It is time for firemen to be prohibited from campaigning much like police are -- the bullying and intimidation is over --the public does not like what it see .http://yonkerstribune.typepad.com/yonkers_tribune/2007/02/lack_of_contrac.html



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« Stepping on Each Others’ Toes is A Failed Political Ploy By eHezi | Main | Begrudging Success in Yonkers By eHezi »
February 23, 2007
Lack of Contract Exacerbates Frustration By eHezi

Ff_willlibrary YONKERS, NY -- Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone’s Town Hall meeting at the Grinton I. Will Library was one of many in a series of venues conducted throughout the city at which the mayor and department commissioners would respond to questions asked by attending residents. The proceedings were called for 7:00 pm. The Will Auditorium was filled to capacity; standing room only. Since before 6:00 pm members of Local 628 – I.A.F.F.- Yonkers Firefighters were gathering to attend the Town Hall meeting. Without a contract for over 603 days, they were frustrated and angry that Mayor Amicone had not yet engaged in what they believe needs to be an earnest effort on his part to negotiate a new contract. Local 628 President Hugh Fox had the largest contingent of union members in attendance. YFT President Pat Puleo, PBA President Eddie Armour, and Captains, Lieutenants and Sergeants Association President John Mueller attended with a smaller contingency of union members.

While the Town Hall meeting is meant to engage public concerns and issues and not become a forum for negotiations over contracts long overdue, the lack of a contract for almost 2 years catapulted the union members to make public their demand for a contract. The initially boisterous outcry by the union membership was quietened by Mayor Amicone reminding the assembled that the Town Hall meeting was an outreach effort by City Hall to better engage the residents’ concerns and not to conduct contractual negations before the public. Mayor Amicone’s assured demeanor won the moment. One point for him. He spelled out the agenda he had for engaging the public with a promise to hear the unions’ concerns thereafter. The public’s questions were exhausted by about 9:00 pm.

The promised discussion of the mayor and the union hierarchy before the membership won a point for the unions. They had made it known that they would not be shunned or put off for much longer. They departed the auditorium by 9:15 pm, assured that the ball was now in Mayor Amicone’s court, and that he now knew full well that they demanded his respect. They got it.



Posted at 12:06 PM in Yonkers Firefighters | Permalink
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I WAS THERE LAST NIGHT. THE MEMBERS WERE LOUD BUT CURTIOUS TO THE CITIZENS. THE CITIZENS HAD THEIR CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS. I LEFT AFTER THE MEETING BUT IT SEEMED THE UNIONS STOOD A WHILE.

TAX PAYER #10558

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 12:42 PM

REPOSTED BY EDITOR TO APPROPRIATE POST:

February 23, 2007 at 10:05 AM

Just get rid of the UNION'S. Back in the day they were good for people, now they are taking advantage of people. Police and Fire do a great job, I agree but they are paid very well. They get paid the money for the job they signed up for. Don't take the job if you don't like the pay. Plain and simple. Bulling workings on the 6th grade playground. Grow up and shut up. Firemen work your 3-4 days per month and do your side job and go back up the line with your Yonkers paycheck. Police work a bit more but most sit in cars all day. I think they both should have to take updated physicals ever 3-5 years. You need it to get in why not keep them in good shape. Some of these cops and firemen put on about 20-60 lbs after a couple of years. They can not run into a building or run after a criminal. Why get a raise if you can't do the job????

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 12:49 PM

REPOSTED BY EDITOR:

Good article.

And a good post above about the unions. It is right on the taxpayers' money.

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 12:54 PM

What issues of interest were brought by the citizens at this meeting ???

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 12:56 PM

The unions accomplished nothing last night except to alienate even more taxpaying citizens than they already have.

It is extremely unlikely their boorish and intrusive behavior had any effect on City Hall.

Everyone knows that some preliminary back-and-forth has taken place. But it's not a secret that Yonkers doesn't have much it can affford to pay.

The unions better wake up. There is a give and take required. But as always the unions just want to take.

They should realize the days of union power and muscle are rapidly waning. Not just in Yonkers---EVERYWHERE.

Ford, GM, the airlines, dozens of other big companies, and also in the state of New Jersey, in New York city, and in hundreds of other municipalities.

Taxpayers everywhere, including those in Yonkers, have had enough of the "gimme, gimme" unions.

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 01:13 PM

THE COPS AND FIREMEN DID SIGN UP FOR A JOB. AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY JUST LIKE WE DO. WHAT ARE THEY SUPPOSE TO DO.....ASK IF THE CITY WANTS MONEY BACK..

BE REAL PEOPLE.......TYPICAL LIBERAL BULLS$&T.........IF IT DONT BENEFIT ME I AM NOT FOR IT......

I WOULD NEVER WANT TO BE EITHER ONE (FIRE OR PD). YOU COULDNT PAY ME ENOUGH. HOW MANY HAVE SAID THAT IN THE PAST?

AMICONE GIVE IN A LITLE.

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 01:31 PM

Nice to see the braintrust out last night...Spinson, serino, dolli, burns, fleming, ad nauseum. Where was menudo? And the new one, Scuzzy?

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 01:33 PM

What till the dollar amounts earned by the Yonkers cops and firemen, and that are printed in today's Journal News, get widely read and talked about.

And that's not even counting all the bennies, time-off and on and on and on.

The unions will have no support, even less than they have now, which is hardly any to begin with.

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 03:19 PM

You liberal swine, the cost of living goes up and so should the salaries of EVERY hard working individual.

If you guys are so against fair wages police yourselves and put out your own house fires.

I'm sure that your tune will change when "pookie" from school street is breaking into your house at 3 in the morning.

Posted by: Clubba | February 23, 2007 at 04:09 PM

Ha, ha! "Fair wages."

Anyone who claims YPD and YFD are not well-paid is either nuts, on booze or drugs, or all of the above.

Also, it's not nice for the unions to lie, claiming City Hall won't negotiate with them. That is a lie. It's known by many that talks have occurred. So stop lying.

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 05:29 PM

the meeting was a NEIGHBORHOOD meeting, not a forum for their grievances. There is a time and place for that. It is intimidating when they come, and the local citizens suffer for it.

They come across as selfish goons when they behave like this. Many do not even live in Yonkers.

Meanwhile this evening there were two radio cars sitting for hours at 7-11 on Bronx River Rd with the cops inside stuffing their faces.

How about doing a patrol or two fat men? I know it is WORK.

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 08:32 PM

"How about doing a patrol or two fat men? I know it is WORK."

Next time you see them at 7/11 eating donuts why not approach them like a man and tell them how you really feel instead of doing so behind a keyboard like a yellow bellied faggot.

Be a man for once and approach these cops and tell them to their FACE to get on patrol. Them come back on here and post your comments.

Posted by: Clubba | February 23, 2007 at 08:49 PM

Most cops and fireman do not live in Yonkers. That isn't rumor, it's 100 percent true.

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 09:58 PM

"tell them how you really feel instead of doing so behind a keyboard like a yellow bellied faggot."

Besides the fact that you are a foul mouth moron, it would be far more stupid to go up to a cop, who has police power and a gun, and tell him to get off his fat ass.

Perhaps YOU are one of the fat slobs who sit there all day. No one else would respond with such low-class vulgarity.

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 10:10 PM

Of course he is one of the Boys in the Band...Ooops...make that the boys in blue.

Is that the same schmuck who used the name "Pookie" in vain? Blasphemy from a union doof.

The great James "Pookie" Hudson, lead singer of The Spaniels, who sang and also wrote the classic "Goodnight, Sweetheart" (It's Time To Go) died just a few weeks ago.

Yeah, the McGwire Sisters covered the song and also had a big hit with it, but it was a Spaniels original.

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 10:35 PM

hahahahha

the unions will have the last laugh at all of us, amicone will give them what they want. and that is 100% true.

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 10:55 PM

Don't bet your last 30 pieces of silver on that one, Judas.

BTW, your halter is ready. Use it quick before the Romans catch you. They don't trust what you say either.

Posted by: | February 23, 2007 at 11:06 PM

OINK, OINK, OINK

AH want ma stuff, give me ma stuff,

Ah want, Ah need, Ah have to have ma
stuff. Union motto

Posted by: | February 24, 2007 at 12:01 AM

Give that one to a few of the bro' rappers in the hood. They'll make a Yonkers union anthem out of it.

That would be fitting for the Donut Brigade and the Firehouse snoozers, poker players and "chefs."

Posted by: | February 24, 2007 at 12:42 AM

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THESE ADMINISTRATION MOUTHPIECES SAY ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT COPS & FIREFIGHTERS....IT JUST SHOWS THE MAYOR'S DISDAIN FOR THE WORKING PEOPLE....BUT WHO CARES...HE WILL GET HIS JUST REWARD AND WE WILL GET OUR CONTRACT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO GO TO ARBITRATION TO GET IT.

YES, PEOPLE IT'S CALLED INTEREST ARBITRATION AND THE RESULTS ARE BINDING ON BOTH SIDES. WE ARE PROHIBITED (OR RATHER FACE SEVERE PENALTIES) IF WE GO ON STRIKE BUT WE ARE PERMITTED TO DECLARE IMPASS IN NEGOTIATIONS AND GO TO ARBITRATION INSTEAD.

WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES RAISING SALARIES BY AS MUCH AS 4.5% PER YEAR WITH NO GIVEBACKS AN ARBITRATOR WILL MOST LIKELY IMPOSE A SIMILAR INCREASE UPON THE PARTIES IN YONKERS. AND WE ARE NOT SCARED OF LOSING A THING, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE CITY'S CONTINUING BAD FAITH BARGAINING. IMAGINE COMING TO THE BARGAINING TABLE WITH NO OFFERS OF PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN SALARY BUT WITH ONLY A HOST OF GIVEBACK DEMANDS.

NUMEROUS EXPERTS (NOT THE UNINFORMED CITY NEGOTIATORS WHO THE MAYOR RELIES UPON) HAVE ASSURED US THAT THIS TACTIC WILL IN THE END PROVE TO BE VERY FOOLISH ON THE PART OF THE CITY AND WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BY THE ARBITRATOR IN REACHING A BINDING SETTLEMENT. AND THE CITY REALLY HAS NO ARGUMENT ABOUT ABILITY TO PAY WHEN THE MAYOR IS GIVING THE STORE AWAY TO THE DEVELOPERS AND FRIENDS.

WE HAD HOPED TO AVOID THE COST, DELAY, AND NASTINESS OF ARBIRTRATION, BUT THE MAYOR HAS GIVEN US NO OTHER CHOICE. THIS IS WAR AND WE WILL BE IN ARBITRATION IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE UNLESS THE MAYOR GETS A GRIP ON REALITY REAL SOON.

GETTING BACK TO THE TOWN HALL MEETING.

NO MENTION OF HOW THE FIREFIGHTERS PARKED WAY DOWN CENTRAL PARK AVENUE SO AS TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO PARK AT THE LIBRARY.

NO MENTION OF HOW MANY FIREFIGHTERS GAVE UP THEIR SEATS TO ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT DIDN'T HAVE A SEAT.

NO MENTION OF HOW THE FIREFIGHTERS LET THE PEOPLE ASK THEIR QUESTIONS AND HOW THE MAYOR AND HIS PATHETIC GROUP OF COMMISSIONERS WERE ALLOWED TO ANSWER. YES! ALLOWED! WE COULD HAVE EASILY SHUT THE MEETING DOWN BUT WE DID NOT.

THE MAJOR GOT OFF REAL EASY LAST NIGHT AND SO DID HIS COMMISSIONERS, ESPECIALLY PAGANO. THESE TWO WILL NOT HAVE IT SO EASY NEXT MONTH. AND THE MAYOR WILL BE FACING US AT EVERY TURN BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY. HE WILL BE CHALLENGED ON THE REPUBLICAN LINE AND THE CONSERVATIVE LINE. IF HE MANAGES TO GET ON THE BALLOT AT ALL HE WILL FACE US DURING THE ELECTION AND HE WILL SEE WHAT INFLUENCE THE FIREFIGHTERS REALLY HAVE. BYE BYE MR. MAYOR....HERE COMES THE JUDGE.

THIS WAS JUST A WARNING SHOT ACCROSS THE BOW. THIS IS WAR AND THE MAYOR AND HIS ENTIRE BUNCH OF GROUPIES AND LACKIES AT CITY HAUL WILL BE PACKING THEIR BAGS VERY SOON.

Posted by: | February 24, 2007 at 03:31 AM

Grazin' in the grass early today?

You might turn that little lecture into a full-blown essay. You could call it "On Eggs," by Bacon.

Posted by: | February 24, 2007 at 09:41 AM

No doubt the police and firefighters are entitled to a contract..the issue is how much can the city afford to give them.
Everyone knows yonkers is still
battling a fiscal crisis although
thanks to the mayor and the former
state senator things are a lot more stable now. When the mayor knows how much revenue he has then
he can deal with the union demands
and not until then. In addtion
why don';t the unions agree to stop raiding the pension system
by adding hundreds of hours of overtime right before they are going to retire to make their last
three years salaries, the ones
upon which their pensions are based, exorbitantly high..
that is akin to stealing becuase
the overtime is a scheme to defraud the pension system
and is not reflective of their
base pay

Posted by: LOST IN YONKERS | February 24, 2007 at 09:59 AM

To the Union asshole above.

I understand that you have no class at all, but know that typing in all capitals is Vulgar and considered to be SHOUTING. Poor taste.

No, he has not brought money to the table. Why? 1. You are already overpaid for sitting around and doing nothing; 2. until the State tells Yonkers how much money they are getting, how can you be offered anything? It is just hot air until there is money behind the offer.

You morons keep forgetting that little reality.

What you also seem to not understand is that notwithstanding the fact that you parked down the street, and gave up seats for little old ladies (you make that out to be something special, in fact it is basic politeness), in fact you guys are intimidating to the public. The simple presence of hundreds of oversized blue collar men yelling and screaming intimidates the general public. Hence they do not speak at the meetings.

I have been to harings in the City Council chamber where firefighters and other unions got there hours before the meeting, took every seat, and I, who has very bad arthritis, was forced to stand. No one got to sit except you guys. That is intimidation, and you make NO friends in the general public by doing that. Same thing with the ticket blitz. All you did was piss everyone off, and the public blames you, not the mayor.

Great job guys.

Posted by: | February 24, 2007 at 12:06 PM

to the above poster..personal ad hominem attacks do nothing to advance your position..your spelling is not so hot either
eg..it is hearings not harings
it is I who have arthitis not
has arthitis...however your
other points are well taken
and the public will support the
mayor on this one..but the mayor
needs the political support of the
fire and police unions to win

Posted by: LOST IN YONKERS | February 24, 2007 at 01:37 PM

Why don't you lighten up on that person? One typo and one tiny grammar miscue in a long post and you stick the needle in?

Obviously, that person is mad at the unions, and who can blame anyone for that?

Does Amicone NEED the unions to win? Maybe not anymore. They don't have the clout they used to have, and most of them don't live and vote in Yonkers, either. But would he LIKE to have their support? Yes, you would think he would.

PS: Why don't YOU use capital letters? You're wrong too. Just nitpicking like you did to that other inidividual.

Posted by: | February 24, 2007 at 02:12 PM

Who cares about the police union? About 90 percent of them don't even live in Yonkers. They just take the money out of Yonkers, and that's all they care about.

Posted by: | February 24, 2007 at 06:49 PM

A Yonkers city car is always parked across from the Tuckahoe NY Library on Columbus Avenue. The person who is taking this car home lives in the condos above Columbus Avenue in Tuckahoe. The City of Yonkers car always parked a a metered space with no money in the meter. This is on a Saturday daytime and any evening of the week. The car is DKJ9351 - VIN -
2G1WF52K159359366- 2005 Chevrolet Impala Dark Blue. It was learned that this car belings to a cop in the Special Investigations unit. The car never recives a ticket for not being fed coins in the meter. On the dashboard is a City of Yonkers Police card

Posted by: | February 24, 2007 at 07:00 PM

By following a theme on this site, certain people feel that Police & Fire signed up for a job at a specific salary and do not deserve any raises. According to that logic, anyone who has a job should only make their starting salary until they retire because they all knew what they were signing up for. Yet the mayor hires whomever he pleases and gives out 8% raises to his "top" people. I think if you check city hall records the majority of firemen live in Yonkers. Belive it or not!

Posted by: | February 24, 2007 at 07:47 PM

michael edelman should get his facts straight before he tries to defend the amicone.

amicone has not offered any raises - all he has offered is zero's and lots of givebacks.

the democratic mayoral wannabees would not have to be fiscally irresponsible to give the unions what they want becuase the unions are only looking for a fair cost of living increase in their salaries. that's not irresponsible.

amicone and his mouthpieces simpson and edelman will lie at every turn to try and make amicone look good...thank god the firefighters have the balls to stand up to them

go dems go dems go dems you're gonna sweep

Posted by: | February 24, 2007 at 08:17 PM

The Dems are born to sweep.

That's what Robertson does for a living, isn't it?

Posted by: | February 24, 2007 at 11:17 PM

Hey, to the DICK Tracy meter reader, Police Vehicles are exempt from Vehicle and Traffic laws.

Posted by: | February 24, 2007 at 11:35 PM

Word is that the firefighters are planning another "rally" this week although I can't seem to find out when or where.

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 06:44 AM

michael edelman does have his facts straight..the mayor will make a fair offer WHEN HE IS IN A POSITION TO KNOW WHAT HIS ANTICIPATED REVENUE STREAM IS....
that is his only fiscal responsible option...now lets deal with the scam you guys have been running for years in terms
of upping your overtime in the last 3years to inflate your
pensions..you think that the
taxpayers should subsizize that
kind of chickanry?

Posted by: LOST IN YONKERS | February 25, 2007 at 07:04 AM

See Sunday's Journal News for the article about the very high costs of pension and benefits packages for unions around the state, including police and fire.

There is a statewide mayors conference going on; its purpose is to try to find ways to cut these exorbitant costs and to work to get some state laws changed.

Cities and towns are going broke because of greedy unions.

And "yes" to the previous poster. The overtime scams done by union workers in the last years of their employment in order to inflate their pensions is basically STEALING.

For a long time, in Yonkers and elsewhere, workers and their supervisors have been guilty of this dishonesty.

It is time for a severe crackdown on this abuse.

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 08:40 AM

A few quick points from the PHISH.

1. I support all the unions in their efforts to get a fair and equitable contract.

2. I am tired of hearing about the financial woes of Yonkers. Since this Mayor was put in city hall, we see top heavy positions within city hall, patronage jobs, no-show jobs, all at ridiculous salaries, with no money for the workers. We see people brought in that serve no function.

3. A poster mentioned that Amigone must wait for the state to see how much money he is getting. What happened last year, these unions were without a contract for 2 years. Why was no agreement made then?

4. The Yonkers Raceway has generated more than 70 million bucks for New York State through January. Where is that profit going? Is it going to host communties? Why are we not seeing a bigger piece of the pie from the state. I'm sure the other big cities in NY will benefit from thst money.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST..........

To the poster who shouted in all caps, the FIREMEN I presume. Let's just remember, YOUR union made this Mayor, YOU got him in office, now look at the reward.
YOU CREATED THIS MONSTER NOW YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT....Until November anyway. Any comment on that Firemen. The celebration party video speaks volumes, as you are cowering behind Amigone.

PHISH

Posted by: Phish | February 25, 2007 at 10:30 AM

The post at 9:59 am was a press release from
Simpson at city hall. The Police officers should remember this and what city car he drives, can you say moving violation! And if the city if still in financial woes, why,oh,why did the mayor hire all of Spano's people, must have spent a couple of hundred thousand on them, just for his backing or for a promise not to run for mayor!

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 10:46 AM

amicone has made no contract offer thus far except zeros and requests for givebacks.

amicone claims he can't make an offer until he knows what the revenue stream will be from albany. BALONEY. the cops and firefighters are without a contract for the LAST 2 YEARS. Amicone should have budgeted for these 2 years ALREADY! we are not going forward we are looking back. Amicone should be looking to catch up with the unions before he can go forward.

Edelman was wrong again on point counter point. Amicone NEVER gave the firefighters a contract. the contract that expired in july 2005 was signed by Spencer and not Amicone. wrong AGAIN mike. he's about as accurate as simpson.

b/t/w firefighters pay as much as FIFTY PERCENT of the cost of health insurance. add that to the inaccurate information about the salaries of firefighters in the JN and you will see that the firefighters do not make as much as simpson want to spout for Amicone.

start looking for new jobs Amicone, simpson, lisa, etc.

i AM a firefighter
i LIVE in yonkers
i WILL be voting and supporting a DEMOCRAT for mayor as will ALL firefighters..we are in the process of contacting the FDNY NYPD the IAFF AFL-CIO and the other unions with lots of VOTERS who are going to love kicking this piece of shit's ASS.

THE DEMS WILL SWEEP YONKERS IN 2007

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 12:03 PM

Everyone knows PHISH is a biased union supporter. As usual, his comments are meaningless hot air.

The unions have had it much too good for too long. But keep on blabbing. All you are doing is pissing off the taxpaying residents who vote. They are sick of your whining and rip-offs. You are the most selfish, lazy s.o.b.'s and goons around.

The public does NOT support you.

Oh, you'll get some money. But guess what, it's long past the time for you to give back, too. All you've done is take, take and take some more for years.

It's give and take in this world now. Spitzer is after all of you too. If you don't believe it, read the papers, including the edtiorial in Sunday's Daily News. That's assuming you can read.

So if you don't like it, the solution is easy---QUIT. There will be hundreds lined up to replace you in a heartbeat.

In the meantime, go watch (probably for about the 500th time) the old movie "On the Waterfront." That's where you goons think you are today.

But those "tough guy" days are gone forever.

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 12:30 PM

HEY SIMPSON

THE ONE THING I WILL GAURANTEE IS THAT EVERY SINGLE FIREFIGHTER IN YONKERS WILL HAVE A JOB COME JANUARY 1 WHEN YOU GUYS ARE OUT ON THE STREET.

AND GUESS WHAT, WE'RE NOT QUITTING NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LINED UP FOR OUR JOBS. AND YOU BET YOUR ASS THAT WE'LL GET A RAISE.

WHO CARES WHAT THE CONFERENCE OF MAYORS HAS TO SAY ANYWAY. THEY (INCLUDING AMICONE) ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ALWAYS BITCHING ABOUT NOT GETTING ENOUGH MONEY. BUT THEY WANT THE MONEY TO COME FROM ALBANY AND NOT FROM THEIR OWN CITIES. AMICONE DOES THE SAME THING...CRYING POVERTY AND DEFECIT TO ALBANY EACH AND EVERY YEAR WHILE AT THE SAME TIME GIVING THE STORE AWAY AT HOME TO THE DEVELOPERS. AND THEN HE HAS THE NERVE TO SAY HE CAN'T PROJECT REVENUES UNTIL HE KNOWS HOW MUCH HE CAN SQUEEZE OUT OF ALBANY.

THAT'S THE ONLY CORRUPT PRACTICE THAT SPITZER IS GOING TO PUT AN END TO.

STEWART-COUSINS IS NOT GOING TO COME TO THIS DEVELOPER FRIENDLY REPUBLICAN'S RESCUE. AND NEITHER ARE THE CITY OF YONKERS UNIONS. ACTUALLY, WE WILL BE LOBBYING ALBANY NOT TO GIVE YONKERS ANY ADDITIONAL AID UNLESS THE MAYOR PLEDGES NOT TO GIVE IT ALL AWAY TO HIS FRIENDS THE DEVELOPERS.

AND WE'LL SEE WHO THE PEOPLE ARE BEHIND.

THE DEMS WILL SWEEP IN 2007

AND GET USED TO HEARING US SCREAM...THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING (OF YOUR END)

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 12:43 PM

OH AND BY THE WAY....THE "TOUGH GUY" DAYS ARE BACK...AND ALIVE AND WELL. IT'S REFRESHING.

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 12:45 PM

Today's New York Post printed the salaries (and very high totals with OT) earned by some NY City workers. The Daily News has often done the same thing.

Hezi and the JN should compile this data about the Yonkers coopers..er..cops and YFD, and PRINT IT -- names, amounts and all. The citzens would be VERY interested to read this important information. It's very much in the public interest.

And for good measure, add in the cost to taxpayers of all that pension money, health insurance and many other perks. Don't forget to include that they can retire at such young ages.

A report like this would its own kind of "Book of Revelation."

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 01:48 PM

when the firefighters and police unions are willng to give up the
use of overtime in the last three
years of their employment to
boost their pensions into the six
figures..the city can talk about
contracts and raises....

Posted by: LOST IN YONKERS | February 25, 2007 at 02:06 PM

Instead of complaining about the salaries of the hard working men and women of the YFD & YFD that EARN each and every dollar they get get we should instead look into the salaries, perks, pensions, etc. of the people in City Hall. And while we at it, the jobs at the IDA and other agncies that have not added a thing to the city except for a sucking sound.

I think THAT would be a lot more interesting than looking into a cop's salary and finding out that cop made $120,000 or so with overtime. Can you believe that someone would actually WORK extra hours and then get motherfucked when they actually get paid for those extra hours. The nerve!!!!

If the city does not want the cops (or anyone else)to EARN overtime, then the MAYOR should hire the additional COPS (or other workers) that are OBVIOUSLY NEEDED.

But instead, the MAYOR and his spinmasters and apilogists want it both ways. They do not want to hire the needed personnel (becuase it costs money) and then at the same time they want to complain about the WORKERS who are required to WORK the extra hours. And then call them greedy, corrupt, lazy, etc.

The MAYOR has made very bad decsion to try and balance HIS SELF MADE budget problems on the backs of the police and fire.

As DONALD TRUMP would say to him...."MAYOR YOU'RE FIRED"

GO DEMS...GO DEMS...GO DEMS
SWEEP IN 2007

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 03:33 PM

The unions better ralize that the public does not buy this crap that they are dishing out.

Oh and yeah support a Democrat for Mayor -- better still let's get Spencer back in and let HIM fix the mess we are in as it is him who put us there.

It is time for firemen to be prohibited from campaiging much like police are -- the bullying and intimidation is over --the public does not like what it see

Go live in the corporate world and you will see that some years when times were bad raises and bonuses were low or non existent. Many of us were happy to have kept our jobs and not been layed off.

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 04:03 PM

These union thugs are buffoons. It's also 100 percent correct that they conjure up fake overtime and make tradeoffs to inflate their pensions.

They also can walk out while still very young. It should be 30 years and no scamming near the end to boost the pensions.

And if they can't work the streets or firehouses after 25 years, then put 'em behind desks for the last five. 30 years is what it should be. People have had enough of their crap.

Someone suggested the fire dept. should be restructed to make it half volunteer, like has been done elsewhere. Maybe that's a good idea for Yonkers,too.

The new governor is after the unions from the state level. And he will get them, too.

He has a huge public mandate to clean out the trash, and these unions are a big part of that wasteful trash problem. It's coming to an end for them sooner rather than later.

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 04:43 PM

The only thing Spitzer is going to change is the expectations of mayors like Amicone around the state that think they can keep going to Albany with their hats in their hands begging for more money.

The stupid irrelevant comments don't even deserve an answer. You're a just a uninformed moron - it's as simple as that.

Here comes the Judge!
Here comes the Judge!
Here comes the Judge!
and he couldn't have come soon enough!

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 09:56 PM

Is THIS the article in the New York Post that you are referring to? I suggest you read it.

I did not see one cop or firefighter mentioned. Only "marine ENGINEER" that work for the FDNY and some other titles in other city agencies and departments.

Typical Amicome and Simpson BULLSHIT post -trying to distort and lie.

Enough already....bring in the Democrats...DEMS SWEEP in 2007

February 25, 2007 -- A select group of 30 city workers more than doubled their base salaries last year in a gusher of overtime, The Post has learned.
One marine engineer with the FDNY boosted his $65,393 salary by 160 percent - clocking $104,979 worth of OT - to swell his total earnings to $170,372.

Twenty-one of the 30 workers in the double-your-salary club were employed by the Department of Transportation, almost all as marine oilers and engineers on the Staten Island Ferry.

Agency officials defended their paychecks and provided a detailed chart showing a sharp decline in OT between first and second halves of the year.

"In 2006, DOT introduced the third of its three new ferries, which all require 24-hour maintenance, and added more than 40 trips between St. George and lower Manhattan each week," said DOT spokesman Kay Sarlin. "And yet even as the frequency of service rose, overtime during the first half of [fiscal] 2007 went down."

Three Board of Elections employees made the list, including the city's perennial overtime king, Pablo Martinez.

Martinez, a senior systems analyst, earned a total of $194,024 - just shy of the mayor's official salary of $195,000 that year - by adding $108,860 to his $85,164 salary.

John Ravitz, the board's executive director, said he had hired a second programmer, Antonio Ortiz Jr., to lighten Martinez's heavy workload and scale back his overtime.

But Ravitz said the rollout of handicapped-accessible voting machines required long hours to, among other things, transfer 3,000 names to an audio ballot in four different languages.


Joseph Stark, one of 16 marine engineers who maintain six fireboats, ran up the second largest OT tab in 2006, $104,979, which represented 160 percent of his base salary.

"It's not an easy title to fill," said FDNY spokesman Jim Long, explaining marine engineers must put in four years of apprenticeships before becoming eligible to take a test for the title.


Daniel Nicolella, a supervising plumber at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services - the agency that oversees personnel - made the cut with $95,393 in OT, upping his earnings to $176,986.

A DCAS official said Nicolella was the only supervising plumber in the agency and had to sign off on all plumbing jobs.

Rolando Roman, a child protective supervisor, was one of the few nontrades employees on the list after adding $68,378 in OT to his base salary of $54,007.

ACS spokeswoman Sheila Stainback lauded Roman as a model employee who volunteered to help out after the Nixzmary Brown crisis.

"He hasn't taken a vacation in two years," she said.

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 10:06 PM

Yes. Good idea.

Prohibit firefighters from engaging in their consitutional rights. Police have SOME restrictions for good and constitutionally accepted reasons. There is and will NOT be any such prohibitions against firefighters exercising their freedoms of speech and expression.

And the nonsense comparing the the corporate world vs. the "real world" that cops and firefighters deal with every day. They deal with PEOPLE when they need help, often under the worst of circumstances. YOU wouldn't have a clue what the "real world" is all about.

The police and firefighters earn and deserve every penny they get paid.

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 10:08 PM

AMICONE SHOULD GET RID OF ALL THESE ASSES THAT KEEP GIVING HIM HORRIBLE ADVICE AND INSIST ON MAKING HIM LOOK LIKE A TOTAL ASSHOLE

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 10:10 PM

Hey Simpson,

In your earlier post regarding the JN's article on pension costs, etc you refer to a "statewide mayors conference."

Did you mean the New York CONFERENCE OF MAYORS? That is a GROUP you ass and not an event.

They are having a legislative meeting with the Governor like they always do. You describe its purpose as trying "to find ways to cut these exorbitant costs and to work to get some state laws changed."

Guess what? They do this EVERY year. And they get nothing done. Just another foolish waste of taxpayers money for the Mayors to get together on the public tit and party at the Albany strip clubs, massage parlors, and whore houses. Hope you guys are wearing protection.

What a bunch of wastes this whole administration is. Can't wait to get some decorum in City Hall with the Judge and the rest of the Dems who will SWEEP in 2007.

Posted by: | February 25, 2007 at 10:19 PM

The judge you say? Judge Crater or Judge Judy have better chances of being elected than Duffer Doran.

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 12:18 AM

to the poster who is trying so hard to defend the overtime given
to the police and fire departments
cut the crap...it is no coincidence that the overtime goes
to those close to retirement in their last 3 years to boost their
pensions..this is a fraud on the
taxpayers, a scam..and frankly
the us attorney ought to investigate the abuses and issue
a grand jury report..

Posted by: LOST IN YONKERS | February 26, 2007 at 07:40 AM

A Fed investigation is a very good idea. And the new Yonkers police commissioner should be all over this fraud---and so should the mayor. In the Fire Department, Pagano is probably one of the chief silent supporters of this abuse.

It doesn't just happen in Yonkers, but we are talking here about Yonkers. And it sure as hell does happen in Yonkers.

And it could be criminal, perhaps, in some instances. At the least it is institutional fraud, to coin a phrase.

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 08:16 AM

get over it.

i guess you didn't READ the article that was posted above.

there was not one police officer or firefighter on the list from new york city.

instead of looking at the pensions of cops and firefighters spitzer should look at the pensions and golden parachutes of the business world. that's where the abuse is. and that's where spitzer can continue to make an name for himself. go after the corporations.

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 09:47 AM

the only federal investigation that should be conducted is of the the amicone administration and his buddies at the IDA giving the store away to his developer friends who will soon be his employer.

see ya amiGONE----hello Judge

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 10:07 AM

a major structure fire at a large senior citizen building. cops and firefighters risking their lives and actually saved several seniors. cops also at scene and carried several seniors out of building to safety.

building collapse on main street (how appropriate that one of amicone's developments is literally falling apart during construction). both police and fire respond to save lives.

these are only two examples of how cops and firefighters risk their own lives every time they suit up and go to work.

and the mayor doesn't think these heros deserve a cost of living increase after two years without one.

i think the public is on OUR side and that is now the DEMOCRATIC side.

Democratic SWEEP in 2007

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 12:05 PM

I couldn't agree more with the poster above. My grandmother is a 5th floor resident and was saved by the Firemen who rescued her from her window. She would have perished if not for the selfless Yonkers Firemen. After removing her from the building then the Yonkers Police actually carried her to a bus for transport to a shelter. The men and women of the Yonkers Fire Houses and Police Stattions deserve everything they get paid and they also deserve a raise. Thank you to all of our heros.

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 12:12 PM

Good to know that our 100K a year servicemen are actually servicing our community!

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 12:54 PM

Their job is to put out fires. The cops' jobs are to catch criminals and to deter crime.

Agree with the previous poster, they are paid well for doing their JOBS. JOBS they chose to do, probably because of the boondoggles involved most, not all, of the time.

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 01:13 PM

no one is saying that the firefighters and the police
aren't doing dangerous and good
work...what i am saying is that
they are being paid to do those
jobs and they are entitled to retire with a fair pension..they
are not, however, entitled to fanaggle (sic) the system and use
a loophole to give them pensions
that far exceed what they would
be entitled to..the practice has
got to stop...these are taxpayer dollars..and the analogy with what
goes on in private business is
not valid. In those cases the shareholders can complain, sell their stock, fire the ceo..in
the case of public service employees the taxpayers through
their elected officials need to make sure that pensions for 80,000
a year workers don;t come out at
twice that amount...just becuase
there is an understanding that the
young guys give the old guys the overtime to screw the pension system...which public official
in yonkers will stand up to this
fraudulent practice..bet not any
democrats!!!!that is why amicone
will win with or with union support..

Posted by: LOST IN YONKERS | February 26, 2007 at 01:43 PM

oh you amicone mouthpieces are just so pathetic.

if phil (double mole) amicone doesn't want to pay overtime then he can just hire more cops and firemen. its that fucking stupid you asshole!

the only reason there is ANY overtime is becuase there is a shortage of manpower in both departments.

phil the weasel can't announce that he is putting more cops on the street to combat the violent crime epidemic and not expect there to be a ton of overtime UNLESS he hires more cops.

but sweet phil wants it both ways (just like simpson)

forget the investigations, grand juries, indictments (that will not happen anyway) and just hire more people.

oh, I forgot...that costs money just like overtime does! so phil won't do that either. he'll just refuse to fully man the departments and then he can blame the cops and firemen for "padding" their pensions.

It's the new amicone creedo "greedy cops and firemen" are breaking the city's budget.

That's why we will clean house in November and help the Democrats SWEEP in 2007

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 02:23 PM

either you failed high school math
or you are simply unable to grasp
that overtime given by younger guys to older guys FOR THE SOLE
PURPOSE OF BOOSTING THEIR PENSIONS
is in fact stealing..It has nothing to do with hiring..why can't the younger guys do their own overtime without trading....you probably voted
for alan hevasi knowing he was
a crook too...

Posted by: LOST IN YONKERS | February 26, 2007 at 02:37 PM

it has EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HIRING!

if there were enough people to do the work there would be no NEED for OT!

the solution to you alleged abuse is very very very simple (just like you). HIRE more people and there will be NO OT for anyone to pad their pensions like you allege.

WHAT AN ASSHOLE...are you the Mayor? Becuase I didn't think there was anyone else in the entire city who was as stupid as AMICONE.

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 03:00 PM

how about we get spencer back -- or even better his stooge Robertson and give a way the store as spencer did to get re-elected.

you guys are pathetic -- taxpayers aren't saying not to give a fair raise but to saddle the taxpayers with a huge tax bill is not fair as well.

where is the middle ground?

the way you guys are sounding it give me everything or will we crush you.

sounds like you guys have already made up your mind on amicone-- i am not a fan of his but your actions do not make me want to vote for a democrat.

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 04:05 PM

you're right, as far as the members are concerned, amicone is AMIGONE.

we would rather have zaleski in office than this guy.

at least zaleski was a man of his word and never turned his back on the workers.

Democrats all the way in 2007

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 05:04 PM

The Dems will be all the way to the outhouse. Cause they will be out of luck.

You union blubber heads don't know a Shiite from a Shinola.

Stick your heads in those brown bags you drink your beer out of and just do your damn jobs. Can you do that without crying?

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 05:32 PM

phil already looks like a street person

rich "where am i" acts like one

bill "the drunk" reagan smells like one

they'll all be on the street soon.

go dems in your sweep in 2007

Posted by: | February 26, 2007 at 11:32 PM

it has nothing to do with hiring
because the scam is based on
younger guys handing over their
ot to guys who are building their
last years salary upon which their
pension is based..stop defending
the practice

Posted by: YONKERS GUY | February 27, 2007 at 11:27 AM

Don't confuse those cretins with facts. They can't handle facts, plus they want to divert the issue into something it isn't.

Posted by: | February 27, 2007 at 02:28 PM

AGAIN - if proper staffing levels were maintained, there would be NO OT for the practice you describe as the "younger guys handing over their ot to guys who are building their last years salary upon which their pension is based."

WHAT is it that you don't understand?

HIRE AND THERE WILL BE NO OT!!!!!

Posted by: | February 27, 2007 at 03:14 PM

what is it that You don't understand..the practice goes on
even when there are plenty of employees..you keep insisting that
there is a shortage of manpower.
what about in places all over new york state where there is no shortage and the practice still goes on..you are trying to justify a practice that is out
of control and is costing the
taxpayers millions..mabye that's
because you stand to directly benefit from it when you reitre at least have the decency and the
objectivity to condemn the practice and then we can talk about staffing and contracts. THis
is not a one way street..you get the raises, you get the overtime
and we get screwed

Posted by: LOST IN YONKERS | February 27, 2007 at 03:38 PM

If there is enough personnel then there will be no OT.

The only exception should be when there are specific jobs that only a select few can perform, then there MIGHT be needed OT. But then there should be no basis to allow someone to "trade" or "give" their OT to someone about to retire.

And AGAIN, if there is OT then there is a need for additional personnel.

UNLESS, the employer makes the conscious decision not to hire additional personell becuase it is cheaper or easier to pay someone OT rather than pay salary, health care, benefits, etc. for the needed additional personnel.

THAT's MY POINT. Amicone had decided that it is cheaper (or makes more sense to him) to pay OT than to hire the needed workers. And then when the workers WORK the extra hours and get PAID OT as a result, that Amicone (and people like YOU) complain that there is some type of abuse going on.

If you and Amicone don't like the result, then do something about it - hire the additional personnel and stop paying OT.

OR (as is most likley the case) it's cheaper to pay the OT and you can take pot shots at the people who actually do the WORK becuase of the shortage in personnel.

SHUT UP ALREADY WITH YOUR COCKAMAMIE CONSPIRACY CRAP...YOU'RE JUST SHOWING YOUR IGNORANCE AND DISDAIN FOR THE WORKING CLASS.

Posted by: | February 27, 2007 at 03:52 PM

I don't know or care about the rest of New York State.

I live in Yonkers.

I work in Yonkers.

I know Yonkers.

What you're alleging is not going on. But if it were, the solution is easy.

Hire more men and women to do the work.

Posted by: | February 27, 2007 at 03:54 PM

If you are a citizen of Yonkers you are not getting screwed by either the cops or the firefighters. You have the best police and fire departments in the country...BAR NONE.

If you are one of the mayor's pathetic pee-ons then you WILL be SCREWED in November!

GO DEMS....SWEEP in 2007

Posted by: | February 27, 2007 at 03:59 PM

News Flash:::: cops and firemen settle for A THREE year contract, raises of 0, 2,and 2%. 50 cops make >$150,000.00 in 2006. Journal News where's the figures?

Posted by: | February 27, 2007 at 04:30 PM

are the percentages 0, 2, and 2 for the first 4 month, second 4 months, and final 4 months of the FIRST year?

if it is then there's a chance the cops and firefighters will settle a 3 year deal with these types of raises each year.

if you think the cops and firefighters are going to settle for 4% for 3 years then you truly are delusional.

nice try phil

Posted by: | February 27, 2007 at 04:41 PM

As a smart carpenter might say, it's time to put a big screw into the unions.

They keep lying on this site, and trying to change the subject.

They must think everyone is as stupid as they are.

The Journal News and Hezi should publish ALL the OT figures, and by name, for YPD and YFD members. This information is public record. It cannot be concealed.

Posted by: | February 27, 2007 at 05:41 PM

HOW ABOUT IT JOURNAL NEWS. OR ARE THEY TOO AFRAID OF WHAT IT MIGHT DUE TO THEIR CIRCULATION?

Posted by: | February 27, 2007 at 05:49 PM

To the poster above citing that yonkers cops under the rank of captain are bringing home unmarked cars eg the officer whose lives in the condos across from the Tucakhoe Library on Columbus Avenue - DKJ9351 -2005 Chevrolet Impala - Do you know if he gets a 1099 from the City of Yonkers - I bet he uses this car for personal use such as going to Dunkin Donuts

Posted by: | February 27, 2007 at 08:26 PM

when are you retards in city hall going to get real?

there is no abuse of OT or padding of pensions.

yes, cops take cars home with them for official purposes (like when they have to respond back to work in the middle of the night).

b/t/w..why in the world do half the people in city hall need cars for?

and the cops are not going to get tickets with "official cars"...do you want the cops to get a roll of quarters each day with the cars?

this is typical amicone and simpsone bull.... try and change the subject and hope the people forget.

the voters will not forget.

phil the bum will be out on the street very soon.

Posted by: | February 27, 2007 at 11:28 PM

YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE ISSUE
A YONKERS ISSUE ..IE NO OT IF MORE COPS ARE HIRED...THIS IS A STATEWIDE SCAM PERPETRATED BY THE UNIONS..
THIS IS A WAY TO BOOST PENSIONS BY
FEEDING OVERTIME WHETHER IT IS NECESSARY OR NOT TO THOSE ABOUT TO
RETIRE..THIS IS ABOUT SENIOR POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL WALKING
AWAY WITH PENSIONS THAT ARE EQUAL
TO OR HIGHER THAN THERE FINAL SALARIES.AND I CAN ASSSURE YOU
THAT THIS PRACTICE WILL STOP.
\JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH THE
NEW PUBLIC INTEGRITY OFFICE...
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR RAISES AND YOU
CAN HAVE YOUR OVERTIME BUT YOU
CAN;T INFLATE YOUR BUDDIES PENSIONS..END OF STORY

Posted by: LOST IN YONKERS | February 28, 2007 at 07:33 AM

Good for you. This needs a full investigation. And that includes the Yonkers unions, where it sure as hell happens all the time.

It is stealing. It is dishonest. And commissioners and all superior officers should be held accountable---as well as the actual cheaters themselves--the retiring cops and firemen, and the younger ones who do the trade-offs with them.

This thievery of taxpayer money has been going on for a very long time. It has to be stopped. Statewide, hundreds of millions could be saved.

Posted by: | February 28, 2007 at 07:58 AM

You're all nuts. Do you really think anyone is going to say "No...I don't want my over time, I want you to have it, meanwhile I'll screw myself out of a decent yearly wage, hoping that someone is nice enough to do the same when I retire." Those are some thoughtful people. I want that job.
The city needs to hire to fill vacant positions. It also costs money to test, hire, and train so they also aren't going to hire small numbers every year...they wait until there are more openings. Whether or not that's the cheapest way to do it, that's how it's done.

Posted by: | March 03, 2007 at 11:30 PM
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