Letter to the Hon. Peter Gaynor, Admin. of the Federal Emergency Management Agency - Schumer, Gillibrand announce massive grant -- $11.5 million in FEMA funding for Yonkers fire department to hire 30 additional firefighters

Letter

Dear Administrator Gaynor,

I write in support of the application submitted by the Yonkers Fire Department (YFD) for funding from Staffing for the Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program through Federal Emergency Management Agency. The requested funding will be used to hire and fund the employment of 30 new firefighters.

Serving Yonkers, the fourth largest city in the State of New York with a population of 210,000 and covering 21 square miles, YFD's paid career firefighters respond to over 15,000 calls annually for fire and medical emergencies, search and rescue, and hazardous material response. A number of critical infrastructure lies within YFD's covered area including seven miles of the most trafficked stretches of the New York Thruway; Hillview Reservoir which supplies water to New York City; two electrical transfer stations providing power to New York City and Westchester; and Amtrak's only Southern Westchester station serving the Northeast's busiest commuter rail line.

The requested funding will be used to hire 30 new firefighters, allowing YFD to maintain minimum staffing requirements for safe daily deployment. These new firefighter positions will ensure that YFD is able to respond to all fire, rescue and emergency situations in Yonkers, as well as mutual aid requests to neighboring communities as safely and effectively as possible. YFD is wholly funded through the City of Yonkers and relies on direct appropriations from the city's budget. However, the city's severe financial challenges prevents it from funding current and expected YFD firefighter vacancies that meet the original budgeted safe staffing level of 453 positions. Due to promotions, retirements, and medical leaves of absence -- some of which are expected to result in members' disability retirement -- YFD has a current uniform staffing shortfall of 16 percent.

I ask that you please give this application your full consideration. If you have any questions, or desire further information, please do not hesitate to contact my staff member, Claire Descamps, at (202) 224-4451.

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