Last week New York State Attorney General Letitia James attended a New York Fire Department Promotional Ceremony held in the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn.
James is the one who has exhibited prosecutorial misconduct by first political campaigning to “Get Trump,” and then actually prosecuting former President Donald Trump and his Trump Organization for fraudulent and deceptive real estate practices. The only problem was there were no complaints, victims, or evidence of fraud. Both the partisan New York AG and Judge Arthur Engoron, are now having their own reputations and fitness as attorneys questioned.
James won an unprecedented settlement of $454 million against Trump in a civil fraud judgment which Trump immediately appealed to a higher court. Other investors of New York immediately expressed both concern and outrage at the judgement and a number of truck drivers announced a boycott on deliveries to both the State of New York and city of same name.
Because Donald Trump has done so much for the City of New York in the past, both NYFD and NYPD have a fondness for him as the billionaire New York real estate tycoon who has had a reputation for saving the city from calamities on more than one occasion.
So it was not totally unexpected that when James took to the stage to make some remarks she was first met with boos from the crowd which later turned to chants of “Trump! Trump! Trump!”
The crowd of captains, battalion chiefs, family members, and other civilians erupted in loud jeers as James walked to the podium.
“Oh, come on,” James said to the crowd. “We’re in a house of God. First, simmer down.”
The crowd grew somewhat quiet for a moment until James spoke again.
“Thank you for getting it out of your system.”
With that the booing swiftly turned to chants in support of former President Donald Trump.
“Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump!” the crowd yelled.
“FDNY ‘looking into’ staff who booed NY AG Letitia James, cheered for Trump at ceremony” – Fox News
The next day a department memo came out warning NYFD firefighters that department investigators are reviewing video footage of the event to identify those behind the “grossly inappropriate” conduct. They were cautioned they may not be able to use that venue for future promotional ceremonies and from now on are to keep their politics at home.
Thereafter firefighters took to social media to call attention, and put on blast, the woman who invited AG James to the ceremony in the first place.
Laura Kavanagh is a Fire Commander of the New York City Fire Department who James thanked for the invite at the top of the ceremony and thereafter started the investigation into firefighters who booed Letitia James and chanted for Trump. Kavanagh was appointed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and has never been a firefighter.
It has been reported she worked on many political campaigns for democrats and even oversaw the complete diversification of the FDNY. Her office has made a threat that anyone involved in booing James will be “educated” on proper conduct.
Blistering comments on social media platforms such as “X” and others followed:
“Why is a woman who’s never served as a firefighter serving as the Commander?”
“She has no place in leadership if she has never done the job. She should be gone ASAP for her DEI trash!”
“Imagine being in a position where you know you’re not qualified or the best person to fill the job.”
CONCLUSION:
My father was a firefighter/paramedic and member of the union International Association of Fire Fighter IAFF/AFL/CIO.
These guys, sometimes called smoke eaters, are the most ballsy of men (and women these days) and have a reputation, like former President Donald Trump, for having a very low bullsh*t tolerance level.
There has been talk that if any attempt is made of punishment or retribution on the part of Laura Kavanagh or city officials, firefighters may walk off the job.
While Dad was a blue collar and those impacted here will be mostly white collar, the white collar officers have their own support source, too.
The Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA), which represents officers, urged caution for any who may get questioned over the incident.
“We advise all members to follow department rules and regulations during these visits and any subsequent inquiry that results from them,” the message said.
“However, should any member feel they are subject to an investigation due to the nature of specific questions, they should immediately notify the UFOA and request representation. Any additional inquiries should not continue until a UFOA representative is present.”
The rank and file membership resents Laura Kavanagh being hired for the position she holds without paying her dues and coming up properly through the ranks of the department. They would love to see her gone.
Joe Biden’s Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) hires have no place in fire departments just like they have no place in Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) where it was recently found ATF officials of the Biden administration could not disassemble a gun!
Firefighters of this country and all over the world are known to be willing to lay down their lives for perfect strangers as living examples of Jesus Christ. However, unlike Christ, they are also known for taking hard stands against those who want to play the game of “F*ck Around and Find Out!”
Now would be a good time for the NYFD to promise membership they won’t invite AG Letitia James again as a solution to this problem.
Copyright © 2024 by Mark S. Schwendau
