NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg is once again threatening to eliminate City Island Ladder Company 53 in his latest city budget.

City Islander's lives and their property will be in danger, as well as the very special quality of life in this “New-England-esque” type of atmosphere, which islanders enjoy on City Island. Local residents and businesses will definitely suffer, if the mayor's plan come to fruition.

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United Nations top officials today highlighted the power of press freedom to spark social and political change and to hold governments accountable, stressing that this vital right must be ensured across the world by creating the conditions that allow journalists to perform their work safely.

NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg is once again planning to close 20 fire companies citywide, most likely including City Island’s Ladder Company 53, which could come as early as July 1, 2012. Councilman Jimmy Vacca says City Islanders already expect that their ladder company is once again on that list.

Vacca and City Islanders have fought the proposed closure of our ladder company four times before and won. We will be out in full-force fighting once again. Every year it has been the same fight and every year the City has heard our defense.

Today @ 11:00A, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx) and NY State Senator Tony Avella, Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz, Steve Cassidy, President, Uniformed Firefighters Association, Capt. Alexander Hagan, President, Uniformed Fire Officers Association, Bob Astrowsky, Assistant Secretary, United Federation of Teachers, Detective. Michael Palladino, President, Detectives’ Endowment Association and other local leaders announced a new effort to protect and create thousands of jobs for teachers, firefighters and police officers.

As funeral services the victims begin today from 4P to 9P at the Parkchester Funeral Home and tomorrow at 9:45A, New York State Transportation officials are going to be installing concrete barriers on Bronx River Parkway to hopefully prevent another tragic crash, which killed seven people.

According to officials, those 2-foot, 8-inch concrete slabs will be installed on the right-hand side of the lanes to block vehicles from hitting the existing fence and falling off the elevated roadway.

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