NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed a package of five bills to improve diversity within the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY). The bills aim to address recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups within the department, as well as requiring the implementation of diversity, inclusion, anti-discrimination, and anti-harassment training.
“Our FDNY frontline heroes keep our city safe day in and day out, and today we take another step to strengthen and support New York City’s Bravest,” said Mayor Adams. “New York City’s diversity is our strength, and these five bills will help build a more inclusive FDNY that is reflective of the millions of New Yorkers we serve. I’m grateful to our colleagues in the City Council for their partnership and commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive Fire Department for generations to come.”
“Diversity is strength, and this legislation will make New York’s Bravest even stronger,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “Today’s FDNY is striving to be more inclusive, accessible, and reflective of our communities. With these new tools and under the leadership of Commissioner Kavanagh — the department’s first female commissioner — we will continue to strive toward that goal.”
“Diversity is at the heart of our city’s strength, and our commitment as an agency is first and foremost to the people we serve. The FDNY will set the bar for the fire service by attracting the best talent this city has to offer, serving each neighborhood as though it was our own, and ensuring each member of our FDNY family can thrive, grow as leaders, and inspire future generations,” said FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. “Mayor Adams, Speaker Adams, and the City Council are true partners in that mission, and I look forward to working closely with them to achieve it.”
Intro. 516-A — sponsored by New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams — establishes a recruitment and retention plan for firefighters. The bill requires the FDNY, in consultation with the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), to develop and implement a plan to recruit and retain individuals from underrepresented populations within the rank of firefighter.
Intro. 519-A — sponsored by New York City Councilmember Joann Ariola — requires a survey of permanent firehouse upgrades to establish a working environment that facilitates use by a mixed-gender workforce. The bill requires the FDNY to survey each firehouse to determine the permanent facility upgrades necessary to facilitate use by a mixed-gender workforce. Upon completion of the survey, the FDNY will then submit a report on the findings of the survey detailing permanent facility upgrades necessary at each firehouse, the feasibility of implementing such upgrades, and any construction plans to make such upgrades.
Intro. 552-A — sponsored by New York City Councilmember Kevin Riley — requires the FDNY to submit an annual report on the number of employees assigned to each firehouse or special operations unit, disaggregated by gender and race or ethnicity, as well as the number of individuals who reside within the immediate service area of each fire company, disaggregated by gender and race or ethnicity.
Intro. 553-A — also sponsored by Councilmember Riley — requires the FDNY, in consultation with DCAS, to develop and implement a plan for providing ongoing training and education to all employees regarding diversity and inclusion, including training on the department’s anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies. FDNY will also be required to post an annual report on its website regarding efforts taken to implement such training.
Intro. 560-A — sponsored by New York City Councilmember Nantasha Williams — requires the FDNY to submit an annual report on complaints filed with the department’s Equal Employment Opportunity office regarding potential violations of the city’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy. The report will include information on the number of complaints that resulted in corrective action taken by the FDNY, further disaggregated by the form of corrective action, including, but not limited to, formal reprimands, fines, loss of pay or benefits, transfers, suspensions, demotions, and terminations.
“New York City’s firefighters protect our city and save lives every single day, yet it remains clear that FDNY is not representative of our city’s diversity,” said Speaker Adams. “I’m proud these new laws passed by the council and signed today help advance the department’s recruitment and retention of women and people of color from all communities as firefighters. This package of bills becoming law marks a significant step forward to ensure that New York’s Bravest are more equitably composed of people from New York City’s entire gorgeous mosaic. I thank my colleagues in the council for working collaboratively to pass this important legislation and Mayor Adams for signing the bills into law.”
“I am proud to sponsor legislation that will lead to upgrades for our fire houses to have adequate areas for both men and women to tend to their personal needs,” said Councilmember Ariola. “I will continue to fight for the members of the FDNY in every aspect of their job.”
“As co-chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, it is a priority for this city that all legislation passed through the council upholds a true means of diversity and inclusion that seeks to benefit and protect all New Yorkers,” said Councilmember Riley. “I am honored to stand alongside the mayor and my colleagues at the signing of this legislative package that will transform the lack of diversity and inclusion within the FDNY. My bills, Int. 552-A and 553-A, further support this goal through annual demographics reporting and ongoing training for all fire department employees — opening clear measures for transparency and accountability. Today, we make our mark to address generations of systemic disparities within our infrastructure, as well as to create more welcoming and safe workplaces for all New Yorkers. Thank you Mayor Adams for signing this transformative bill package into law, and for the continued partnership with the New York City Council to support a more equitable city.”
“After receiving a number of complaints regarding diversity and discrimination in the FDNY, I was proud to sponsor this bill. Int. 560 would hold the Fire Department accountable with the goal to remedy the complaints filed against them. This bill would require the Fire Department to submit an annual report to the mayor and the Speaker of the City Council, and to publish this report on the department’s website for public access,” said Councilmember Williams. “The report would include information on the number of complaints that resulted in corrective action taken by the Fire Department, further disaggregated by the form of corrective action, including but not limited to formal reprimand, fine, loss of pay or benefits, transfer, suspension, demotion and termination. I would like to thank Fire and Emergency Management Chair, Joann Ariola, my colleagues that have also sponsored bills included in this package, Speaker Adrienne Adams for her leadership and Mayor Eric Adams for signing this bill into law.”
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Police Commissioner Edward Caban: Thank you, Mayor Adams, for joining us here today. To our graduates, and to your loved ones and friends who have come from near and far to celebrate and support you. On behalf of 51,000 members of the NYPD, welcome to the Police Academy graduation, and congratulations on this special achievement. Today is day one. It is a day that will always stand out from among the rest because today is the day you become one of New York’s finest. Getting here was no easy task. There were challenges at every turn, and for good reason, because there are real challenges waiting for you right outside these doors. But you looked within, discovered you had the qualities that were needed, and accomplished your goal.
For that, you have now earned the right to wear the NYPD blue uniform, but keep in mind, wearing it and upholding it are not the same. The patch on that uniform is the very definition of excellence in policing around the globe. Today you are now part of a living legacy of service and sacrifice that stretches back 178 years, and now you are the keepers of that legacy. It’s an awesome responsibility. And as I look out at this group, I see one of our greatest strengths, our diversity, and it is truly something special. 25 percent of this class was born outside of the United States. You hail from 41 different countries, and speak 27 different languages, including American Sign Language. You look like the city you serve. But no matter what your background is, all of you would join the NYPD at a time when we have great momentum behind us.
Your brothers and sisters in blue have been hard at work. It is the middle of the summer and we are knocking down crime. Fewer shootings, fewer murders, fewer transit crimes, and lower overall crime for the first time in a long time. And in case you didn’t know it, that is not usually how things go as the summer heats up. But let me tell you, none of this is happening by accident. Our mayor gave us a mission.
We had to turn things around. It was a challenge we gladly accepted. And despite this incredible progress, there are still some who question the overall safety of New York City. Whether they are a victim of a crime, or just watching the viral headlines, we cannot deny their experience. But we can build upon our progress so that the reality of all hard work overcomes the perception of danger. That’s where you come in.
Every tour, every radio runner, every car stop is an opportunity. Your fellow New Yorkers are going to call on you for help. And in those moments, often the worst moments, you’ll leave a mark, a mark that will endure in that person’s life forever. What kind of mark will it be? Whether good or bad, it will ripple across their family and around their community. So never forget that your actions carry enormous weight.
The pressure that comes with this profession can be heavy whether day one or day 7,001. You bring some of the job home to another group of people who are part of this journey, your family and loved ones. To this amazing group of people, I know your pride for today is mixed with concern for tomorrow. I want to thank all of you for the support you have given, and will continue to give our cops. We know it’s not always easy, and we are so fortunate to count you among our NYPD family. So let’s give our families a round of applause.
Your fellow New Yorkers want you in their communities. They appreciate your service. I hear it all the time. They’re rooting for you to succeed, and so am I. So it’s important to remember you are not doing this alone. We will get there together. You have the support of the mayor, myself, and the entire executive team. On our watch, we will continue to drive down crime and disorder, helping those in need. The men and women of the NYPD always answer the call. You are forever in the arena doing the hard work, making New York City better tomorrow than it was today. For that, you have my deepest respect. Congratulations on this amazing accomplishment. Stay safe, and God bless.
Sergeant Kevin Heavey, Ceremonial Unit, NYPD: Thank you, commissioner. It’s now my pleasure to introduce the mayor of the City of New York, the Honorable Eric Adams.
Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Thank you so much. And thank you for your words, Commissioner. And congratulations to our graduates, your family. All of those months over months over studying, making this transition from being a civilian to a uniform member of the department. Such a significant jump. And please, police based on the majority, not the numerical minority that are participating in criminal behavior in our city.
I just want to leave you with one story. My days as a platoon commander in the 88th Precinct. We went to respond to a situation in one of our NYCHA developments. And we walked inside the building. There were urination in the elevator. The rookie officer I was with pointed to it and stated, “You see, lieutenant, these people don’t want anything. This is how they want to live.” And I told them that one person urinated in the elevator. Everyone in this development is as angry about it as we are angry about it. If you view the actions of the worst among us as the majority among us, you are going to have a terrible career. But if you view everyone as an individual, treat them with dignity and respect, understand that they, like you, want the best for their family, and be able to provide a lifestyle for them, then you will have a different experience while you are on patrol, and while you move through the ranks, and throughout your career.
That is why I fought hard with Pat Lynch from the PBA to make sure that you could have a decent wage as a member of the New York City Police Department, so you could provide for your family. That is why we are partnering to make sure you have the best equipment to do your job, and to make sure that social media does not decide if you are a good officer, or a good respondent to a crisis or not. We will make that decision in a fair way and give you the support that you deserve to do your job. Your role is to protect the public, but also to go home to your family every day. Nothing is more painful than what former Commissioner Keechant Sewell and I had to experience when we responded to the hospital to see Officer Mora and Rivera lost, assassinated while they were responding to a call of service.
We don’t want to experience that. The first few months we saw a shooting of police officers, how it impacted our lives and made an everlasting impression on me. I don’t want to knock at your door. I don’t want to have to tell your parents you’re not coming home. I don’t want to have to tell your spouses, your loved one, your family members. So you must take the training that you receive from us and make sure you execute it precisely and protect yourself, and protect your partner. But you also must have a high tolerance rate for those who are going to try to bait you and bring you into a level of unprofessionalism.
You must look after each other. You must respond to the scene and tell each other when it is going to fall. You are your brother’s keeper, and I believe it’s so significant what Commissioner Caban pointed out. The level of foreign-born police officers that are now finding their way in our Police Department. Those officers who are joining you here today from Jamaica, receiving the training, from Dubai, receiving the training. We are an international Police Department. We have the best product going, bar none, member of the New York City Police Department.
But also our national anthem has a significant line in it that I’ll always remember. “The rockets’ red glare, of bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag is still there.” It doesn’t matter what the bombs are. It could be a physical bomb of terrorism. It could be the bombs of Covid, it could be the bombs of changing administrations. It could be the bombs of a lack of economic stability.
No matter what the bombs are, you look up and that flag is still there. There’s something special about this country. I would tell people over and over again, there’s no other country on the globe where dream is attached to its name. No German dream, no French dream, no Polish dream, but damn it, there’s an American dream. And that dream comes alive because of the men and women who places themselves on the front line and protect and save that dream.
You water the tree of freedom with your blood, your sweat, your commitment, your tears. You have now joined those ranks, and those ranks are a proud place to be. And you today must make up in your mind what type of career you are going to have. I know and you know can go from being a commander in Manhattan to being the mayor of the City of New York. It’s up to you to decide.
But one thing you have to do, you have to always be ready. And that’s why I am going to go off script and call our first female to hold the role as the first deputy police commissioner of the City of New York. As you see her and hear from her, watch the youthfulness, watch the diligence, watch the commitment. Watch the dedication, watch the experience. This is the future in front of you, the diversity, the understanding of how great we are as a city and how great we are as a Police Department. Please greet our First Deputy Commissioner, Tania Kinsella.
First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella, Police Department: Good morning, everyone. 20 years ago, July the 1st, I was here, I was sworn in. And I tell you a brief story about myself. I’m just a girl from the Bronx. Went to Jane Addams High School and never thought that my career, my life, would end up here.
I spent 20 years on patrol, in the 120 precinct. I’ll never forget walking through those doors in 2004, January, and I was one of few African Americans in the command. And I spent a few weeks there and I said, “One day I’m going to be the commanding officer here.”
Fast forward to 17 years later, I was a commanding officer there. The moral the story is anything that you want to be in the Police Department, you can be. Anything that you set your heart and your goals and you work hard to do, you can do it. Don’t let anyone limit you. Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do it, because you can. I’m just a girl from the Bronx and now I’m the first African American female first deputy commissioner.
So when you see me, you see hope because I was you, and all I had was a dream and I worked towards that dream. Thank you. God bless and be safe.
NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the return of the City’s annual fall Dusk and Darkness campaign to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe during fall and winter evenings, especially after clocks “fall back” for the end of Daylight Saving Time this Sunday morning.
Department of Transportation Commissioner Hank Gutman, NYPD Chief of Transportation Kim Royster and TLC Commissioner and Chair Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk spoke at One Police Plaza to announce major education and enforcement efforts aimed to shift driver behavior. Agency officials cited recent increases in reckless driving in overnight hours during the pandemic – and renewed the call for state legislation to allow New York City’s automated speed cameras to operate 24/7.
As the sun sets earlier, drivers have an extra responsibility to slow down and keep pedestrians, cyclists, and themselves safe. The Dusk and Darkness program combines education and enforcement to make sure they do just that,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Now, it’s time to go further. Once again, I urge our partners in Albany to let New York City operate speed cameras 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That legislation will hold dangerous drivers accountable and save lives. It can’t pass soon enough.”
“As we move into daylight saving time this weekend, motorists should remain alert while driving on our local streets and highways,” said Chief Kim Y. Royster, NYPD Chief of Transportation. “Historically, this is the most dangerous time of the year for pedestrians and cyclists. Our Dusk and Darkness campaign is a traffic initiative that promotes road safety in New York City. The NYPD will be conducting outreach to all road users. Stepped-up enforcement will take place where pedestrians and cyclists are most likely to be injured. It is really drivers that have the power to save lives and with the assistance of our Vision Zero partners, the NYPD will continue to keep our streets safe during the fall and winter months. Traffic safety is public safety.”
“Dusk and Darkness has illustrated the very best of what New York City has done around Vision Zero, as it has fundamentally changed the way we approach education and strong enforcement during a season that is traditionally the most dangerous on our streets for pedestrians,” said DOT Commissioner Gutman. “Today, we are not only getting out the word to drivers about the dangers of earlier sunsets, and we are joining our agency partners at NYPD and TLC to remind motorists that with darkness coming so much earlier now, they need to pay close attention. And as the epidemic of perilous overnight speeding has grown over the course of the pandemic, we are once again calling on Albany to pass legislation to allow our speed cameras to operate 24/7.”
“Shorter days make it more difficult to see at dusk during rush-hour. As always, TLC urges all TLC-Licensed Drivers and motorists on the road to never speed, always yield to pedestrians, turn slowly, stop fully at red lights, and stay alert for cyclists,” said TLC Commissioner and Chair Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk. “We greatly thank TLC-Licensed Drivers for their extra caution and diligence as Daylight Saving Time ends and we approach the darker winter months.”
DOT data from 2010-2014, before the launch of the Dusk and Darkness campaign, showed serious collisions involving pedestrians increase by approximately 40 percent in darker early evenings in late fall and winter. Additionally, lower visibility during the dark hours of the colder months leads to twice as many crashes involving turns.
The campaign, now in its sixth year, has been correlated to improved safety on City streets: comparing evening and overnight fatalities of the five years of the Dusk and Darkness campaign (November – March, 2016-2021) to the prior five years pre-campaign, the average annual number of fatalities has declined by 18%.
The Dusk and Darkness campaign is also designed to protect the increasing number of cyclists on New York City’s streets. According to recent DOT reports, cycling has tripled in the last 15 years.
“Dusk and Darkness” also includes:
Day of Awareness: DOT and NYPD Street Teams spread out at high-visibility locations across all five boroughs this morning to remind commuters of the increased dangers of traffic crashes during the fall evening and overnight hours. Those teams will also be visible this evening.
Increased Evening/Nighttime Enforcement: NYPD will focus enforcement resources on speeding and failure to yield. Precincts will increase their on-street presence around sunset hours on high-crash corridors for both cyclists and pedestrians.
Daylight Saving Awareness: Daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. on Sunday. As with previous years, Vision Zero Task Force agencies and partners will use social media channels to alert drivers to the dangers of lower visibility, while encouraging them to follow the 25 MPH citywide speed limit, and yield to pedestrians and cyclists. DOT will feature the driver-targeted Vision Zero “Signs” awareness campaigns on bus shelters, LinkNYC kiosks, and print advertising.
Legislation sponsored by Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Deborah Glick (S5602/A6681) would allow speed camera operation 24 hours, 7 day a week. The legislation also allows for escalating fines with subsequent notices of liability for drivers who are repeat violators. Last month, DOT released its annual Automated Speed Enforcement Program report, which highlighted the success of more than 1,600 cameras citywide at curbing speeding – by over 70%. However, analysis of 2020 fatalities showed that nearly 30% of all fatalities occur in speed camera zones during overnight and on weekends when they are not allowed to operate.
“With fewer hours of daylight and lower visibility, driving safely is especially important at this time of year,” said Health Commissioner Dave A. Chokshi. “Drivers, please slow down and look out for pedestrians, bicyclists, and all road users. Everyone has a role to play in making New York City’s streets safer.”
“It’s just common-sense. Driving at night is harder and more dangerous,” said Keith Kerman, Deputy Commissioner for Fleet Management at the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services. “For the City’s fleet, we are working to make night driving safer by investing in adaptive headlights, heated mirrors, and safety lights for work trucks. That said, the most important advice is to avoid driving at night if you can, and to drive slowly and cautiously at all times if you can’t. Lives depend on it.”
“The epidemic of speeding throughout our city has led to serious crashes and fatalities, which are entirely preventable with the proper enforcement measures in place,” said Senator Andrew Gounardes. “That’s why I introduced S5602, which would expand our speed violation monitoring systems to nights and weekends in order to allow cameras to operate 24/7 so we can keep our streets safe. While education and awareness is a good first step, we need to back it up with concrete policies in order for us to reach Vision Zero, protect residents through these coming months of low visibility, and avoid the tragedies that reckless driving causes.”
“As we move through autumn into winter and the days become shorter, we all must do our part to keep New York City roads safe for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. School zone speed cameras are one of the best objective tools we have to keep our streets safe without relying on individual police judgment, yet they are currently deactivated during nights and weekends. I look forward to making our streets safer by passing my legislation to allow school zone speed cameras to keep a watchful eye around our schools, no matter what day of the week it is,” said Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick.
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