Originally published at: FDNY UNION: De Blasio’s Policies Causing Longer ‘Response Times’ for Fire Emergencies | Sean Hannity
The FDNY Union slammed New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio this week; claiming his “Vision Zero” traffic policies are slowing response times for fire emergencies across the five boroughs.
“Vision Zero is fully intended to save lives from traffic accidents, but by [the city] adding in concrete barriers and flower pots and everything else like that, you’re basically eliminating the ability for emergency service vehicles to get around,” Bobby Eustace, the UFA’s recording secretary, told The New York Post.
“Intersections are now gridlocked, and our guys just can’t get around,” he added.
“Eustace and the union were responding to new data released this week through the Mayor’s Management Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, which shows response times by the FDNY’s fire companies and paramedics are up across the board in most categories,” adds the New York Post.
De Blasio implemented his “Vision Zero” policy shortly after taking office in response to a series of pedestrian deaths in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Concrete slabs, fixed barriers, and other heavy equipment were placed on roads throughout the city to protect walkers and bicyclists from speeding cars.
“We had a company in the Bronx [traveling at night last month] hit one of these barriers going 30 miles an hour, and it almost flipped the rig because they had no idea it was there,” Eustace said.
“That was the first they saw it. They were simply trying to go around a person [while] responding to a structural fire, and they smashed into one of these [concrete barriers].”
Read the full report at the New York Post.
