Hudson questions cold weather budget and firefighter demographics

And then I just want, did anyone ask about cold weather events yet?

No.

Okay, if I can just ask a couple questions.

What percentage increase in EMS calls occurs during extreme cold weather events compared to normal conditions?

I don't know if we have the exact number.

Do you have the exact number?

I don't think we have the exact number of what percentage, but certainly this last winter, that was way colder than any other winter we remember, and for a longer period of time, we saw a significant number increase in coal volume.

As part of the city's engagement with the folks that were out in the field, we were right front center stage on that.

So anytime that we see stretches of bad weather, whether it be cold or hot, the call volume goes up for us.

And it goes up both on fire and EMS.

Right.

Maybe you can follow up with the specifics.

Yeah, we can get back to you with that.

Okay, thank you.

And then what additional budget allocations have been designated for extreme cold weather operations?

We haven't had any specific budget adjustments tied to extreme cold weather.

I mean, to the extent that, you know, we've incurred additional overtime costs, that's been part of the adjustments that were made in the last budget for our PS budget.

I mean, I would suggest that just given where we're going globally in terms of climate change and all of that, and like you mentioned, Commissioner, the winters are going to get colder and longer, the summers are going to get hotter and longer.

I would strongly advocate for more funding or adjusted funding to accommodate, you know, over time and the needs as they grow during those extreme weather conditions.

And then just one last question, Chairs.

What's the demographic breakdown of applicants versus hires as far as percentages by race and gender?

We'll let Commissioner Newman talk to you about that.

Are you referring to our firefighter applicants?

Both, if you have it.

I would have it for the fire applicants.

Okay, I'll take what you have.

So our most recent exam, we hired, we had about 20,000, over 20,607 passers.

22% of those passers were black, 28% Hispanic, 40% white, and 6% Asian.

7% were women.

Are passers hired?

They're not hired.

We haven't actually hired any of these candidates yet.

They're just now going through the first step, which is passing the physical exam.

So that will continue through the end of June, and then they'll start the background process.

Do you have any of those statistics for previous fiscal years?

So for our previous firefighter exam,

Give me a moment.

Where did I put it?

If you give me a second, I'll...

Sure.

So for the last exam, we had a...

In terms of our test takers, we had 28%

Black, 27% Hispanic, and 40, no, I'm sorry, sorry.

I need glasses.

25% black.

Our previous exam, 7001, which was held in 2016-2017, 25% black, 27% Hispanic, and 44% white.

Those are for the applicants?

Those are for the test takers.

The test takers, and then how many were hired?

Was the demographic breakdown similar?

The demographic breakdown is similar for those that were reachable.

18% black.

Sorry, what do you mean by reachable?

Reachable meaning they scored high enough on exam to be reached, to be processed.

So does that mean hired?

Not.

Specifically, not necessarily.

The hiring numbers would be different.

Do you have the hiring numbers?

I don't have that on me.

I don't have the numbers of those that were hired from the last exam.

But we can very easily get that for you.

Great.

Thank you so much.

And also just want to...

Express my gratitude for the entire department for everything that you

you do to keep New Yorkers safe and we greatly appreciate it and I would love to see more resources and more money and pay parity for EMS division.

So thank you.

Thank you chairs.