After Freak NYC Storm, UCT 911 Dispatch System Criticised

Firefighter criticises Mayor Bloomberg's draconian budget cuts to FDNY and controversial Unified Call Taker-911 dispatch and emergency call system.

On the Queens Crap blog, an anonymous FDNY firefighter has submitted a comment that draws attention to the complete failure of New York City's UCT-911 emergency call system. "Over 10 preventable fire fatalities so far because of UCT911[.] DONT LET THIS CONTINUE!!" wrote the firefighter, who submitted the anonymous comment. As far away as the Daily Mail in the United Kingdom, it was reported that, as a result of yesterday's tornado-like microburst storm, "The city's 911 switchboards were inundated with calls of injuries, a Fire Department spokesman said."

The New York Daily News has criticised the Bloomberg administration's funding of the controversial UCT 911 dispatch system for its dangerous flaws. The Uniformed Firefighters Association has also criticised the UCT 911 dispatch system for errors that can result in threats to public safety.

"The $2-billion project is meant to shave seconds off emergency response times, and it includes the Unified Call Taker system, which Fire Department unions have condemned, saying that it resulted in units being sent to wrong addresses."

Meanwhile, according to the following YouTube video : "Leaders of three FDNY uniformed unions joined together to speak out and detail how the Bloomberg Administration's new 911 Unified Call Taking (UCT) dispatch system is 'fatally flawed.' "

Bloomberg's 9/11 Hypocrisy

Even as he tries to lay-off firefighters and close firehouses, NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg accuses Congress of disrespecting 9/11 first responders.

''Mayor Michael Bloomberg is lashing out against Congress’s decision to drop a bill to provide health coverage for September 11th first responders,'' reported NY1.

''This is an attack on America,'' Bloomberg said. ''People that went in for rescue and recovery, it’s Americans trying to help Americans, and Congress is unwilling to stand up. They preach patriotism and when it comes down to it, partisan politics.''

While the mayor criticizes Congress for failing to pass a $7.4 billion measure that would have provided health coverage for September 11th first responders, the mayor is, at the same time, trying to layoff firefighters, who provide a critical level of support for public safety and national security here in New York City.

Listen to the new Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith talk about how the Bloomberg administration believe that laying off firefighters, cutting their retirement benefits, and closing down more firehouses are important goals during the remainder of Mayor Bloomberg’s ill-fated and karmically-doomed third term.

And while New York Representative Anthony Weiner may go ballistic on his colleagues for opposing healthcare for September 11th heroes, who is keeping the mayor accountable for undercutting civil defenses and emergency preparedness measures here in New York City ?

Just look at how petty and small-minded the mayor can be towards FDNY : his disdain toward first responders and rescue workers is inconsistent with how he is now, all of a sudden, criticising Congress and questioning the patriotism of Democrats.

Wasted CityTime

CityTime is "a state of the art Orwellian time clock," says Suzannah B. Troy.

The artist and citizen activist Suzannah B. Troy has described Mayor Michael Bloomberg's time management system, called CityTime, as being a "technological nightmare and flim flam rip-off to the taxpayers." Watch her video :

I invite you to read the post authored by Ms. Troy with regard to CityTime.