Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Who Lets the Cat Out?

The article "Noisy or not?" in this morning's Register-Star reports that, according to several witnesses, some of Hudson's volunteer firefighters brought out the department's giant ladder truck, the "AerialCat," last Saturday night to untangle the flag displayed on the restaurant American Glory, which had gotten wrapped around its pole. As restaurant owner Joe Fierro recounted it, "a volunteer fireman was at the restaurant, noticed the flag and offered to fix it." The article goes on to report that Chief Robert Pulver said he had no knowledge of the incident.

This raises a legimate question for Hudson taxpayers. What authorization is required to take a firetruck out of the fire station? Obviously when there's a fire, any volunteer firefighter trained to drive a firetruck does so to get personnel and equipment to the scene. But what about when there isn't a fire--or any other kind of emergency? Who decides what is an appropriate use of the City's firefighting equipment?

According to the article, Fierro has offered--"if people think something improper occurred"--to reimburse the City "for the diesel expended by the truck during the process." Whether or not the City takes Fierro up on his offer, it might be instructive--for the Fire Department and for the people of Hudson--to calculate and publish the cost of deploying the AerialCat (a.k.a. Tower 32) and all the other large emergency vehicles used by the department.

25 comments:

  1. It wouldn't be so bad if AG didn't a) look like it's decorated to emulate an airport bbq restaurant (I mean, I get that it's called American Glory and the pix on the walls are meant to espouse that idea -- but Mick Jagger? Laurel and Hardy? -- all Brits!), and b) if the meat were of a higher (i.e. local) quality. I think the techniques being used on the meats are first-class; but sourcing ribs from Sysco will out (actually, a friend went dumpster diving to suss out AG's sources but that's another story!).

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  2. This article doesn't even begin to address the issue of the possible consequences that could've resulted had there been a real emergency situation requiring this particular equipment. I would like to know how the Fire Dept would have explained the delay in emergency response. What would they have told their superiors and especially the victims of an emergency? I myself witnessed the ridiculous spectacle in utter disbelief. If this is not proof of the favoritism the Fire Dept and the Hudson Police have devoted to this establishment, I don't know what is. Not only do we have to contend with the noise that comes out of the "restaurant" from patrons and even the owner himself, but the fire Dept now honks their horn in camaraderie each time they drive by regardless of the time or day or night.
    The owner (Joe Fierro) offers to reimburse the cost of diesel fuel that was required to operate the equipment during the ceremonious unfurling of the flag was obviously a mock, the cost of the fuel not being the point. This is a perfect example of the arrogance Joe fierro has demonstrated towards the residents and city of Hudson since day one.

    I for one am outraged!!

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  3. It'd be fine if:
    A. That awning wasn't so hideous.
    B. The food wasn't utter crap.
    C. Wasn't situated next to Swoon.
    D. Owner wasn't so uncouth.
    D. Was on Long Island where it belongs.

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  4. thank you joe for choosing hudson. we love your food and your refreshing attitude toward those that think they are better than everyone.Alana and company are envious that they can't attract the people you do, young and old,average folk. Hooray for the GLORY.

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  5. I was walking by there Saturday night at the time the fire engine was positioning itself to raise the ladder. If, as "anonymous" stated that if there had been an emergency, I say they would have responded as quickly as if they had been parked in Station. My goodness, people get over it! If the public wants a daily log of what each engine and firefighter does, and where they do it, then they should ask for a full review from the Department, regardless of what you think about a particular business operating in Hudson.

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  6. Glory is just a hole - nothing to write home about

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  7. Chad, you cannot be serious. Are you saying that firefighters are allowed to take emergency fire equipment whenever they please and see fit to entertain and impress without the authority of a superior? That is completely and utterly insane! Where is your logic?
    This is an issue that NEEDS to be and SHOULD be addressed immediately.

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  8. I don't think people would care much had Joe not acted like Mr Big Man, and continue to flaunt his attitude (I mean pay for the diesel? come on, money doesn't shut everyone's mouth, as you seem to think it does). This fire truck issue is a lark. Its about the Hole, his attitude, and for me, the unsightliness of that damn awing. Oh, just ask the meter maid what the policy is on his Maserati in the yellow zone.

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  9. Although I do feel like it should be on Long Island, I feel there's room for all types of places in Hudson. Joe needs to be more respectful to folks in town...the loud music just makes him seem boorish and insensitive to others.

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  10. I agree about Joe acting like a big man. Joe..get some humility...it will serve you well...just imagine how much money you would make if you were respectfully to everyone in town.

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  11. When we lived in Manhattan our local fire truck, would stop at Target, Food Emporium, Janovic, etc. just to go shopping or sometimes to shoot the bull. So I really don't know the protocol of what an engine with firefighters can and cannot do. And don't get started with "favors" by the meter patrol! There are a lot of people who get "favors" from them.

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  12. So what! That doesn't mean it's proper or should be allowed. Don't you see the absurdity in it?
    Man, you people are really grasping..

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  13. I think all of us who have lived in New York City have witnessed what Chad is talking about. Firefighters come out--in the firetruck, in their gear--to shop. I have only ever seen them in the supermarket, where they were shopping for food, because they live in the firehouse for a good part of every week, and they cook their own meals. (Where do you think four-alarm chili originated?) And when they go shopping, they take the firetruck and they wear their gear, so that if there's a fire they're ready to go. In fact, I once witnessed firefighters leave a D'Agostino's on Broadway because a fire alarm came in.

    But, to my mind, the situation with American Glory and Tower 32 is quite different. In this case, we have a volunteer firefighter wanting to do a favor for his new best friend, Joe Fierro, and using City-owned emergency equipment, at taxpayers' expense, to do so. I don't think it jeopardized the safety of the city, but . . . well, I'll just say that the original title for this post, before I thought better of it, was "Boys and Their Toys"--except they're really NOT their toys.

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  14. without those boy's you would be paying a lot more taxes. Remember they VOLUNTEER!

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  15. Speaking of "Boys and Their Toys" - the sound level of the fire trucks in this town is beyond acceptable. The purpose of the siren is to alert cars at intersections that an emergency is happening for all to notice and 'stop.' These sirens are so loud - even mid block - that civilians are forced to cover their ears from the sheer excruciating pain inflicted on them. We've all been in other communities and experienced horns and sirens from emergency vehicles. Hudson tops the list of absurdity.
    I'm sure the "Boys" on the trucks thinks this is all a big joke but it's offensive, rude and uncalled for behavior .

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  16. Anonymous--Are you saying that, because they are volunteers, using emergency equipment for personal nonemergency reasons is an appropriate perk?

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  17. I certainly don't say that the Fire Department of the City of Hudson was doing something PC or not, but that there are many things that do take place in any environment, here in Hudson and everywhere else, that has it's place (wrong or right). Favors are asked all the time by everyone. But if that breaks the common law, then that is wrong. If you don't like the spareribs, how your drink was mixed, was service slow, the awning is not of your liking,... well that is an opinion. I've lived in a City environment most of my life and I have my own opinions about it, which will be different from someone else who has spent an equal length of time in the same environment. Now I live on a country road and it is way too quiet for my histrionics! But maybe not yours...

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  18. Carole, can you start a new post that addresses the noise issue of AG?

    A new article just appeared in the paper about the owner "extending an olive branch"...

    I bet there's a lot people have to say about that!

    comments aren't even appearing on the newspaper...

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  19. oh yes - caught wind of the 'olive' absurdity - so presumptuous & arrogant in concept and misleading in reality for the abused neighborhood of the other renters / taxpayers without police / firemans "approval" - has it really come to this ? - at least in the past the obvious was buried out of fear of exposure

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  20. I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth...but the restaurant seems eerily quiet. Almost as if they're not operating after a certain time at night. Since the fight incident, they have been closing up early.. and we have our old Hudson back, much like a delicious dream come true.

    What happened? I'm very curious and I want to know.. Can anyone shed light?

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  21. Well, Joe Fierro did say in that "olive branch" article that appeared in the Register-Star over the weekend (http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2010/07/03/news/doc4c2eb185ac1eb839832311.txt) that to appease his critics he was going to be closing the front of the building at 10:30 Sunday through Thursday and at midnight on Friday and Saturday.

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  22. Yes, I read that article, but the day after the "olive branch" meeting all hell broke loose in his restaurant. Including himself being out there as obnoxious as ever, almost as a F-U to the residents. I would even venture to say that he was encouraging the patrons to be outside as noisy as possible. I heard some patrons making reference to the article as if in protest. Like one patron for example; as he saw the police drive up to the establishment yelled something like "nobody better be starting any shit". And another patron yelled, "Let the mofo burn!".
    The police were there twice that night bringing a total of 4 HPD officers. I wish I would've tapped it, it was a CIRCUS out there. It was seriously insane.

    The eeriness outside is more than just him closing the doors... you have to live on the 300 block to see what I mean. It's almost as if all the nightly drunks disappeared overnight since the big fight that took place the day AFTER the "olive branch" meeting. The same night I referred to above.

    I'm not going to jinx it and say it out loud.. something happened and no one has caught wind of it yet.

    ..my antennas are twitching.

    but I'm probably wrong and they'll be blasting M80's from the roof.

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  23. Wow! I had no idea. Thanks for reporting this, Anonymous. Thanks for being our eyes and ears on the 300 block of Warren Street!

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  24. You're welcome.

    Endall from the registar has been keeping an eye on the 300 block too. I love how he/she mentioned exact addresses. That's the only way to watch over our community because obviously the police aren't doing their job, so it's up to us to preserve our living environment.

    Here's endall's report. The second from the top.
    http://registerstar.com/articles/2010/07/03/news/doc4c2eb185ac1eb839832311.txt

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  25. So last night I was leaving a Rural Residence opening to discover two cops admonishing (harassing?) an older couple who had walked out in front of me still holding their plastic wine cup.
    Guess it's part of the sting operation for Joe!!!
    Then the cops must have decided they had something better to do and sped off lights & sirens blazing.
    How embarrassing.

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