What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

  1. Re: ENY

    See? Crime bottomed but is now rising inversly with the economy. Starts in the ‘hood and spreads to Mr. Roger’s neighborhood. No jobs, no peace. No peak comps neither.

    ***Bid half off peak comps***

  2. I’m glad we have fewer deaths from fire now. I think that’s a testament to a combination of better fire awareness, smoke detectors, and the expertise of FDNY and other first responders.

    However, what is not taken into account in the closing of fire houses is the other valuable services that fire house provides. FDNY carries out building inspections, they do more of it than the DOB, seems like. A fireman friend told me it’s because they want to be forearmed before the fire. Inspections tell them about illegal changes to a building, like new interior walls, so they don’t lose lives like they did fighting that fire where the firemen got trapped by walls that weren’t supposed to be there, and died. They can mark abandoned or closed buildings to know there are no floors, no roof, or other hazardous conditions.

    Firemen are trained in basic first aid, and if on a scene first, can possibly save a life. FDNY is trained to combat chemical hazards, as well as fire. They are also trained in anti-terrorism hazards, warning signs, etc. The firehouse is an officially designated safe zone for people seeking all kinds of help, lost children, abandoned children or babies, a gathering facility for coat drives and other community events, and can serve as a haven. Sadly, police stations, which could also do the same, do not have that same aura of care or concern, so a firehouse can be more than just a place where firetrucks park.

    I don’t think Bloomberg and co. understand that. Obviously we survived the closing of those 5 or 7 firehouses a few years ago. What’s done is done, although the loss of a couple of them was devestating to their communities. Now Bloomberg has many more on the chopping block. I think that is cutting off your nose to spite your face. I’m not saying the belt can’t be tightened, but closing fire houses willy nilly by just looking at the dollar or statistical level is a big mistake that we should not make.

  3. From the NYT article:

    “Fewer New Yorkers died in fires in 2009 than in any other year since 1915, when the city began keeping count, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Monday. The figures align with an overall pattern of declining fire deaths over the last two decades.

    The mayor said the Fire Department also set a record in the average response time..”

    Remember all the fear-mongering by Mayor Bloomberg’s opponents when he closed down some firehouses several years ago? Where are they now, now that his decision has been vindiacted.

    This type of news is exactly why I supported Mayor Bloomberg in all 3 of his runs: his managerial competence. Here we have improved results AND the city’s bottom line is improved. He delivers, unlike alot of bloviaters.

  4. From the NYT article:

    “Fewer New Yorkers died in fires in 2009 than in any other year since 1915, when the city began keeping count, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Monday. The figures align with an overall pattern of declining fire deaths over the last two decades.

    The mayor said the Fire Department also set a record in the average response time..”

    Remember all the fear-mongering by Mayor Bloomberg’s opponents when he closed down some firehouses several years ago? Where are they now, now that his decision has been vindiacted.

    This type of news is exactly why I supported Mayor Bloomberg in all 3 of his runs: his managerial competence. Here we have improved results AND the city’s bottom line is improved. He delivers, unlike alot of bloviaters.

  5. What a blah photo of Flatbush with that DeKalb Avenue FCR apartment building in the background…reminds me of another city somewhere in the U.S. You almost wonder if this is near a Greyhound terminal…

    Anyway, regarding Atlantic Avenue being difficult to cross and dangerous: I agree. I am shocked that when I try to cross that “highway” at S. Portland to get to the bridge going to 6th Avenue, the walk sign starts flashing “don’t walk” as or even before I get to the middle of the avenue. The light really, really, really does not give pedestrians enough time to cross. I can only imagine if I used a cane or were blind.

    Drivers use Atlantic like a highway and go way over the speed limit at times.