Latest news with #UniformedFirefightersAssociation
New York Post
16 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Top US firefighters union rave in video about Trump's ‘big beautiful bill'
President Trump's 'big beautiful bill' would be a much-needed financial windfall for firefighters — and can't be passed quickly enough, a top union representing New York's Bravest and smoke eaters nationwide says in a new video. Honchos from the International Association of Fire Fighters rave about how the multitrillion-dollar bill's historic tax cuts – including ending taxation of overtime – will help working families nationwide, especially its 350,000 members, in a video released by The White House and reviewed by The Post. 'We believe that this bill is going to impact the lives of working families all throughout the United States, in particular our seniors, with tax breaks on Social Security as well as our hard working firefighters throughout the United States that are putting in excess overtime,' says IAFF General President Edward Kelly in the minute-long segment. Advertisement 4 President Trump's 'big beautiful bill' would be a much-needed huge financial windfall for firefighters nationwide, and it can't be passed quickly enough, a top union rep said in a new video. Ken Cedeno/UPI/Shutterstock Chris Bartley, the IAFF's political program coordinator, says Trump's 'plan to stop taxing overtime would be a great benefit to our firefighters, where they can keep more money that they've actually earned.' And Scott Robison, the IAFF's deputy director, praises the commander-in-chief for 'easing the burden on working firefighters' by offering up to $8,000 in tax credit for child care and in-home service. Advertisement 'Our nation's brave firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our families and communities, working long hours in the middle of the night and are away from their families several days at a time,' said White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers. 4 'We believe that this bill is going to impact the lives of working families all throughout the United States, in particular our seniors, with tax breaks on Social Security as well as our hard working firefighters throughout the United States that are putting in excess overtime,' says IAFF General President Edward Kelly. The White House 4 Chris Bartley, the IAFF's political program coordinator, says Trump's 'plan to stop taxing overtime would be a great benefit to our firefighters, where they can keep more money that they've actually earned.' The White House 4 The Uniformed Firefighters Association, which represents FDNY firefighters, is part of the IAFF. Helayne Seidman Advertisement 'Firefighters across the country support The One, Big, because it delivers on many of the signature campaign promises – providing the largest tax cuts in history, including 'No Tax on Overtime.' Delivering on these promises is the least lawmakers could do for these American patriots.' The Uniformed Firefighters Association, which represents FDNY firefighters, is part of the IAFF. Senate GOPers are working throughout the weekend to pass the tax-and-spending megabill, with an 'aspirational' vote expected to start at noon Saturday.
New York Post
18 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
FDNY's firehouses 'about to collapse,' need hundreds of millions of dollars in roof and other repairs: critics
The city is putting its own firefighters at risk unless it pours hundreds of millions of dollars into renovating the FDNY's century-old firehouses – including 23 with rotting roofs requiring immediate repairs, union bosses claim. As Mayor Adams and the City Council iron out a new budget, the Uniformed Firefighters Association recently compiled a list of 23 buildings in urgent need of a combined $81 million in roof-repair work alone. Many of the firehouses are plagued by cracked and moldy ceilings and walls and other foundation issues, the UFA says. 'We might be the greatest Fire Department in the world, but it's based on pure grit and determination because we are way, way behind the times,' said UFA Vice President Bobby Eustace. 'We've been fiscally abused for decades.' 8 FDNY Squad 288's building in Maspeth, Queens, is plagued by massive sewage backups, cracked walls and floors, mold and exposed asbestos. And the firefighters' union contends the garage where trucks are parked and equipment stored is in danger of collapse. J.C. Rice Failing to fix the FDNY's archaic buildings could lead to emergency response times continuing to rise because many firefighters and medics would have to continue working in unsafe conditions or relocate to other buildings, Eustace added. Adams and the City Council struck a tentative agreement Friday on a budget for the new fiscal year beginning Tuesday that includes $2.6 billion for the Fire Department, but it's still a $1 billion short of what council members had initially demanded for the agency – mostly for infrastructure repairs and replacing outdated equipment. 8 Many of the FDNY's predominately century-old firehouses and other buildings are so dilapidated that they need hundreds of millions of dollars in renovations to make them safe – including 23 with rotting roofs requiring immediate repairs that City Hall has long ignored, said Uniformed Firefighters Association Vice President Bobby Eustace. Bobby Eustace/ Instagram Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola (R-Queens), who chairs the fire and emergency management committee, said she visited many of the buildings on the list and was 'shocked by the deplorable condition they were in.' 'There is a cruel irony to the fact that the brave men and women we ask to save New Yorkers from buildings that are about to collapse are being forced to work out of dilapidated and unsafe buildings that in some cases are about to collapse,' she said. 8 The roof of an 119-year-old building at Fort Totten Park in Queens that the FDNY uses as a training site needs $15 million in repairs, according to the Uniformed Firefighters Association. J.C. Rice 'The FDNY is facing a facilities crisis that is impacting everything they do, from fire prevention to inspections to training, and we need a significant capital infusion to fix it.' Ten of the 23 FDNY buildings with rickety roofs are in Queens – including the three with the most estimated damage: an FDNY training site at Fort Totten Park built in 1906 ($15 million), 63-year-old EMS Station 45 in Woodside ($8 million) and 112-year-old Engine Co. 264 in Far Rockaway ($5 million). 8 Here's 23 FDNY buildings flagged for a combined $81 million needed roof repairs. Jared Larson / NY Post Design Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! Recent images from inside FDNY Squad 288's building in Maspeth, Queens, were startling. The site, built in 1913, is plagued by massive sewage backups, cracked walls and floors, mold and exposed asbestos. And the union contends the garage where the trucks are parked and equipment stored is in danger of collapse. The garage – or 'apparatus room' – until recently also had gaping holes leading to the basement, but firefighters dipped into their own pockets to put new cement flooring down because they feared someone would get hurt before the city responded, said Eustace. The FDNY said repairs at the Squad 288 are slated to begin in the fall. 8 The exterior of Fire Department buildings like the Queens site used by FDNY Squad 288 is filled with foundation cracks. J.C. Rice 8 Support beams in basement at Squad 288's station are so decayed that firefighters there fear the ceiling above it could soon collapse. Obtained by the New York Post The Post also reviewed recent videos and photos of Engine Co. 96 in The Bronx showing a huge sinkhole forming on the roof next to what the union says is a broken vent. Inside, the 59-year-old station is plagued by leaky windows and walls, mold and exposed asbestos, and the union estimates $2.2 million in repairs are needed. 8 Engine Co. 96 in The Bronx has a huge sinkhole on its roof. Obtained by the New York Post 8 Fire stations through New York are plagued by cracked ceilings. Obtained by the New York Post The union estimates the FDNY's 219 firehouses, 37 EMS stations and other buildings need hundreds of millions of dollars in work. FDNY spokesperson Amanda Farinacci Gonzalez said the agency is 'engaged with conversations across the Adams administration to make any needed repairs as soon as possible.' 'The safety of the brave men and women who serve New Yorkers every day is our No. 1 priority,' she said. 'We are working to make needed repairs at facilities throughout the department, and there is no threat to our members' safety. . . . Any emergency repairs are handled right away.' Zachary Nosanchuk, a spokesman for the mayor, insisted the proposed budget includes 'historic funding to support the brave men and women of the FDNY' – including $940 million for 'facility improvements and construction.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Family of FDNY firefighter who died of a heart attack after he lost his job gets boost from new ‘relief fund'
The grief-stricken family of a FDNY firefighter who died of a heart attack after he was let go from the department after losing his job because of migrant crisis budget cuts got a $50,000 boost from a new 'relief fund.' Long Islander Derek Floyd's widow, Christine Floyd, is the first recipient of the FDNY Firefighters Foundation relief fund — an effort created by Nassau County and the Uniformed Firefighters Association labor union. 'I'm just so grateful because I didn't have the means when he passed,' Christine Floyd, a mother of two, told The Post. 'I was way over my head in debt.' The fund was established to assist when firefighters face difficulties like the death of a spouse, long-term medical care, or a child born with a birth defect, union leaders said. 'I would say every year we see ourselves with about a half dozen to a dozen firefighters that are suffering something catastrophic,' UFA president Andrew Ansbro said. 'We're hoping we'll be able to provide long-term care,' he added of the finances currently coming solely from private donations and events like golf outings. WABC radio owners John and Margo Catsimatidis donated $10,000 to the fund, while Sullivan Papain, a firefighter advocacy law firm, has contributed $5,000. Derek served valiantly as a distinguished US Marine sergeant for nearly a decade before joining the FDNY as a probationary member. His probationary status left Christine out of a lifetime of income after the fatal heart attack. Christine, who met her husband of almost seven years as total strangers on a subway platform, missed about $600,000 in death benefits, according to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which paid the mortgage on their home. 'When you think widow, you're thinking of someone who has lived their life and has had plenty of years…now you're navigating this life without your partner in a two-income household,' said Christine Floyd, a 35-year-old guidance counselor in NYC's Department of Education. During his time in the FDNY, which began in 2019, Derek Floyd was on light duty in the ceremonial unit after a heart issue was found while he was in the FDNY academy. Floyd previously went into cardiac arrest, and his wife had to do chest compressions on him. He died in April 2024. She remembered her late husband as a family man who loved dressing in costumes to surprise their children, Ethan and Abigail, and would spend hours playing video games with them. Derek Floyd made sure their house was the best on the block when it came to holiday decorating, she added. 'He was very ambitious, and loyal, and disciplined. He was just a guy that everyone liked to be with,' Christine Floyd said. Derek Floyd was 'always a guy with a plan' who would want to know his loved ones were being taken care of now, she said. 'Derek always said, 'blood doesn't make you family,'' she said. 'I feel like everyone who has contributed and everyone who has rallied around us, they are our family.' The next recipient that the union president has in mind is an FDNY member who has been in intensive care since suffering a heart attack on a call in late winter. The firefighter may be forced to pay out of pocket if the ailment is ruled as not being directly related to the line of duty, he added. The issue also hits home to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, whose nephew died as a first responder during 9/11. This 'near and dear' issue made it a no-brainer for Blakeman to help intervene on behalf of 'trying to help people who would otherwise fall through the cracks' — especially the many who are vital community members on Long Island. 'The firefighters do an amazing job protecting the city of New York, but they also do a great job out here in Nassau.'
New York Post
09-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Family of FDNY firefighter who died of a heart attack after he lost his job gets boost from new ‘relief fund'
The grief-stricken family of a FDNY firefighter who died of a heart attack after he was let go from the department after losing his job because of migrant crisis budget cuts got a $50,000 boost from a new 'relief fund.' Long Islander Derek Floyd's widow Christine Floyd is the first recipient of the FDNY Firefighters Relief Fund — a joint effort created by Nassau County and the the Uniformed Firefighters Association labor union. 'I'm just so grateful because I didn't have the means when he passed,' Christine Floyd, a mother of two, told The Post. 'I was way over my head in debt.' 8 Christine Floyd — the widow of FDNY firefighter Derek Floyd — with Uniformed Firefighters Association president Andrew Ansbro at an event announcing Floyd as the first recipient of the FDNY Firefighters Relief Fund in Garden City on June 9, 2025. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post The fund was established to assist when firefighters face difficulties like the death of a spouse, long-term medical care, or a child born with a birth defect, union leaders said. 'I would say every year we see ourselves with about a half dozen to a dozen firefighters that are suffering something catastrophic,' UFA president Andrew Ansbro said. 'We're hoping we'll be able to provide long-term care,' he added of the finances currently coming solely from private donations and events like golf outings. WABC radio owners John and Margo Catsimatidis donated $10,000 to the fund while Sullivan Papain, a firefighter advocacy law firm, has contributed $5,000. 8 Derek Floyd died of a heart attack last year after being laid off due to budget cuts. Obtained by the NY Post 8 Floyd with Christine and their children. FDNY Famlies Assistance Unit A hero honored Derek served valiantly as a distinguished US Marine sergeant for nearly a decade before joining the FDNY as a probationary member. His probationary status left Christine out of a lifetime of income after the fatal heart attack. Christine, who met her husband of almost seven years ago as total strangers on a subway platform, missed about $600,000 in death benefits, according to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which paid the mortgage on their home. 'When you think widow, you're thinking of someone who has lived their life and has had plenty of years…now you're navigating this life without your partner in a two-income household,' said Christine Floyd, a 35-year-old guidance counselor in NYC's Department of Education. 8 Christine Floyd will receive $50,000 from the fund. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post 8 Christine Floyd said she was 'over my head' in debt after her husband passed away. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post During his time in the FDNY, which began in 2019, Derek Floyd was on light duty in the ceremonial unit after a heart issue was found while he was in the FDNY academy. Floyd previously went into cardiac arrest, and his wife had to do chest compressions on him. He died in April 2024. She remembered her late husband as a family man who loved dressing in costumes to surprise their children Ethan and Abigail and would spend hours playing video games with them. Derek Floyd made sure their house was the best on the block when it came to holiday decorating, she added. 8 Ansbro wiping away tears at the press conference announcing the FDNY Firefighters Relief Fund. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post 8 Floyd giving Ansbro a hug after her donation was announced. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post 'He was very ambitious, and loyal, and disciplined. He was just a guy that everyone liked to be with,' Christine Floyd said. Derek Floyd was 'always a guy with a plan' who would want to know his loved ones were being taken care of now, she said. 'Derek always said, 'blood doesn't make you family,'' she said. 'I feel like everyone who has contributed and everyone who has rallied around us, they are our family.' 8 Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman speaking about the fund in Garden City — an issue he says is 'near and dear' to him. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post The next recipient that the union president has in mind is an FDNY member who has been in intensive care since suffering a heart attack on a call in late winter. The firefighter may be forced to pay out of pocket if the ailment is ruled as not being directly related to the line of duty, he added. The issue also hits home to Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, whose nephew died as a first responder during 9/11. This 'near and dear' issue made it a no-brainer for Blakeman to help intervene on behalf of 'trying to help people who would otherwise fall through the cracks' — especially the many who are vital community members on Long Island. 'The firefighters do an amazing job protecting the city of New York, but they also do a great job out here in Nassau.'
New York Post
12-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
NYC firefighter unions back Andrew Cuomo for mayor, solidifying labor support
The unions representing FDNY members are backing ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo for mayor, solidifying the frontrunner's support among labor groups weeks before a Democratic Party primary. Cuomo picked up the backing of the Uniformed Firefighters Association and the Uniformed Firefighters Officers Association after picking up endorsements from the department's ambulance workers' unions — EMS Local 2507 and EMS Officers Union Local 3621. Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo picked up the backing of the Uniformed Firefighters Association and the Uniformed Firefighters Officers Association. LP Media 'Throughout his time as governor, Andrew Cuomo consistently demonstrated that he values the lives, safety, and dignity of New York's firefighters and first responders,' said Andrew Ansbro, UFA president. 'During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the city was under siege, he ensured emergency services were prioritized for PPE [personal protective equipment] and testing long before federal support arrived.' He also said Cuomo pushed through laws that protected 9/11 responders and their families. Ansbro's praise of Cuomo's management of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York counters severe criticism that he mishandled the outbreak — particularly when his administration issued a controversial March 2020 edict that required nursing homes to admit recovering COVID-infected patients discharged from hospitals. UFOA president James Brosi said Cuomo has supported the integrity of the civil service system and protecting pensions. 'As zoning changes and increased population density strain our resources, Andrew supports the expansion of public safety personnel and infrastructure to meet growing demands—ensuring that New York remains not only livable, but safe for all who call it home,' Brosi said. Cuomo vowed to champion the bravest in the FDNY. 'Being a firefighter isn't just a job—it's a calling,' Cuomo said. 'The brave men and women of the FDNY put their lives on the line every day, in aid of others, without hesitation.' Cuomo has solidified support among labor groups weeks before a Democratic Party primary. Michael Nagle In a statement, he mentioned the 343 firefighters killed responding to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that toppled the World Trade Centers, and others who later died from illnesses from exposure to toxic fumes. 'I will never forget their sacrifices, and I will work to ensure that every branch of government provides these heroes with the resources they deserve,' the ex-governor said. Cuomo quickly emerged as the frontrunner in the mayoral primary despite having resigned as governor amid a slew of sexual misconduct claims he denies. He has secured the lion's share of endorsements from labor unions compared to his rivals including: the Teamsters, health care workers 1199SEIU, 32BJ SEIU, the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and most of the construction trade unions. UFA, which represents 20,000 firefighters, endorsed Andrew Yang in the 2021 primary while current Mayor Eric Adams. had been previously received support from the UFOA — which has 7,500 members including lieutenants, captains, battalion chiefs, deputy chiefs, supervising fire marshals and medical officers.
