Council Member Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) has been named chairman of the newly-created Fire & Emergency Management Committee of the New York City Council by Speaker Corey Johnson. The Fire & Emergency Services Committee will take over some of the duties of the former Fire and Criminal Justice Committee. It will be responsible for legislation and oversight of the New York City Fire Department, EMS, emergency management, and paramedic services in New York City.
Borelli also serves the leadership of the Council’s Republican delegation in his capacity as Minority Whip.
The FDNY is the largest municipal fire department in the country with over 11,000 uniformed firefighters and 4,400 uniformed EMTs, Paramedics, and Fire Inspectors, and an annual budget of approximately $2 billion. The FDNY EMS and dispatch system is the largest pre-hospital healthcare provider in the world.
“It’s a great honor to be entrusted with leading one of the Council’s standing committees and I’d like to thank Speaker Corey Johnson and Minority Leader Steven Matteo for the opportunity.” said Council Member Joseph Borelli. “Representing the most active and retired firefighters of any council district is part of the reason I’m honored to have this appointment, but more importantly, I’m eager to work to ensure that the threat of firehouse closures is a thing of the past and that the city can continue to improve upon its track record of saving lives and maintaining safe buildings.”
“Whether it was during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy or standing with the UFA to oppose firehouse closings, Councilmember Joe Borelli has proven to be a friend of New York City firefighters time and again. I look forward to working with him in his new capacity of Chairman of the Fire and Emergency Management committee and congratulate him on his appointment,” said Gerald Fitzgerald, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association.
“We are extremely thrilled that Council Member Borelli will become the chair of the Fire & Emergency Management Committee. Time and time again, he has shown his support for EMS personnel and other first responders in our great city,” said Oren Barzilay, President of the Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics and Inspectors, FDNY, Local 2507.