Yonkers firefighters on chopping block

wabc

By abc7NY

Thursday, January 1, 2009

YONKERS, NY Firefighter Greg De Sousa worked right up to the last minute. He was hailed as a hero Tuesday after he rescued a grandmother and three children ages 8, 2 and an infant from a smoky fire.

Westchester's biggest city has a big budget problem, a $16 million dollar deficit. A total of 151 workers are expected to be laid off.

Besides the reduction in the number of firefighters, 17 fire lieutenants face a demotion. The city of Yonkers has backpedaled on plans to close at least one fire company.

There will be more reductions, a total 11 members of the Police Benevolent Association, 50 Teamsters, 5 from the Service Employees International Union and 4 more workers are expected to lose their jobs.

In an interview the Firefighters union told Eyewitness News they have made budget suggestions to city officials providing savings of a million dollars. Both sides say they expect to continue to try to find solutions acceptable to all.

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