New Haven Independent

Posted by: cedarhillresident | November 10, 2008 2:38 PM

Question...how many of these guys are EMT's???

Posted by: joey A | November 10, 2008 2:47 PM

ALL OF THEM

Posted by: Common Sense | November 10, 2008 2:59 PM

To all the new firefighters, follow the Department "Rules and Regulations". Maintain the discipline you learned at the Training Academy. Your Union Contract is very important. It's an agreement for ALL the union members between the City and the union. You have an opportunity to be the future officers and leaders of the Department. It doesn't come easy - hard work, training, and studying. Sadly there has been political interference in the last promotional exams that were scuttled by the Civil Service Commission. Its an ongoing case and perhaps the eyes of Justice will prevail for those who have been cheated out of a promotion. When you become a firefighter - it's not just a job, but a career to be proud of. God Bless you all.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | November 10, 2008 3:57 PM

joey sorry I meant paramedics

Posted by: LTMIKE | November 10, 2008 4:30 PM

ZERO medics my fellow tax payer. We NEED to hire medics! That is NOT happening and as a result many medics that are able to are planning on downgrading their status to EMT-B as soon as they are able. Once again the 'POLITICS' of hiring came above the NEED for medics. It is fiscally irresponsible to send the large number of local 825 members that is needed to medic school. Which frankly leaves the medic service in question in the near future. As for the graduated class, welcome aboard and you are fortunate in your new career! There is no knowing when the tones go off so you must be ready. Stay safe and enjoy your future in the fire service, it is quite an experience.

Posted by: concerned jake | November 10, 2008 5:15 PM

Congrats to the new recruits. It's a shame that these recruits enter the department under the cloud of the yet unresolved promotional debacle. As the mayor presided over this ceremony, I wonder if he reflected upon discriminating against the new haven 20, that he denied promotion to after a carefully orchestrated conspiracy, against these fine men, who should have been promoted. He is a dishonorable man and hopefully the new haven 20 will prevail at the United States Supreme Court, and the city administration once again will be exposed for the lawless group of people that they are.

God Bless the New Haven 20

Posted by: James | November 10, 2008 5:24 PM

DeStefano told the graduates that the class almost never took place because of city budget cuts. "Before the fiscal year is out, we'll lay off more employees who are doing a good job," he said.

But you won't be forgoing your raise, will you, ...! Thank our lucky starts that while the till may be empty, you and Ron Smith got your grubby little hands in and out of there just in time. Until the two of you give back those utterly undeserved and insulting raises in the face of a major recession, your lamentations re layoffs are nothing more than crocodile tears. Those two raises together could save one, full-time city employee from losing their jobs. Are you telling us that you need that money more than some guy needs a job?

Posted by: fly on the wall | November 11, 2008 9:47 AM

Congrats to all of the new firefighters in New Haven! May you have long, safe and healthy careers! Despite past contraversities in the police and fire departments, we in New Haven are blessed with great men and women in the police and fire departments. As to the newly engaged firefighter, (I will not mention his name because I think this hotdogs ego is already too big), I am sure your classmates are happy for you BUT your little show you put on, stole some of the attention from what should be a celebration of all of your accomplishments! Note to his fiance: He put himself and the fire department up on that squad 2 pedestal, he was supposed to bow below YOU! Not above, looking down on you!

Posted by: rortiz | November 11, 2008 10:09 AM

Shame on the New Haven Independent and the New Haven Register for not mentioning the first Puerto Rican Valedictorian in the history of the New Haven Fire Department.The only mentioning of this was on the 3rd page of said paper. The paper would rather mention an engagement and forget about the other 27 new members of this department.Congratulations to Miguel Rosado and his father Captain M. Rosado, you raised a fine young man.

Posted by: sin city firefighter | November 11, 2008 1:45 PM

Bob, you are the last person that should be speaking of honor.

How about when you were teamed up with you firebird buddies and you blindly accused your brother firefighters of cheating?

Rosado needed not be lauded. He and his father are honorable men, who happen to be hispanic, maybe they didn't need the attention.

Posted by: Westviller | November 11, 2008 2:44 PM

It is just another smoke and mirrors job performed by Johnny. Did you hear him say the new firefighters owed people a word of thanks for giving them the job they got in his speech. I wonder what the all mighty Johnny meant once again - talk about fair testing in the NHFD. I guess we'll soon see what the US Supreme Court says about NH politics. Waht is the NHFD going to do about loosing so many paramedics and its license to be a medic service? Sounds like a paramedic test is finally in order - hope someone else conducts this test.

Posted by: LTMIKE | November 11, 2008 4:08 PM

Fly is correct, it was a day for all, and in front of everyone that is a 'steal the thunder' move. Bob, in the past recruit classes, has the top of the class ever been thrust to the public attention, stressing them more than the other graduates? I do not believe so. Being Hispanic should not be in the forefront. If he was mentioned by name at some point, then the accomplishment was mentioned for that individual and his family (congratulations!). The engangement stole the most attention which I agree it should not have. TRUST me, lots happens that does not get the propper attention!

Posted by: Common Sense | November 11, 2008 7:14 PM

Rortiz stated "Shame on the New Haven Independent and the New Haven Register for not mentioning the first Puerto Rican Valedictorian in the history of the New Haven Fire Department." The graduation ceremony wasn't about who was black, Puerto Rican, white, male or female. It was about "Firefighters" who all equally worked their butt off to successfully become a member of New Haven's Bravest. When everyone remembers that firefighters come from all walks of life perhaps all the nonsense that goes on over race or ethnics will take a seat in the back of the room where it belongs. We are all proud of our ancestral heritage. I'm sure the class valedictorian, classmates and his family were most proud as they should be.

Posted by: rortiz | November 12, 2008 4:05 PM

sin city, let me enlighten you on the facts. First of all i didnt team up with the firebirds,to which i am not a member, it was a group of minority firefighters. Secondly call me up i tell you what the facts are. Oh you problaby wont because your not man enough to use your name (sin city). LTMIKE you should do some research all the graduating class validictorians get mentioned.

Posted by: anon | November 12, 2008 8:10 PM

Congratulations! :)

Posted by: sin city ff | November 13, 2008 12:47 AM

rortiz, my bad, I forgot, it was all just a conspiracy.

You are right, i am afraid to use my name as I may end up in a beat down like one of the new haven 2o did. What do you know about that? Thats looking out for your fellow man isn't it?

But thats enough now, there is no point in getting into a dialogue with you and yours, as despite mountains of evidence to the contrary, you have made up your minds.

Posted by: LTMIKE | November 13, 2008 10:57 AM

Bob, I agree that if anyone was to be highlighted in the New Haven Independent, Rosado should have had at least a picture stating he was tops in the class (perhaps with his proud father in dress blues). Having the son of a NHFD captain top the class is a nice story (FORGET ethnicity!) As for the NHR, I did not read it, BUT, going by your initial post, you said it was mentioned on page 3. At least he was acknowledged, correct? As for that rag of a paper, as a department we can rescue SEVEN people and get two paragraphs in the blotter on page 2? As a LOCAL 825 member THAT should upset you more than the make up of a graduating class article. During these tough economic times and the city looking for cutbacks, WE as a union should all spend more energy making sure stories (like saving lives and property) are out there more than fretting about the ethnicity of a Valedictorian. Everyone was upstaged that day, by an obvious reason, which again I can agree with you totally. Can we stop putting race and gender in front of issues.