Still No FDNY Commissioner

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DaveReinstein

Joined
Nov 1, 2019
Messages
492
I’m not in the job and wasn’t, so take this for what it’s worth. I understand the commissioner is a political position who essentially has to agree with the mayor, but wouldn’t it be better to have someone who has done the job in that position?
 
T

twoteamtease

Joined
Dec 14, 2012
Messages
409
Not necessarily
DaveReinstein said:
I’m not in the job and wasn’t, so take this for what it’s worth. I understand the commissioner is a political position who essentially has to agree with the mayor, but wouldn’t it be better to have someone who has done the job in that position?
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JohnnyGage

JohnnyGage

Joined
Apr 23, 2018
Messages
1,094
During my interview with 4 COD for "They Saved New York", I learned that Nicholas Scoppetta, a civilian, was very instrumental in rebuilding the FDNY after 9/11 using his business skills organizing and placing the right people in FDNY ranks in positions to not only rebuild the FDNY but also improve. In which it has tremendously. SOC expanded it's ability to handle multiple emergencies and be fully capable in each boro for instance.

Another civilian fc was Safir. During his short time with the FDNY he made great improvements to communication issues in firehouses, added computers and fax machines and convinced Giuliani we needed bunker gear.

The FC is appointed by the Mayor, and by extension his oversight of the agency. The perfect scenario is a fire chief with, of course a firefighting background and a fire commissioner with business skills that are usually taken for granted. The diversity issue goes back and was dropped in Nigro's lap. He knew it was a difficult challenge, accepted it on condition of hire, and thought he would be the best to integrate it, especially since he came from the ranks. The members still bombed him.

And on that note... as long as I've been a member of the FDNY, No FC has ever been warmly accepted by the troops, especially the ones that came from our ranks.
 
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ta176

Joined
May 28, 2020
Messages
313
Unfortunately the standards in The FDNY were lowered 45 years ago. The physical and mental standards were lowered to meet quota's and not to hire the best people for the job. there was never a thought about the legitimate people on the job that had to work with the people that got the job because of who or what they were. Judge's sitting on a bench and making a ruling have no idea what Firefighting is all about. If we had them crawl down a hallway in a burning building maybe some of their rulings would have been different.
 
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nfd2004

Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
5,758
ta176 said:
Unfortunately the standards in The FDNY were lowered 45 years ago. The physical and mental standards were lowered to meet quota's and not to hire the best people for the job. there was never a thought about the legitimate people on the job that had to work with the people that got the job because of who or what they were. Judge's sitting on a bench and making a ruling have no idea what Firefighting is all about. If we had them crawl down a hallway in a burning building maybe some of their rulings would have been different.
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"ta176", OTHER CITIES FOLLOWED THAT RULING.

It affected me and I could NOT get on the job where my goal was from the time I was a little kid.

There was one guy, a great friend who had gotten the job there and even told me himself that "I deserved it before he did", because of our score. But he told me he couldn't turn it down.
I later found out that he was also a VERY GOOD FRIEND to many FDNY members, as he grew up in Queens.

Later my brother got hired on the job, as I just packed my bags and moved on.
BUT - throughout his career, when any promotion exam came along, "it was ALWAYS A COURT BATTLE over the BEST QUALIFIED - VS - A QUATA NUMBER".

I know a few members on this site have heard my story.
Of course I was NOT the only one affected.
Other guys like me, many of my good friends who grew up together, went to the same schools together, and who wanted to follow in their father's footsteps were also DENIED THE JOB.
 
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t123ken

Joined
Sep 8, 2013
Messages
735
ta176 said:
Unfortunately the standards in The FDNY were lowered 45 years ago. The physical and mental standards were lowered to meet quota's and not to hire the best people for the job. there was never a thought about the legitimate people on the job that had to work with the people that got the job because of who or what they were. Judge's sitting on a bench and making a ruling have no idea what Firefighting is all about. If we had them crawl down a hallway in a burning building maybe some of their rulings would have been different.
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Wasn't that entrance exam in 1977 - 45 years ago - the one that was deemed too tough?
 
grumpy grizzly

grumpy grizzly

Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
3,472
nfd2004 said:
"ta176", OTHER CITIES FOLLOWED THAT RULING.

It affected me and I could NOT get on the job where my goal was from the time I was a little kid.

There was one guy, a great friend who had gotten the job there and even told me himself that "I deserved it before he did", because of our score. But he told me he couldn't turn it down.
I later found out that he was also a VERY GOOD FRIEND to many FDNY members, as he grew up in Queens.

Later my brother got hired on the job, as I just packed my bags and moved on.
BUT - throughout his career, when any promotion exam came along, "it was ALWAYS A COURT BATTLE over the BEST QUALIFIED - VS - A QUATA NUMBER".

I know a few members on this site have heard my story.
Of course I was NOT the only one affected.
Other guys like me, many of my good friends who grew up together, went to the same schools together, and who wanted to follow in their father's footsteps were also DENIED THE JOB.
Click to expand...
After getting out of the service in 1970 I took the next available test. Being a vet I would get that preference. In addition because I earned the Purple Heart that was an additional 5 points and top of the list. All set and ready to go when a liberal judge made a ruling that the test discriminated against non-military people. Hey, I didn't see barricades blocking people from entering recruitment centers. I felt I earned that standing but it was taken away from me.
 
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