NYC Firefighters to Giuliani: "Not just no, but HELL NO." [View All]

[Stephanie]

http://www.amny.com/search/ny-usrudy095122917mar09,0,4363175.story

Firefighters slam Giuliani
BY JOHN RILEY
[e-mail]

March 9, 2007

On the presidential campaign trail, Rudolph Giuliani leans heavily on his image as a hero of Sept. 11, but Thursday "America's Mayor" got a sharp rebuff from a disgruntled constituency most non-New Yorkers probably think is in his corner -- firefighters.

After Giuliani pulled out of a planned appearance at an International Association of Firefighters presidential forum next week, the group released a stinging draft letter indicating that it almost didn't invite him at all because of continuing anger at his "despicable" role in pulling firefighters off the Twin Towers' debris pile in 2001 before all hope of finding their dead comrades' remains was exhausted.

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His dispute with firefighters erupted in November 2001, when the remains of only about 100 firefighters had been recovered. Giuliani, citing safety concerns ordered cuts in the number of firefighters sorting wreckage so heavy machinery could clear debris more quickly.

The order led to street clashes and arrests, as firefighters protested that the speed-up would lead to remains being dumped at Fresh Kills landfill. Giuliani relented.

The IAFF letter described Giuliani's actions as "a visceral, personal affront to our fallen" and to the code that calls on firefighters to "leave no one behind." It said he was more committed to finding a stash of gold bars and cash lost in the rubble than firefighters' bodies.

"There are few times I can say that I speak for the entire membership, but this is one time that I speak for at least 95 percent," said one of the letter's drafters, Capt. Peter Gorman, head of New York's Uniformed Fire Officers Association.


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Excerpts from a draft of letter to members of the International Association of Fire Fighters

"This letter is intended to make all of our members aware of the egregious acts Mayor Giuliani committed against our members, our fallen on 9-11, and our New York City union officers following that horrific day ...

"We have heard from some affiliates that Giuliani's campaign is beginning to reach out to our locals, looking to build support. If you are contacted by the Giuliani campaign we hope you will say not just, "No," but, "Hell no."