Lawmakers Urge Mayor to Protect FDNY Budget
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has called on Mayor Mamdani to maintain funding for the FDNY and prioritize the renovation of the city’s aging fire stations.
In their letter, they noted that firefighters are responding to approximately 700,000 more calls each year compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the department’s budget of $2.6 billion has not changed for five years.
City Councilmember Joanne Arriola (R-Queens), chair of the Fire and Emergency Management Committee, emphasized in the letter that, “Given the potential for cuts to city government budgets, the government must exempt fire departments from cuts.”
She described the conditions of fire stations across the city as “dilapidated and nearly uninhabitable,” citing issues like collapsing ceilings and walls, growing mold, and floors that need metal supports. Arriola also pointed out that first responders earn less than minimum wage, with many veterans leaving for better-paying jobs.
Joining Arriola in signing the letter were four Democratic and three Republican council members, along with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson.
The urgency of this letter partly stems from the mayor’s mandate to find savings for the FDNY as he works to balance a colossal $127 billion budget for the fiscal year 2027, which includes a significant $5.4 billion budget gap.
Last year, the Uniformed Firefighters Association reported a list of 23 fire stations, many over a century old, that require a total of $81 million in roof repairs alone. Numerous facilities also face issues such as ceiling and wall cracks and mold, according to the UFA.
Arriola cautioned that budget cuts could jeopardize public safety, leading to longer response times and added pressure on firefighters. “For these reasons, it is imperative that the FDNY budget not be reduced and that additional funding be provided to bring fire departments to habitable standards,” she stated.
The mayor’s office and the FDNY have not yet responded to requests for comments.
