9 replies to this topic

[Welby]

Judge Garaufis in NYC has just issued a decree saying that up to 60,000 claimants can air their grievance about being discriminated against on the NYFD test. He has ruled that the last two tests discriminated against blacks and Hispanics claiming the tests were too difficult. And get this, even incumbent black and Hispanic firefighters can be part of a class action suit. That means even the smart ones can get a piece of the pie. The plan also mandates that 3 out of 5 new hires be black or Hispanic.

Now I don't know if anyone has ever seen the FDNY test. It's public record so you can look at old tests if you want. But if you didn't get at least a 90 on that test you would be classified borderline idiot. If you failed the test, I would surmise that you probably cannot read. You would have to be dumber than Lenny and just be looking for the rabbits.

Does no one find this type of decision incredibly racist? You are essentially saying that the test is too difficult for blacks and Hispanics. But what about the ones who passed? They are of course anomaly's . You are saying smart blacks are the exception to the rule!!!

Incredible.

[rtb]

Obviously NYC is eager to have more people die in fires.

[Welby]

Hmmm..does that valve say "gas " or "water'?

[bbb]

My friend - a Buffalo fireman - recently won his lawsuit (along with 8 or so other firemen - all for good money) against the city of Buffalo. They had passed the tests to be promoted to lieutenant, etc. - with a pay raise, etc...........And, then the city said because their were no black firemen who passed, they can't get their promotions, either.

My friend said Look I'm sorry that I was born white, but you are effing with my family. My wife had to get a job which we weren't planning on, etc........So, he was mad enough that he got these guys together and sued for reverse discrimination.

The city of Hartford got sued for the same thing and lost in the Supreme Court, which then really helped out these Buffalo guys.

[BrotherBridges]

Not to be stereotypical, but the low representation of minorities in fire departments is due in large part to the fact that they think you would have to be out of your mind to run into a burning building. They don't want the job. Not to impugn their courage and selflessness, and not to say that every one of them feels that way. But the best recruitment efforts always fail to produce minority applications and repeated surveys show that this job is very low on their desired list. I don't know what it is, but they seem to have a much higher fear of fires than whites. I have heard it personally from many black friends of mine when discussing this as a job prospect - "Not me, I ain't doing that!"

[bbb]

I'm with them on this one. I told my friend that I would love to be a firefighter. Sitting around shooting the shit in the dorm is the thing I miss most about college.

But, I wouldn't be too happy once the bell rang. I'm really scared of heights and I can't stand whenever I get a burn of any kind!

[Al M]

Not to be stereotypical, but the low representation of minorities in fire departments is due in large part to the fact that they think you would have to be out of your mind to run into a burning building. They don't want the job. Not to impugn their courage and selflessness, and not to say that every one of them feels that way. But the best recruitment efforts always fail to produce minority applications and repeated surveys show that this job is very low on their desired list. I don't know what it is, but they seem to have a much higher fear of fires than whites. I have heard it personally from many black friends of mine when discussing this as a job prospect - "Not me, I ain't doing that!"

And you've taken a study group to show how this is true? Come on! You know there are 2000 Black people in this city that want to be a fireman. The arguement you make is as ridiculous as that fat black guy on my street corner when you are talking about how Blacks dominate sports so they are genetically physically superior. The numbers on any subject differ as much by race as by any one of 100 characteristics. The fact that they would like a more evenly balanced fire dept for the sake of being a better fire dept in that particular city is what this is all about.

[bbb]

Morgan Freeman said that not many blacks want to be firefighters.

[Welby]

Now thats comedy.

[Al M]

Morgan Freeman said that not many blacks want to be firefighters.

Yeah well Red got banged too many times at Shawshank!