Five laws to increase diversity within the New York City Fire Department were signed on Monday by Mayor Eric Adams of New York City (FDNY).
The legislation mandates the adoption of diversity, inclusion, anti-discrimination, and anti-harassment training in addition to addressing issues related to the department’s hiring and retention of members of underrepresented groups.
- Advertisement -
Mayor Adams stated, “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.”
He added, “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.”
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III remarked, “diversity is strength, and this legislation will make New York’s Bravest even stronger,” he added, “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.”
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh expresses, “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.”
“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.”
Adrienne Adams, the Speaker of the New York City Council, endorsed Intro. 516-A, which establishes a strategy for firefighter recruitment and retention. The resolution requires the FDNY to develop and implement a strategy to employ and retain firefighters from underrepresented groups in partnership with the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).
Introduction 519-A, introduced by New York City Councilwoman Joann Ariola, requests for a study on long-term firehouse upgrades to establish a workplace that supports the employment of a mixed-gender workforce.
The Act requires the FDNY to investigate each firehouse to determine the long-term facility upgrades necessary to enable for the utilization of a mixed-gender workforce.
The FDNY will next submit a report on the survey’s findings, which will contain information on the permanent facility modifications that are needed at each firehouse, the feasibility of making such changes, and any construction plans to accomplish such upgrades.
According to Intro. 552-A, sponsored by New York City Councilmember Kevin Riley, the FDNY must submit an annual report stating the number of employees assigned to each firehouse or special operations unit, broken down by gender and race or ethnicity, as well as the number of persons who live in each fire company’s immediate service area, similarly subdivided by gender and race or ethnicity.
Councilmember Riley is a co-sponsor of Intro. 553-A, which requires the FDNY to develop and implement a long-term strategy for teaching all workers on diversity and inclusion. This strategy must include anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training from the department.
An annual report on the efforts taken to implement this training must also be posted on the FDNY’s website.
According to Intro. 560-A, presented by New York City Councilmember Nantasha Williams, the FDNY is required to produce an annual report on complaints filed to the department’s Equal Employment Opportunity office addressing suspected violations of the city’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy.
The report will include information on the number of complaints that resulted in the FDNY taking corrective action, as well as the type of corrective action taken, such as formal reprimands, fines, loss of pay or benefits, transfers, suspensions, demotions, and terminations.
Speaker Adam noted, “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.”
“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,” she remarked.
“I thank my colleagues in the council for working collaboratively to pass this important legislation and Mayor Adams for signing the bills into law.”
Councilmember Ariola stated, “I am proud to sponsor legislation that will lead to upgrades for our firehouses to have adequate areas for both men and women to tend to their personal needs,” said “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,” noted 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,” he further added. “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.
Riley continued, “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.”
Councilmember Williams stated, “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.”
“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,” she noted.
“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.”
