Transcript: Mayor Adams Signs two Pieces of Legislation, Providing Extra Protection for FDNY EMTS and Paramedics

May 1, 2024

Mayor Eric Adams: Good morning. It's really great to be here. Today I will hold hearings on two bills to be signed. One that provides body armor to all EMS employees who provide emergency medical services. It's an extremely challenging and difficult job.  
 

Oftentimes the men and women who provide this service are in environments that are extremely dangerous. I really want to commend the council members in general, but specifically Councilperson Borelli and Ariola for seeing how important it is to get this done.  
 

Another bill is, it provides de-escalation and self-defense training to Fire Department employees providing emergency medical services. Every day our EMS brothers and sisters are on the front lines. I saw that as a police officer and how they respond in very difficult situations.  
 

They are the ones providing emergency medical care to New Yorkers, often unsure of what is going to take place when they walk through the doors. Oftentimes they respond before other first responders are there.  
 

They are the selfless heroes who show up when we need them the most and simply put they are New York City's best. Our EMS employees always have the backs of New Yorkers and we want to make sure we have them covered as well with this legislation.  
 

Today we're making sure the city continues to move in the right direction for their protection. By providing extra protection for them while they are out on the streets, saving lives, this sends the right message that our first responders will always be under our care and protection.  
 

Intro. 126 provides body armor to EMS employees providing emergency medical services. Intro. 127 provides de-escalation and self-defense training to EMS employees providing emergency medical services.  
 

I want to again thank Speaker Adams, Councilmember Borelli, and Fire Commissioner Chair, Councilmember Ariola, who's just always fighting hard for our men and women of the FDNY. I want to open now for public comment before we turn it over to the members to speak. Any public comment? Yes. 
 

Public Comment: Good morning. I am Michelle Deal Winfield. I'm New York State Democratic State Committee person in the 74th Assembly District. I wanted to come personally to first thank Mayor Eric Adams for holding public meetings so that we can express ourselves. I am for Bill, Intro. Bill 126 and 127. It is important that we honor your service, and I do that. Thank you so much for having me. 
 

Mayor Adams: Thank you very much for taking the time to come out. I want to now turn it over to Councilmember Borelli. 
 

Councilmember Joe Borelli: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, on this very important day where there's, I'm sure, no other news to talk about, no other issues happening.  
 

Just to be very brief, this is one of those pieces of legislation that we wish we wouldn't have to pass or that we wouldn't have the need to implement. There is no other job title in the City of New York that has saw this scale of increases in attacks on members as members of the EMT Corps and EMT supervisors and paramedics.  
 

This will give a high quality body armor of protecting against ballistics and against slashing and stabbing to all members of the department who are responding to medical emergencies. Unfortunately, we'll give EMTs the tools they need and the resources to conduct some elements of self-defense and hopefully de-escalation.  
 

I'm really glad the mayor has decided to sign this, and I want to commend our colleagues, the commissioner, Jason, over at the Fire Department for working with us to implement this. It is a good day for the department and hopefully will prevent unfortunate days in the department in the future. Thank you. 
 

Mayor Adams: I now turn it over to Councilwoman Ariola. 
 

Councilmember Joann Ariola: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you for your constant support of our first responders. When I became chair of Emergency Fire and Emergency Management, my predecessor, Minority Leader Joe Borrelli, left me very big shoes to fill. I stepped into them. I never said I filled them, but I did step into them.  
 

I knew his dedication to keeping our firefighters and our members of service and our first responders safe. That's why I was so proud to prime co-sponsor this bill. I met a wonderful man on the way, Oren Barzilay, who is an incredible advocate for his members. This was something that he knew had to be done.  
 

This is long before we had the tragic loss of EMT Allison Russo. I stand here very proudly. As the minority leader said, I'm sorry that we have to pass bills like this. This council, this speaker, this mayor, when something is needed, we pull together. We get a good bill together. This passed unanimously and it had bipartisan support.  
 

Thank you again to the department, to the union, to the mayor, to the minority leader for his leadership in this. As chair of Fire and Emergency Management, I will continue to fight for each and every member of service, each and every first responder. Thank you so much.  
 

Mayor Adams: Thank you so much. I want to just really turn it over, allow the president to say a few words. I know this is important to his members. It's something that's also important to the Commissioner Kavanaugh, as she understands how when you send your troops into the field of battle, you must give them the resources to protect themselves and their families. I want to turn it over to the president. 
 

Oren Barzilay, President, Local 2507, Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics & Fire Inspectors: Good morning. I want to thank the councilmembers for putting this bill together, and the mayor for signing it today.  
 

Our men and women are challenged and are faced with dangers every day. Just last night, a crew was attacked for unknown reason. The vehicle sustained damages. Over the weekend, a crew transported a male, and they found a gun on him. Every day we are faced with dangers. This will help keep us safe, and we will continue pushing for more legislation to protect our men and women.

Thank you. 
 

Mayor Adams: Thank you. Now I’ll sign the bill.  
 

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