REMARKS
Joann Ariola, Chair of the Committee on Fire And Emergency Management, opens joint city council meeting on fire safety in residential buildings
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3 min
Council Member Joann Ariola, as Chair of the Fire And Emergency Management Committee, addresses the city council on fire safety in residential buildings, stressing its critical importance.
- Highlights the tragic impact of the Twin Parks fire and ongoing fire fatalities.
- Acknowledges the attendance of committee and council members, both in-person and via Zoom.
- Expresses gratitude towards the FDNY for their life-saving efforts.
- Outlines meeting objectives including FDNY inspection practices, enforcement of fire safety laws, interagency coordination, and evaluation of fire safety bills.
- Mentions legislation for EMS worker safety and acknowledges the contributions of council staff in organizing the meeting.
Joann Ariola
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Thank you, Chair of Sanchez.
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Good morning.
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Thank you for being here today.
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I am counsel member Joanne Ariola, Chair to the Fire And Emergency Management Committee.
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I would like to acknowledge members who are currently present.
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We have committee members, Phyllis, Riley, and Zhuang.
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On Zoom, committee members, Schulman and Genero, and we are also joined by council members, Hudson, Abrayou and Avelis.
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Chair Sanchez touched upon in her opening statement.
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The reason we are here today which is to examine fire safety in residential buildings.
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As 2 years have passed since the tragic twin parks fire, which took 17 lives.
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The city continues to experience fire fatalities at a troubling rate.
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My heart goes out to all New Yorkers who have lost their lives, suffered injuries, and continue to experience fire fatalities at such a troubling rate.
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My heart also goes out to all New Yorkers who have lost their lives, suffered injuries, or lost their homes.
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Due to residential fires.
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And my deepest appreciation goes to the fire department, the FDNY, who routinely puts their lives at risks to benefit all New Yorkers.
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As chair of the Fire And Emergency Management Committee, I hear testimony on inspection practices of the FDNY Bureau of Fire Prevention, examine obstacles that exist in the enforcement of relevant local laws and learn about interagency coordination that must exist to between FDNY, DOB, HPD, for this city to ensure that it is effectively enforcing vital life saving safety regulations.
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I'm also looking forward to hearing testimony from the administration on the package of fire safety bills that are before these committees as we as was discussed by chair Sanchez.
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Finally, the fire committee will hear separate legislation related to EMS worker safety that was heard last session.
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All testimony from that hearing will be incorporated into the record for today's hearing.
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These include 2 pieces of legislation sponsored by minority leader Birelli and my self, intro number 126 in relation to requiring provision of body armor to FDNY employees providing emergency medical services and introduction number 127 in relation to providing d escalation and self defense training to FDNY employees, including providing those trainings for emergency medical services.
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Again, I'm looking forward to the administration's testimony as well as members of the public.
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I'd also like to thank our counsel the committee counsel, Josh Kingsley, our senior analyst, Will Hange and my exemplary force of nature, chief of staff, Phyllis and Cerillo.
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For helping us put this together today.
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I'll now turn the mic over to Council to us wearing those who are gonna testify.