...but there IS money for 100% and higher tax exemptions for the millionaires downtown.
Funny, those that are cheering for the spending of multimillions in taxpayers' money to build palaces and other luxuries for fire dept in towns, claiming people are going to die if new palaces aren't built, are mysteriously silent on exempting millionaires from paying propery taxes in Schenectady city while the lives of firefighters in Schenectady city are in jaopardy because the city doesn't have the $100,000....but the city HAS the money to exempt millionaires from paying taxes.
Strange, isn't it?
Make those dem cronie millionaires downtown pay their taxes would provide money for lots of stuff for the fire dept AND lower taxes on the financially struggling homeonwers who probably don't make a million dollars in a lifetime
Quoted Text
SCHENECTADY — The city has to repair or replace at least half of its firefighters’ turnout gear after discovering that many of the jackets and pants could no longer hold up in a fire.The vapor barrier inside the gear, which protects firefighters from steam burns, is wearing out. That means firefighters who hold hoses at a fire are at risk of being scalded by the clouds of steam created when the water hits the fire.
“Let’s say you’re in a burning room. You’re holding the hose on the fire. Now you hit it with the water. Now you’re in a room full of steam,” firefighter union President David Orr said.
Without the vapor barrier, that steam will burn the firefighter instantly. Steam burns are so pervasive that firefighters commonly get them if they don’t cover every inch of skin with clothing that includes a functional vapor barrier, Orr said.
The situation is so serious that acting Mayor Gary McCarthy ordered that every piece of gear — every jacket and every pair of pants — be inspected after several dozen pieces failed a routine inspection.
The department has borrowed new gear from Globe, the company that makes Schenectady’s gear. Globe is now repairing many of the jackets and pants that failed the first inspection.
The city could simply buy new gear, but “easily” 60 sets would be needed, Orr said. That would cost $90,000 to $114,000, depending on what additional safety measures are built into the gear. One set costs $1,500 to $1,900.
“In a flush budget, sure, it can be done easily,” Orr said.
But the city has already cut every department budget, and the City Council is trying to cut $1 million from its $6.9 million proposed for borrowing next year. The cut would allow the city to stay within recommended debt guidelines, but it means that finding an extra $100,000 is no longer a simple matter.
So inspectors are determining which gear can be repaired and at what cost. So far, only one set needed to be entirely replaced. But some others cost so much to repair that it might make better financial sense to replace them.
“Our intent in testing the gear was to try to work within a limited budget,” Orr said. “But repair, that’s really only a short-term solution.”
The city has already applied for a grant to buy new gear, but the results won’t be announced until next summer.
That’s too long to wait.
“We do need them right now,” Orr said.
City Council members said they intend to buy whatever is needed — but they have not yet decided what to cut in its place. Budget committee Chairman Thomas Della Sala said he’s still waiting for final cost estimates. The last estimate showed that the cost was going down as firefighters found more pieces that could be repaired.
They cant decide what to cut in it's place???? CUT OUT THE DAMN TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR THE MILLIONIARES!!!!!!!!!!! Do these dem have a brain???????
How difficult is it to figure out that, mathematically, they WILL come out ahead of they CUT OUT THE TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR DOWNTOWN, and they will have more revenue AND they could actually lower the tax bills for the financially strugging homeonwers, households in the city which typically have an income of just $30,000. What political people in their right might would think it's appropriate to think that families with incomes of just $30,000 should pay the property taxes of milliionaires? Oh, the dems in Schenectady city believe the lower income, financially stuggging people should pay for the millionaires.
And have these dems thought that if the firefighters get burned, then that willl mean they will have to be out of work, for sure at full pay, and then the dept will either be short staffed or they will have to hire more, oh wait, there are no vacant positions perhaps? Overtime which will also be costlyl.
If these dems in the city had a brain they would stop having the govermnet gin mills, the goverment theaters, the government hotels, the goverment hair-do salons, goverment bakery, government appliance store, etc., etc., and put the money into NECESSITIES. These goverment "businesses" downtown are NOT a necssity by ANY stretch of the imagination, and these places downtown have done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WHATSOEVER to relieve the tax burden on the homeonwers in the city, actually, downtown has created a substantial increase in the tax burden on the homeonwers.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
...but there IS money for 100% and higher tax exemptions for the millionaires downtown.
If these dems in the city had a brain they would stop having the govermnet gin mills, the goverment theaters, the government hotels, the goverment hair-do salons, goverment bakery, government appliance store, etc., etc., and put the money into NECESSITIES. These goverment "businesses" downtown are NOT a necssity by ANY stretch of the imagination, and these places downtown have done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WHATSOEVER to relieve the tax burden on the homeonwers in the city, actually, downtown has created a substantial increase in the tax burden on the homeonwers.
No one is able to cut ANYTHING out of the budget? McCarthy cut his cell phone (a savings of $800 per year) how many other City workers are talking to their families on the taxpayer dime?
Can't cut out the City vehicles for the non-resident City workers to travel back and forth to work?
Can't stop giving $40K grants to businesses which MAY bring jobs to their tax-exempt building in the City?
How many employee contracts have been examined with a fine-tooth comb? I'm sure the Stratton legacy of non-verbal perks still exist and are being paid out each week.
There is A LOT which can be cut, we just need to find someone willing to do what's right for the taxpayers - not what is right for their political party.
Agree 1,000% to both above. Yeah, just like also there is money to pay the health insurance for the council people.
Hell, it was noted some time back that Joe Allen take shte insurance from the city. He's a retired state employee and they have VERY lucrative health insurance, and since he is alone, he would only pay individual coverage which is about $60 a month. GOD! He refuses to pay a puny $60 a month and instead he double dips (state pension + lucrative council salary + the city's health insurance). And a while back he was always late paying taxes! Talk about screwing the taxpayers in the city.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
someone I work with retired from fulton montgomery nursing home with pension....IF she ever went back to fulton montgomery as government employee she CANNOT have salary more than $25,000/year.....is this true throughout the state?
state level? county level? town level? anyone happen to know?
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Sorry Senders but what does your post have to do with firefighters turnout gear? Just wondering how these topics always deviate from their titles.
Has to be a 'newbie' from the Plate Ump's Parents' Bully Club. A bigger bunch of bullies with small dicks and kids who hate them not to be found anywhere.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
sorry...it had to do with MC's post above.....my bad....
Don't be bulied, Senders.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Since when did the basics (firefighter gear) take a back seat?
McCarthy could get rid of his new secretary and cut the health insurance for Council members (since when was it the responsibility of the taxpayers to pay for AND offer healthcare for Council members?).
Even part-time employees are not given benefits at any for-profit business, employers can't afford it. So why is the City offering benefits to part-time members? Doesn't make sense.
I dont feel I'm being cyber bullied.....but thanks....and apparently the newbie doesn't understand the 'whole picture' conversations and the web of government $$$.....we'll learn 'em though....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
And McCarthy hires another secretary. Sick of hearing about favors and choices for so called leaders......markers is what they call it, I hear...well the voters in the City be sure not to MARK McCarthy for Mayor
They need the new secretary since Acting Mayor McCarthy has made the Mayor a no show job. Someone besides Tm Conway has to answer the flood of complaints. It's called priorities. Money for needless golf course improvements and a body shop to compete with private firms. No money to pay the City Schools, pay County taxes due or have full time animal control. And the DEM stooges call it "progress"-lol. Roger Hull's tv ads look great!
Logged
They need the new secretary since Acting Mayor McCarthy has made the Mayor a no show job. Someone besides Tm Conway has to answer the flood of complaints. It's called priorities. Money for needless golf course improvements and a body shop to compete with private firms. No money to pay the City Schools, pay County taxes due or have full time animal control. And the DEM stooges call it "progress"-lol. Roger Hull's tv ads look great! 
