice -- but if you can, please attend the rally. Make sure there are lots of bodies in front of the cameras. By law, the City Council must receive a 45-day notice -- thus, the Fire Department will have to disclose which companies they plan to shut down by May 17. These decisions are being made right now -- this is our best hope of impacting their decision.
Please pass the word to all your neighbors!
If you have any comments, or would like to suggest other projects, drop us a line at info@projectwoodhaven.com or projectwoodhaven@aol.com .