A coalition of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle has called on Mayor Mamdani to reconsider plans to trim the FDNY’s budget and instead prioritize much-needed repairs at deteriorating firehouses across the city.
Firefighters are now responding to about 700,000 more emergency calls each year compared to pre-Covid times, yet the department’s $2.6 billion budget has not seen an increase in the past five years, according to a letter sent by the lawmakers.
“As potential budget cuts loom for city departments, it is crucial that the Fire Department is spared any reductions,” wrote Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens), chair of the Fire and Emergency Management Committee, in the letter.
“With the current insufficient budget, firehouses throughout the city are in dire conditions. Ceilings are falling, walls are collapsing, mold is spreading through the ventilation systems, and apparatus floors are precariously supported by metal stilts,” she added.
“Additionally, our EMS teams earn sub-standard wages while performing critical life-saving duties, making less than a delivery driver, which has prompted many experienced professionals to leave for better-paying jobs,” Ariola noted.
The letter was endorsed by a mix of Democratic and Republican council members, along with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, both of whom are Democrats.
The pols sent the letter partly because the Mamdani administration assigned a chief savings officer, Lizette Christoff, to find budget savings for the FDNY as the mayor tries to balance his planned $127 billion budget for fiscal 2027, which includes a $5.4 billion budget hole.
The Uniformed Firefighters Association last year compiled a list of 23 firehouses – many more than 100 years old – that the union says need a combined $81 million in roof-repair work alone. Many of the firehouses are also plagued by cracked and moldy ceilings and walls and other foundation issues, the UFA says.
“Any cuts to the budget will, without question, put the lives of New Yorkers at risk, and translate to longer response times, reduced coverage, and an even greater strain on those men and women keeping us safe,” Ariola wrote.
“For these reasons, it is imperative that the budget of the FDNY not be reduced, and furthermore it is crucial that additional funding be provided to bring our firehouses up to a livable standard and allow our first responders to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.”
The Mayor’s Office and the FDNY did not return messages for comment.
