YFD UNION PRESS RELEASE: Yonkers Firefighters Deliver Christmas Miracle by Saving Life and Bronx River Road Building

YONKERS, NY — December 25, 2015 — The six-story building was threatened by a fire that emanated from Apartment 3D of the 355 Bronx River Road apartment complex.

The call received at about 10:05am, Christmas Day. Firefighters from Ladder 73 and Engine 313, located on Kimball Avenue, were first to arrive at 10:09 am, four minutes after being dispatched. Firefighters from Ladder 73 forced entry to the locked apartment door as Engine 313 began the process of stretching a hoseline to the burning apartment.

Prior to a hoseline being put into place, Lieutenant Daniel Nee crawled past the heavy fire and proceeded to the rear bedroom where the victim was trapped. In heavy smoke conditions, Lieutenant Nee shared his air-mask with the victim as he rescued her from the burning apartment. Shortly thereafter, Firefighters Timothy O’Connell. Richard Padilla and Gerard Boyle from Engine 313 were able to place their hoseline into position, and made an aggressive attack to extinguish the fire.

The apartment suffered heavy fire damage and the remainder of the building suffered smoke and water damage. There was significant smoke and window damage to 3D, and water damage in 3D, 2D, and 1D. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Both Lieutenant Nee and the victim were transported to Jacobi Hospital in The Bronx, New York, where they are each being treated for smoke inhalation and elevated carbon-monoxide levels. Lieutenant Nee is a six-year member of the Yonkers Fire Department and a USMC Iraq War Veteran.

Notably, Nee was laid off during a City of Yonkers budget crisis in 2010, and Yonkers Fire Officers have not received a cost of living increase in salary from the City of Yonkers in seven years! The Uniformed Fire Officers Association, who did not endorse Mayor Mike Spano in his most recent run for office, have been mired in a protracted contract negotiation stalemate with Mayor Spano and recently filed for impasse. While the larger Yonkers Firefighters Union received a 10-year contractual agreement 9-months ago,

Mayor Mike Spano has been insistent that he will not grant a similar agreement to the Fire Officers unless they agree to contractual language that would gut the longstanding line-of-duty injury protections that have been in place. Yonkers Fire Officers are willing to accept the exact same contractual language that the Firefighters Union accepted nine months ago, including their agreement that applies to line-of-duty injuries.

However, Mayor Mike Spano has demanded that in order to receive the same cost-of-living increase in salary granted to Firefighters, the Fire Officers Association must accept significantly less protection from line-of-duty injuries than what has been granted to Yonkers Firefighters.

Today’s events are a stark example of why the Uniformed Fire Officers Association is unable to allow the contractual protections for their members injured in the line-of-duty to be gutted by Mayor Mike Spano for political and/or personal reasons.

SOURCE: Assistant Chief Robert Antulov, Battalion 2

YPD PRESS RELEASE: Detective Division Investigation – Shooting at 615 Warburton Avenue; Suspect Taken Into Custody

YONKERS, NY — December 24, 2015 — On December 23, 2015, at approximately 11:47 p.m., the Yonkers Police Department Communications Division received a call from St. John’s Hospital advising that a female walked into the Emergency Room with an apparent gunshot wound to her neck.

Responding units were informed by hospital staff that the victim, a 39-year -old female Yonkers resident, had sustained a gunshot wound to her neck. 

Members of the Yonkers Police Department Detective Division immediately began an investigation into this shooting and they subsequently gathered information that the shooting occurred inside an apartment located at 615 Warburton Avenue. Investigation revealed that the victim was in a domestic dispute with the suspect, later identified as Jose Guerrero, that took place within the apartment.

The victim and suspect share a child in common. The dispute escalated to a time when suspect, Guerrero, fired a round from a handgun which struck the victim in the neck.

The suspect was taken into custody and has been booked for Assault 2nd degree by the arresting Police Officers. Charges may be escalated or amended at today’s arraignment in Yonkers Criminal Court. The victim was treated and released from the hospital.

The suspect is a 49-year-old male who resides at 615 Warburton Avenue. He is employed as a Sergeant with the New York City Police Department.

Members of the Yonkers Police Department notified the N.Y.P.D. of this incident.

CONTACT: Yonkers Police Department Detective Lieutenant Patrick McCormack

Follow the Yonkers Police Department on: https://twitter.com/#!/YonkersPD

http://www.facebook.com/YonkersPD

YONKERS TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE: Lt. Thomas Phelan to Step Down as C.L.S.A. President

HEZI ARIS: Deputy Chief Intervallo Concludes His Service to Yonkers Police Department

YONKERS, NY– December 23, 2015 — Yonkers Police Captains Lieutenants and Sergeants Association (CLSA) President Lt. Thomas Phelan is stepping down; perhaps stepping down and to the side wold be more exact. Lt. Phelan will serve with the Yonkers Police Department Detective Division.

The exact date of departure is somewhat fuzzy. Lt. Phelan’s term in office is valid until December 31, 2017. His intent to step down is triggered by is desire to return to police/detective work. A successor to the CLSA will therefore be engaged upon Lt. Phelan’s departure.

There is “chatter” over the succession process. First Precinct Sgt. Chris Sapienza and CLSA Trustee-at-Large is being spoken about as a likely successor to Lt. Phelan.

On another item, Yonkers Tribune has learned that Deputy Chief Francis Intervallo will officially conclude his service to the YPD at the end of this month.

A hat tip and gratitude to those who advised us of these circumstances coming to bear in the City of Yonkers; we celebrate and acknowledge those mentioned herein for their contribution to Yonkers. Thank you! 

http://www.yonkerstribune.com/2015/12/exclusive-lt-thomas-phelan-to-step-down-as-c-l-s-a-president

PRESS RELEASE: Governor Cuomo Signs Yonkers Assemblymember Shelley Mayer’s Bill Ensurs Seniors Receive Vital Information When Discharged from Hospital

Governor Cuomo Signs A.7791/S.5892, Requiring the Director of the State Office of the Aging to Develop a List of Senior Services and Requires Hospitals to Provide Information to Senior Patients When They are Discharged from Hospital

YONKERS, NY — December 22, 2015 — On Friday, December 11th, Governor Cuomo signed A.7791/S.5892, sponsored by Assemblymember Shelley Mayer (D-90th AD) and Senator David Valesky (D-53rd SD). The bill requires the director of the New York State Office of the Aging to develop a list of programs serving seniors in each county to be provided to individuals sixty years of age and older upon discharge from the hospital. These senior services and programs will provide seniors with the opportunity to remain at home, while attending day programs and receiving services that offer nutrition, social activities, medical monitoring and transportation. This bill requires hospitals to provide this information to patients sixty years of age and older when they are discharged from the hospital based on the county of residence of the patient. Research shows social adult day services and other local aging programs are an essential component of the community-based service-delivery system that helps seniors remain in their homes, rather than move to a nursing home or other setting. In Westchester and elsewhere, these services and locations provide a safe environment and essential services where seniors and their families can have confidence that the daily needs of living are met, while providing a stimulating social environment for seniors during the day.

Assemblymember Mayer explained, “I applaud Governor Cuomo for signing this bill, which ensures seniors who are discharged from the hospital are aware of and connected to their communities and to vital services. Senior centers and programs provide essential assistance to seniors, keeping them out of nursing homes and reducing costs. Equally important, these centers and services provide relief to informal caregivers and improve the quality of life for our seniors. This bill furthers our commitment to seniors living at home for as long as possible, while ensuring their social and nutritional needs are met.”

“Seniors and caregivers are often unaware of local services, such as social adult day care programs, that can help avoid unnecessary placement and the need for other costly assistance,” Sen. Valesky said. “Making this information readily available will help individuals find the care they need and ease the burden on their caregivers.”

“This is an important bill that supports the needs for older New Yorkers when being discharged from the hospital. This certainly speaks to the Governor’s recognition of how vital community based supports and services are, and will ease in, the sometimes difficult transition from hospital to home,” said Michael Romano, President, Association on Aging in New York.

Igal Jellinek, Executive Director, LiveOn NY, states, “On behalf of older New Yorkers throughout the state and their family caregivers, LiveOn NY wholeheartedly thanks Governor Cuomo for enacting this bill and for the leadership of Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer and Senator David Valesky for sponsoring it. Information is not only power, knowing what services are offered will make a difference in the health and quality of life of an older adult remaining independent . Family caregivers will also be supported as these services assist them in their caregiving responsibilities. Caregivers across the state provide $32 billion of free care to their parents and other loved ones – raising awareness and funding these services is a good return on investment for the state.”

Under current law, when a senior patient is discharged from the hospital he or she may not be aware of the programs available in the area that provide nutrition, exercise, pain management, and personal care services. This bill seeks to correct this deficiency, connecting data compiled by the State Office of the Aging on a county-by-county basis with hospital discharge planners in order to help patients and their families receive current information regarding the senior programs and services available in their county. This law becomes effective immediately.

SOURCE: Rachel Estroff, Communications, Assemblymember Shelley Mayer

Riverdale Avenue Tenant’s Association: The Grinch That Stole Christmas: Mayor Mike Spano and Disabled Yonkers Firefighters

As reported recently in the Yonkers Tribune, Yonkers Mayor Michael Spano is now targeting disabled Yonkers firefighters by attempting to reduce their monthly disability payments. The disabled firefighters, who were informed by letter earlier this month, were given a mere ten days to respond before Christmas.

In his letter to the Editor, Barry McGoey (Yonkers Fire Department and President of I.A.F.F. Local 628) described the Mayor’s craven attack on the Fire Department’s most vulnerable and most deserving members:

“Many of the Firefighters who received the notices are suffering from disabling injuries and illnesses including Stage 4 cancer, serious burns, and 9/11 illnesses, along with crippling injures to their legs, backs and various other body parts.”

http://www.yonkerstribune.com/2015/12/letter-to-the-editor-nefarious-accusations-against-disabled-yonkers-firefighters-by-barry-mcgoey-2

Rather than addressing budgetary deficiencies throughout Yonkers in a transparent, responsible, and sustainable manner, Mayor Spano and his administration have chosen instead to waste public money by employing predatory upstate law firm(s) and instituting frivolous legal proceedings in their headlong rush to inflict additional emotional and physical pain on disabled firefighters.

As we prepare to mark the two-year anniversary of an alleged arson in our building, we recall the efforts of the Yonkers Fire Department. Back in January 2014 Yonkers firefighters battled a three-alarm fire in our seven-story building, which broke out on the top floor during a bitterly cold winter night. With an outside temperature of 0°F and frozen hoses,  Yonkers firefighters still managed to extinguish the blaze, rescue two people who are believed to have started the fire, and save the building and the homes of its tenants.

While we do not know if any firefighters suffered injuries that night, we would expect the Mayor and City of Yonkers to uphold their legal responsibility to take care of each and every Yonkers firefighter whenever they are injured or disabled while serving and, in some cases, saving the public.

In their effort to instrumentalize disabled Yonkers firefighters for politically expedient ends—whether as retaliation for lack of support during his recent re-election campaign or simply as a morally bankrupt scheme to plug budgetary holes on the backs of disabled firefighters—Mayor Spano and his administration have reached a new low. Their actions are morally and ethically repugnant and warrant swift and sustained public condemnation.

The 461 Riverdale Avenue Tenants’ Association fully supports the Yonkers Fire Department in its efforts against Mayor Spano, his administration, and his supporters.

https://461riverdaleavenuetenantsassociation.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/the-grinch-that-stole-christmas-mayor-mike-spano-and-disabled-yonkers-firefighters/

VIDEO: City of Yonkers 2015 Holiday Message

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfqHuoadGKw

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Nefarious Accusations Against Disabled Yonkers Firefighters

Instead of sending DISABLED Yonkers Firefighters Christmas Cards this year, Mayor Spano sent them a letter telling them that he was going to be reducing their monthly benefits by hundreds of dollars a month.

Many of the Firefighters who received the notices are suffering from disabling injuries and illnesses including Stage 4 cancer, serious burns, and 9/11 illnesses, along with crippling injures to their legs, backs and various other body parts.

These Firefighters and Fire Officers have been found to be fully disabled due to job-related injuries by BOTH the City of Yonkers and the State of New York.

Despite Mayor Spano trying to make nefarious accusations that there may have been some impropriety or illegality in the granting of these benefits, the record will show that these benefits have been legally and justly paid for over 30 years with the full knowledge and consent of the City of Yonkers. In fact, this same very issue was litigated in the NYS Supreme Court which found the payments to be proper and justified.

The City’s outside legal counsel on this issue are upstate New York attorneys who have made a fortune off of trying to deny disability benefits to police officers and firefighters throughout the State. It appears the City’s Inspector General fully relied upon the opinion of this “outside” legal counsel and never gave the Firefighters Union’s counsel an opportunity to be heard and present him with various legal opinions and decisions and other evidence to support the Firefighters’ legal position. Regardless, we intend to challenge the legality of this outrageous action taken against our DISABLED Firefighters by the City of Yonkers and we will present ALL of the evidence in Court.

We are confident we will prevail on behalf of our DISABLED Firefighters and those Yonkers Firefighters who, God forbid, may become disabled tonight, tomorrow or any time in the future trying to save the lives and property of the citizens of Yonkers.

This Christmas may not be so Merry for these DISABLED Firefighters but Local 628 will do whatever we can to to overturn this action by the City and to bring as much joy and comfort to these DISABLED Firefighters.

Barry McGoey
Yonkers Fire Department
I.A.F.F. – Local 628 President
Yonkers, NY

NYS COMPTROLLER PRESS RELEASE: Yonkers Public School District Can't Explaihn Why Items Valued Over $225,000 Cannot be Located

PHOTO: NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli

YONKERS PUBLIC SCHOOLS: New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapol’s report questions the integrity of the oversight and protection of taxpayer paid for assets. 

YONKERS, NY — December 19, 2015 — New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapol’s findings regarding the location of and substantiation of assets valued at over $225,000 cannot be found by the Yonkers Board of Education Department.

“The Office of the NYS Comptroller’s audit asserts and substantiates their inability to find those assets by writing: “We selected 30 assets totaling $377,252.2 We found that 10 assets valued at $225,307 could not be located and 10 assets valued at $91,704 were either not tagged or the asset tag information on the tag did not agree with the accounting records.

Furthermore, nine assets valued at $15,3543 could not be located on either asset list and 20 assets valued at $21,135 recorded as disposed of did not have disposal request forms from the departments responsible for those assets.

As a result, District officials and taxpayers have no assurance that all District property can be accounted for.

Read the entire report and weep: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/schools/2015/yonkers.pdf

HEZITORIAL QUESTIONNAIRE: Why Are the Yonkers Police Department (YPD) Investigating the Christmas Party Assault that Took Place on Westchester County Property?

YONKERS TRIBUNE: Thomas F. Fitzpatrick Jr., Yonkers Fire Department Chief of Personnel, Will Attend an Investigative inquiry of Him, His Witness of the Assault and Conduct Thereafter on Monday, December 14, 2015

YONKERS, NY — December 14, 2015 — A Christmas party was held at The Fairways of Dunwoodie for staff, and spouses of some members of The Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) Friday night, December 11, 2015.The catered event deteriorated into an alleged assault, identity impersonation detrimental to the health of Lt. Michael O’Connor, driving while allegedly inebriated, moving the “patient” to avoid medical inquiry, among many other concerns.

A Yonkers Fire Department (YFD) rig was first to respond to the 911 call, Westchester County Police Department (WCPD) did also, as did Empress Ambulance. Each was turned away. What is the end result with respect to each respective dispatch? The records of the computer-aided disatch (CAD) cannot be expunged.

Yonkers Tribune’s inquiry of the incident that transpired, HEZITORIAL INVESTIGATION: Knotted Linen Napkin Thrown to Gain a Woman’s Attention Strikes Yonkers Fire Commissioner John Darcy Instigating a Fight that Caused YFD Lieutenant Michael O’Connor to Be Hospitalized By HEZI ARIS, reveals the confirmed circumstances known to have taken place through multiple sources. The timeline herein puts into question the credibility of Yonkers City Hall as to what they did or did not know when asked, that is after 5pm, Saturday, December 12, 2015. The timeline puts into question whether they had been forthright. Were they in the loop or not?........ 

http://www.yonkerstribune.com/2015/12/hezioa-questionaire-why-are-the-yonkers-police-department-ypd-investigating-the-christmas-party-assault-that-took-place-on-westchester-county-property

HEZITORIAL INVESTIGATION: Knotted Linen Napkin Thrown to Gain a Woman’s Attention Strikes Yonkers Fire Commissioner John Darcy Instigating a Fight that Caused YFD Lieutenant Michael O’Connor to Be Hospitalized

YONKERS TRIBUNE: An emergency 911 call was initiated. The Yonkers Fire Department (YFD) were first to respond, followed by the Westchester County  Police Department (WCPD), and Empress Ambulance.

YONKERS: Each were turned away. An official report is unlikely even though it must be filed in order to protect the injured party. A medical examination must be undertaken so as to protect the injured party from what is now conjectured as nothing to be concerned about, even so,

Lt. O’Connor was readmtted to hospital again today. No one would have suspected such an outcome; it was after all a Christmas Party. Also, why would anyone believe that dismissing the dispatched YFD, WCPD, and Empress emergency responders could expunge the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system that is the backbone of the City of Yonkers and Westchester County.

The tables were set in festive hues. it was a family affair. Couples dressed to the nines. and, as is too often the case, each of us may at one moment or another be engaged in thought, deflected from the very moment when someone seeks our attention.

He sought the attention of a staff member. She did not notice. Enamored, smitten, buzzed, or otherwise, he threw a knotted linen napkin toward her. Recognize that even a knotted napkin is a tricky and inexact projectile that rarely reaches its intended subject as was the case at Friday night’s Christmas party at The Fairways at Dunwoodie. The napkin struck Yonkers Fire Commissioner John Darcy.

The knotted napkin hit Commissioner Darcy in the back of his head seemingly causing Commissioner Darcy to fall out of the chair upon which he sat, landing on the floor writhing in a manner suggestive of a soccer player in a state of agony. Within moments Fire Lieutenant Michael O’Connor approached Commissioner Darcy to apologize for the pain cased to him by Lt. O’Connor throwing the knotted napkin. Sources advise that Commissioner Darcy responded by pummeling Lt. O’Connor in the solar plexus and thereafter lifting him into the air by grabbing his legs, initiating a somersault effect upon Lt. O’Connor’s while in mid-air causing  him to eventually land on the floor, invoking a loud snap of the neck heard throughout the room. Lt. O’Connor lay on the ground suffering from a concussion, foaming  at the mouth, and snoring. Signs indicative of some dire neurological damage.

The women present, spouses and staff were screaming in horror and shock. It may even be prudent of them to infer that if they were likewise manhandled, they would likely find themselves helpless. Note that Lt. O’Connor is known to suffer medical concerns known to Commissioner Darcy. Lt. O’Connor has won his battle against cancer, suffers from a weak and fragile back, and recently underwent hip replacement surgery. Seeing Lt. O’Connor in his incapacitated state cajoled Commissioner Darcy to say, “He’s lucky I didn’t kill him!”

The knotted napkin intended for staff was not thrown like a baseball pitcher toward a batter at home plate at 100 miles an hour; Commissioner Darcy falling off a chair onto the floor writhing in a convulsive state does not seem plausible. It seems over the top. If it was an honest reaction, then I apologize in advance. What is incredulous of Commissioner Darcy is to accept the rage by which Commissioner Darcy responded to Lt. O’Connor’s apology, followed by the noted “death” threat.

In the midst of the horror and chaos, someone called 911 with the premise that emergency assistance was required. YFD was first to arrive on the scene but waved away; likewise WCPD. It was in fact John Halpin, recently appointed to the position of captain by Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano who, when Empress Ambulance arrived in response to the 911 call was told by Capt. Halpin that he was the person on behalf the call was made, that he was well, and did not need any medical attention. Capt. Halpin’s pretense of being the intended “patient” deceived Empress Ambulance. They departed the scene. Lt. O’Connor had yet to receive any medical attention.

Dr. Robert Capurso, Yonkers Fire Department Chief of Operations was devoting his medical attention toward Capt. Darcy; none was afforded to Lt. O’Connor who was out cold....... 

http://www.yonkerstribune.com/2015/12/hezitorial-investigation-knotted-linen-napkin-thrown-to-gain-a-womans-attention-strikes-yonkers-fire-commissioner-john-darcy-instigating-a-fight-that-caused-yfd-lieutenant-michael-oconnor-to-be-h