MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND COUNCIL SPEAKER GIFFORD MILLER ANNOUNCE APPOINTMENTS TO FIRE COMPANY
CLOSING REVIEW COMMISSION

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Gifford Miller today announced their appointments to the special Commission to review the recent proposed closing of eight fire companies.  The panel will examine the criteria for the closure of Fire Companies and review alternative cuts.  The Fire Company Closing Review Commission established by the City Council and the Mayor is comprised of seven members, three from the New York Fire Department (FDNY), two appointed by the Mayor, and two appointed by the Council Speaker. The three members of the FDNY who will serve on the Commission are Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, Chief of Department Frank Cruthers, and Chief of Operations Salvatore Cassano.  The Mayor’s appointments are Stanely Brezenoff and Geoffrey Canada.  The Speaker’s appointments are Frank P. Fellini and Glenn P. Corbett. The Commission will report its findings to the Mayor by March 21st, 2003.

“I am pleased that these seven exemplary individuals have agreed to serve on this important commission,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “Finding cost savings at the Fire Department is a challenging task, but New Yorkers should have tremendous confidence in the Commission; they have the experience, sensitivity and ability to tackle this difficult problem.”

“New York City is experiencing a grave fiscal crisis,” said Speaker Miller. “We have difficult decisions to make with regard to our public safety budget, and this panel will play an important role in helping identify savings within the Fire Department”

“We welcome the panel to join with us in thoroughly and completely reviewing all the information that our staff chiefs and senior staff developed and evaluated very carefully before making this tough budget decision,” said Commissioner Scoppetta.

Stanley Brezenoff is President and Chief Executive Officer of Maimondes Medical Center.  He is the former Executive Director of the Port Authority of NY/NJ and is former First Deputy Mayor of New York City in the Koch Administration.  Mr. Brezenoff’s career in New York City public service began in 1978 when he was appointed Commissioner for the Department of Employment and later as Administrator of the Human Resources Administration. From 1981 to 1984, Mr. Brezenoff was President of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), which governs the world’s largest non-federal health care system.  Brezenoff was born in Brooklyn and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from Brooklyn College.

Geoffrey Canada is the President/CEO of Harlem Children's Zone (formally Rheedlen Centers for Children and Families), which seeks to provide educational and economic opportunities to families in Central Harlem.  He is the author of Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America.  Mr. Canada is also the East Coast Regional Coordinator for the Black Community Crusade for Children.  The Crusade is a nationwide effort to make saving Black children the number one priority in the Black community.  He has won numerous awards, including: the Robin Hood Foundation’s Heroes of the Year Award, the Spirit of the City Award from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and Bowdoin College’s Common Good Award.  He has also received Honorary Degrees from Harvard University, Williams College, John Jay College, Bank Street College, and Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary.  Canada holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Bowdoin College and a Master's Degree in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Frank Fellini has for the past 36 years had a distinguished career serving the City of New York.  Appointed to the New York City Fire Department in 1968, Mr. Fellini achieved the rank of Assistant Chief, Designated as Brooklyn Borough Commander.  Mr. Fellini retired from the NYFD in April of 2002.

Glenn Corbett is currently an Assistant Professor of Fire Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.  He has extensive experience in different facets of fire protection including the fields of firefighting and fire prevention, and also possesses in-depth knowledge of the development and trends of the American fire protection profession.