“People will die” as City Hall follows with a plan to lay off nearly 400 EMTs and paramedics, the union chief who represented those workers told The Post.
Oren Barzilay, head of EMS Local 2507, said FDNY brass told him that 10 percent of the city’s 3,700 EMTs and paramedics would be cut under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to cut 22,000 municipal workers.
“The response times will go through the roof. That would put people in danger. People will die, “warned Barzilay.
The Blasio has said the cuts will come in October if the city does not receive state or federal aid to fill a large budget deficit caused by the coronavirus. Earlier this month, he ordered agencies to come up with lists of cuts, according to Politico.
The number of EMTs and paramedics has already dropped from 4,100 before the pandemic. Four of its members died from the virus and three others committed suicide, Barzilay said. They were at the forefront of the crisis, advising patients to hospitals around the five districts.
During the pandemic, its members responded to 7,000 emergency call 911 calls, almost double the normal amount.
‘We were the only ones who went into houses to save lives. That’s what we did. This is the thanks that the men and women of EMS are getting now, ”Barzilay fumbled.
“COVID is not over. What happens if there is a current? He asked.
Reps to FDNY and City Hall did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Another source from the union said the cuts were almost inconceivable.
“I do not know where they will trim EMS, we are under-treated,” said Anthony Almojera, vice president of EMS Local 3621.
An FDNY source could not confirm the 10 percent figure.
“The city has asked for a list where they can cut at the end of August. This is expected to be traded by the end of September. “There have been some heated discussions about EMS workers and uniformed firefighters’ demotions,” the source said.
A senior FDNY insider said “hundreds of EMTs” will be fired as part of cuts.
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