New York Daily News
Saturday September 10, 2005 @ 12:00 AM
BY LISA L. COLANGELO DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU
STANDING IN front of a shuttered firehouse in Brooklyn, the city's firefighters union yesterday endorsed Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner for mayor.
The Uniformed Firefighters Association, still battling with Mayor Bloomberg over a new contract, is angry that the city closed six firehouses during the 2003 budget crunch.
UFA President Steve Cassidy said Weiner got the union's nod because he "fully understands public safety."
The Brooklyn-Queens congressman responded, "There's no doubt in my mind that our city is less safe because six firehouses have been closed. I will reopen the closed firehouses and return fire protection to the communities that they serve."
Bloomberg, a Republican, shot back yesterday.
"This is from a guy that made up numbers the day before," the mayor said. "He said crime is up in the city when it's down 20%."
Bloomberg said the firehouse closures had a "negligible impact" on response times.
"We have more firefighters today working in this city than we had before 9/11," he said. "We are deploying them where our chiefs say they are best needed."
Weiner faces three rivals in Tuesday's Democratic primary: former Bronx borough president Fernando Ferrer, Manhattan Borough President Virginia Fields and City Council Speaker Gifford Miller.
STANDING IN front of a shuttered firehouse in Brooklyn, the city's firefighters union yesterday endorsed Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner for mayor.
The Uniformed Firefighters Association, still battling with Mayor Bloomberg over a new contract, is angry that the city closed six firehouses during the 2003 budget crunch.
UFA President Steve Cassidy said Weiner got the union's nod because he "fully understands public safety."
The Brooklyn-Queens congressman responded, "There's no doubt in my mind that our city is less safe because six firehouses have been closed. I will reopen the closed firehouses and return fire protection to the communities that they serve."
Bloomberg, a Republican, shot back yesterday.
"This is from a guy that made up numbers the day before," the mayor said. "He said crime is up in the city when it's down 20%."
Bloomberg said the firehouse closures had a "negligible impact" on response times.
"We have more firefighters today working in this city than we had before 9/11," he said. "We are deploying them where our chiefs say they are best needed."
Weiner faces three rivals in Tuesday's Democratic primary: former Bronx borough president Fernando Ferrer, Manhattan Borough President Virginia Fields and City Council Speaker Gifford Miller.
