N.Y.B.F.U. Pennywise and Two Hundred Million Dollars Foolish. 

On January 31, 2006, the New York Board of Fire Underwriters voted not to sustain the New York Fire Patrol.  

Ellen Melchionni of the NY Insurance Assoc. states that “They just frankly don’t find any value in the organization.” President James Nunez of Fire Patrol Local I-26, states that Ms. Melchionni is probably a nice person, but is almost criminal in her lack of knowledge on any Fire Patrol matter.

The figure of 8.5 million dollars to fund the Fire Patrol may be accurate, but where on earth they got the figure of only 10 Million per year in asset savings is beyond anyone’s comprehension. These figures had to be based on 1967 insurance savings formulas, using estimated figures that are literally forty years old.

The average going rate for commercial space alone in Midtown Manhattan is $2,000 per square foot and $800 per square foot for rentals and Condos.

The average savings on just a small fire or water leak ranges from $35,000 to $50,000.  In one large fire where hundreds of thousand of gallons of water is used, the savings are close to $1,000,000.  In just one call!!

For Example:  There’s a major fire on a twenty fifth floor.  As soon as the fire is considered to be under control by the FDNY Chief, the Fire Patrol goes in.  We proceed to the twenty fourth and twenty third floors and place water protective tarps over sensitive electronic equipment and costly merchandise, while using pumps to keep the water contained.  Keeping the water damage on these floors to a minimum also saves the twenty second floor on down from any water damage at all.  

A grammar school child knows that property costs more now than it did five years ago, much less forty years ago. I challenge the board to meet with the local and take a realistic look at what we do and how much we save.

Misrepresenting these facts is a direct insult to the families of and to the memory of the many Patrolmen who lost their lives in the line of duty. The last Fire Patrolman, Keith Roma, died saving others, during 9/11.   Eyewitness accounts say that he saved a minimum of 200 civilians before he perished with the last group when the Tower collapsed.

32 Patrolman have lost their lives for this board.  The New York Fire Patrol has earned the right to receive a fair evaluation and not some sloppy report thrown together by Park Strategies.

James Nunez - President
Uniformed Fire Patrolman's Association

Mr. Scalafani,
All I can say about your article is, it is mind boggling.  You have obviously not done the proper research and have taken only one source, (the NYBFU Report) to compile this garbage.  The Executive Board of IAFF Local I-26 Uniformed Fire Patrolman’s Association were certainly not used as a source, and I might add that there were numerous attempts made by V.P. Eric Shultz to contact you.  You chose not to return his calls.

This one sided article glorifies every fallacy in that report that we are fighting against.  For example, the ridiculous figures of property saved per year that was submitted by the Park Strategies Report, WERE obviously taken from 40 years ago.  With the increases in real estate and the skyrocketing price of goods in this City, it would take a moron to believe that we are only saving the insurance companies 10 million per year.  According to OUR statistics, (even using Park Strategies formula for savings), in one week we have saved 1.2 Million dollars in assets for grateful business owners.  As a matter of FACT, the 10 million dollars stated as the figure of savings per year was already achieved by the Patrol in the first 2 months of 2006.

Do the math!!   

As far as the quote from the “board member” stating that we have “minimal” contact with the FDNY.  Common sense should have kicked in there.  Who else overseas ALL operations at any alarm we respond to.  We are under the direct command of the FDNY while at a scene.  That board member needs to get out from behind their desk and go on just one run to see that.

Not to mention that the 2 largest IAFF Local’s in the country are behind us. The FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Association and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association.  They realize how vital our services are to this City.

You need to get your facts straight before putting 98 men and their families out to hang without a way to defend their position.

Charles Tedesco – Treasurer
Uniformed Fire Patrolman’s Association