City Island Civic Association

Fourteen City Island residents attended a Council hearing of the Fire and Criminal Justice Services Committee on Friday, Jan. 16, in spite of the bitter cold. Although the Fire Commissioner left the room before hearing our testimony (and that of the Community Board district manager and a rep of the Borough President), all of the Council Members present, especially Jimmy Vacca, were adamant in their support of City Island and made many good arguments why the ladder company should remain open at night.

As of Saturday, Jan. 17, the ladder company was closed (although it was open Jan. 18 because available extra personnel clocked in). However, once those extra personnel are gone because of attrition and no new firefighters will be hired until 2011, the ladder company will remain closed at night. This puts all of us at risk.

To protest the proposed elimination of the BxM7B City Island express bus,
write to:

H. Dale Hemminger
MTA Chairman
347 Madison Avenue
New York NY 10017

Send copies to our city and state politicians (see “Elected Officials” in the Community section). See the attached PDF file for more details.

ATTENTION CITY ISLANDERS

JOIN US ON A CANDLELIGHT WALK
TO OUR FIREHOUSE
TO SAVE LADDER 53!

The Civic Association has just sent a letter to the Mayor, with copies to the Fire Commissioner and others, protesting the closing of Ladder Company 53 between the hours of 6 pm and 9 am, starting Jan. 17. A copy of the letter is attached, since it outlines some of the issues that we feel make a good case for reinstating the ladder company.

Monday, December 15, at 7:30 p.m.
Grace Episcopal Church Hall
City Island Avenue at Pilot Street

New York City plans to put Ladder Company 53 on City Island out of service from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. starting January 17 unless we can convince the Fire Department that this budget cut would be potentially disastrous for our island community where most serious fires occur at night.

Council Member James Vacca has asked the Fire Commissioner and other representatives of the Fire Department to attend.

Be sure to come and let the City know how you feel about this.