Bloomberg Defensive

Still lots of controversy surrounding the decision to publicly rebuke three lower level FDNY commanders following the fire at the Deutches Bank buidling.

See below:
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_247185707.html

Good Government is Tested

It is hard to predict just how wide an area the fall-out from The Deutches Bank Building Fire will cover and how many people it will bring down. Punishing the three professionals in the direct line is both too much and not enough. Not enough because the decision making that led to this fire and its tragic results extends through the professional level to the civilian level of the Fire Department and includes those on the Lower Manhattan Development Council. It flows through the LMDC appointees to the people they report to--- those that appointed them.

Critical to a fair airing of the cause and result of this fire is the method of selection of the contractors and of the sub-contractors. But I am not optimistic that this part will be touched at all and that is what makes the censure of the three professionals way too much.

Donations May Be Sent

The Beddia Family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to FF. Joseph Graffagnino Children's Fund.

All donations are tax-deductible and 100% of the donation will be given to the FF. Joseph Graffagnino Children's Fund.

Checks should be made out to: FF. Joseph Graffagnino Children's Fund
Mailing Address:
FDNY Foundation
9 Metrotech Center
Brooklyn NY 11201

Lessons of 9/11 Were Not Followed

"The Fire Department Needed to use more Caution"
a quote from the report on 9/11. Does it apply again?

Painful questions are being asked as to Why two brave FDNY Firefighters lost their lives. In a tragedy there is lots of blame to go around and no lack of pointing fingers. The best balanced airing of the questions was one I found in the NY/Regional section of the NY Times. You may have to register to read it but it is complete and what it has to says is important to everyone seeking answers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/22/nyregion/22fire.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Our hearts go out to the family and friends.

Two FDNY Firefighters Die in Trade Center Fire

A fire in a vacant bank building next to the World Trade Center abandoned since 9/11 spread rapidly today taking the lives of two FDNY Firefighters.

for details see Yahoo news
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070819/ap_on_re_us/deutsche_bank_fire

additional info from the NY Times

The two firefighters became trapped in the building and died of what appeared to be cardiac arrest resulting from carbon monoxide, Mr. Bloomberg said.
One was identified as Joseph Graffagnino, 34, of Brooklyn, who had been with the force for eight years. The second firefighter was identified as Robert Beddia, 53, of Staten Island. An official said he had been with the fire department for 23 years and was the senior firefighter on the scene. They were assigned to Engine 24 and Ladder 5 of Battalion 2. Eleven firefighters from that station house died on 9/11.
The two firefighters were found on the 14th floor close to a hose line. An official said they ran out of air.


http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/18/nyc.fire/index.html

Forty FDNY Promotions

Forty FDNY promotions were made on August 16th during ceremonies at the FDNY Fire Academy. Fifteen firefighters were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and 24 were promoted to Fire Marshal. Two Assistant Chiefs and one Deputy Assistant Chief were also named.

One of those promoted is a member of the New York National Guard and is stationed at Ali Base, Iraq, where he is currently serving as a Staff Seargant. Staff Sgt. Gregg Magi, a 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Air National Guardsman and a FDNY firefighter, got the news via telephone during the ceremony in New York.,"

FDNY Over Reacts...no more Calendars.

I guess by now everbody has heard. The The 22-year-old cover hunk for the 2008 FDNY calendar appeared in a "Guys Go Wild" Video before he joined the NYC Fire Department. I have not heard of any action taken against him but I am sure this incident isn't going to help or hurt when and if he ever takes the tough FDNY Lieutenant's exam.

But in the meantime the Dept has ruled that in the future no FDNY Hunk Calendars. I have not read the rule but I am sure it says they need to get an OK before they do anything in which they are identified as FDNY.

I know where the Dept is coming from on this. I remember the hesitations when the first Calendar was done some years ago. A lot of people...including some of the brass...thought the whole thing was trivializing the Department's important work. Truth is they have a case. Then and Now. But we have to keep it in perspective. After the complaints back then they decided that the second year they would do two Calendars: One of the young hunks and a second that showed a mix of ages, sexes and types. I remember that the second Calendar didn't sell as well as the one with the young guys, but in my opinion it was the better of the two.

The latest news is that the producers of the controversial video plan to put out a double issue and donate 10% to the FDNY Foundation. Why do I think they didn't check with FDNY before announcing that?

To see the New York Channel Seven story on this click here:
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=5544208

To find the video????? Do your own search.