Posted by Jim on March 30, 2019
John Manley. Irish News. Belfast. Saturday, March 30, 2019
AFTER yesterday’s Westminster drama commentators are going to have to find new words to convey the depth of uncertainty that British politics finds itself in.
The cure remains elusive for the Brexit condition and there’s a growing danger that it could become terminal.
All the options that were there ahead of the so-called MV2.5 remain on the table but the margin of defeat for Theresa May, arguably double what she had hoped for at the very least, means the Tory leader is unlikely to try and push the withdrawal agreement through for a fourth time.
But you can’t rule anything out. Nor can we discount the possibility that Mrs May will throw all the balls in the air by resigning or calling a general election.
However, assuming the prime minister doesn’t hit the nuclear button just yet, there will now be a number of concurrent processes that will both seek to buy time and break the deadlock.
Crashing out remains a possibility but it is something that will be arrived at by accident rather than design, and given its far-reaching consequences for Britain, Ireland and the EU, it’s hoped there’ll be enough of a collective effort to avoid such a scenario.
On Monday, MPs will continue their search for consensus through the indicative votes process, which given yesterday’s events must surely carry more weight than it did on Wednesday.
Brexiteers are justifiably unnerved by parliament’s intervention, as the more momentum it gathers, the greater the likelihood of a soft landing or no Brexit at all.
The most popular options emerging from the backbencher-led process were a second referendum and a customs union between the UK and the EU, so support is expected to coalesce around these, though in common with the Withdrawal Agreement and every other solution floated thus far, they don’t yet have the backing of a majority of MPs.
Given the disparate nature of Westminster at present, coupled with overriding party and personal interests, finding consensus is near impossible.
Meanwhile, the British government is expected to ask the EU for another extension though this is likely to be conditional on a change of tack, given that Mrs. May’s approach appears to have run out of road. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was yesterday talking of a “long extension”, which will require participation in the European elections in late May.
This is an outcome that nobody wanted, as the election will prove to be a divisive distraction but a legal necessity.
Much commentary on the current logjam cites Theresa May’s Lancaster House speech and her insistence since that the UK must leave the customs union.
What is now apparent is the need to rewind and reboot the Brexit process, this time forging a more workable strategy with broader cross-party support.
But perhaps it’s just wishful thinking to believe the Tory leader has the room to maneuver or the inclination to concede she made fundamental mistakes.
Posted by Jim on March 28, 2019
PLAQUE DEDICATION
Tomorrow, Friday, March 29, 2019, at 1100 hours, a Plaque Dedication will be held honoring the memory of Firefighter George F. Froehlich, L-87, who died on March 29, 2018. The dedication will take place in the quarters of E-167 and L-87, 345 Annadale Road, Staten Island, NY. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.
PLAQUE DEDICATION
On Monday, April 15, 2019, at 1100 hours, a Plaque Dedication will be held honoring the memory of Firefighter Ronald P. Svec, L-82, who died on February 2, 2018. The dedication will take place in the quarters of E-162 and L-82, 256 Nelson Avenue, Staten Island, NY. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.
HOLY NAME SOCIETY JUBILEE 2019: 95TH COMMUNION MASS & BREAKFAST
The NYC Fire Department Holy Name Society (Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island) will be holding their annual Communion Mass & Breakfast in Memory of Our Fallen Firefighters on Sunday, April 28, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 10:15 AM. Breakfast will follow immediately at the New York Hilton Hotel (Avenue of the Americas and 53rd Street). This year’s honorees are Battalion Chief & Holy Name Society President from 1980-2018 Joseph Bryant (Battalion 35, Retired) and Deputy Chief James P. Ginty (Rescue Operations). Additionally, the Father Mychal Judge Humanitarian Award will be presented to the Nurses of the FDNY. Tickets are $65.00. Please contact Chris Ward at cward23@optonline.net or 516-376-6208 for tickets. More information can be found online at www.fdnyholynamesociety.com/.
FF WILLIAM TOLLEY FUNDRAISER
The 2nd Annual “Tolley” shoot is here! The event is a 15-station sporting clays shoot. Proceeds will benefit First Responder and Military families in New York. Tickets cost $175 per person and include food, range fee, and one raffle ticket. The event is scheduled to take place on Monday, June 3, 2019, from 8:00 AM–3:00 PM at LI Sporting Clays located at 165 Gerard Road, Yaphank, NY. Visit facebook.com/firesanddrumsfoundation to register.
FDNY APPRECIATION DAY AT SIX FLAGS
Join FDNY Appreciation Day at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ, on Saturday, June 22. Tickets are available at a reduced rate of $35.99 for all FDNY employees and their families with the FDNY promo code and include theme park admission, rides, a live concert featuring Shilelagh Law at 5:00 PM, FDNY Parade at 3:00 PM and Fireworks at 10:00 PM. To order tickets, visit sixflags.com/greatadventure and enter the promo code “FDNY.” A percentage of each ticket sold through this link will be donated back to the FDNY Family Transport Unit.
Posted by Jim on March 27, 2019
REP. JEFFRIES: “HOUSE DEMOCRATS WERE GIVEN THE MAJORITY TO DEFEND HEALTH CARE AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING”
REPRESENTATIVE JEFFRIES:
Once again, the Republicans have shown their true colors. They simply cannot help themselves. Americans all across the country woke up to news that the Trump Justice Department is once again launching an assault on health care in the United States of America. The Republicans want to take away health care from tens of millions of Americans again. The Republicans want to impose what would be effectively an age tax on Americans between 50 and 64 forcing a dramatic increase in premiums, copays and deductibles. Once again, the Republicans want to strip away protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions. They simply cannot help themselves. This was a defining issue of the 2018 midterm elections. We embraced this fight because House Democrats were given the majority in order to defend health care on behalf of everyday Americans and that is exactly what we are doing. Yesterday, Chairman Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) as well as other Members of the House Democratic Caucus, including Chairman Richard Neal (MA-01) introduced legislation to strengthen the Affordable Care Act. That legislation will protect Americans with pre-existing conditions. Our legislation will expand access to health care coverage. While at the same time, the Trump Justice Department files reckless legal papers to try and destroy health care for tens of millions of Americans. You can’t make this up! And so, there’s a clear contrast in terms of what we as House Democrats are about and what Republicans are about. Republicans fight for the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected. Democrats fight for working families, middle-class folks, senior citizens, the poor, the sick and the afflicted. Period. Full stop. That’s the contrast and it’s going to play itself out in front of the American people.
U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) is the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. He sits on the Judiciary and Budget Committees and proudly represents New York’s 8th Congressional District, including parts of Brooklyn and Queens in the House of Representatives.
Posted by Jim on
PLAQUE DEDICATION
On Saturday, March 30, 2019, at 1000 hours, a Plaque Dedication will be held honoring the memory of Lieutenant Christopher J. Raguso, E-302, who died on March 15, 2018. The dedication will take place in the quarters of E-302 and L-155, 143-15 Rockaway Blvd. Queens, NY. All off-duty members and their families are invited to attend. Members are requested to attend in dress uniform.
BAYSIDE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
The 2nd annual Bayside St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at 11:00 AM. This year’s Grand Marshal will be Chief Ed Kilduff, Retired Chief of Department, with Aides Phil Brady, Martin Dolan, Betty McLoughlin, John Ryan, and Rev. Msgr. Thomas Machalaski, Sacred Heart. Formation location will be between 35th and 36th Avenues at 10:30 AM. Pipe Band and Color Guard will be marching as well. All members participating in the march are requested in their Class A Uniform. For further information, please contact Lt. Gerard Walsh, BN 51, at 347-525-4108 or FF Daniel Casey, E316, at 917-484-2291.
FDNY BASEBALL TRYOUTS
FDNY Baseball Tryouts will be held March 27 and April 2 at 10:00 AM at Victory Field Forest Park, (Woodhaven Blvd and Myrtle Ave) in Queens. If you have any questions, please email smiller@fdnybaseball.com.
FIRE MUSEUM ANNUAL EGG HUNT
The New York City Fire Museum is hosting its Annual Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 20, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Children hunt for eggs throughout the two exhibit galleries and enjoy entertainment at the third-floor event space. Purchase tickets at http://www.NYCFireMuseum.org or by calling (212) 691-1303. Museum is located at 278 Spring Street, Manhattan.
MYRTLE BEACH NEVER FORGETS MEMORIAL GOLF OUTING
The 8th Annual Myrtle Beach Never Forgets Memorial Golf Outing, a charitable event run by firefighters, for firefighters, will be held May 20-22, 2019. The tournament entry fee is $240 and includes two rounds of golf, a welcome gift and two nights of barbecue. For more information, and to register, please visit myrtlebeachneverforgets.com or call 843-282-2645.
PURDUE GLOBAL OFFERS UNDERGRAD DEGREE PROGRAMS FOR IAFF MEMBERS
Through IAFF’s partnership with Purdue University Global, members and their family members can enroll in affordable undergraduate degree programs. Some of the many education benefits available to you and your immediate family members through Purdue University Global include: tuition reduced to $230 per credit for undergraduate degree programs, textbooks and course materials included for undergraduate programs, waiver of application and per-term technology fees, 100 percent online learning, monthly start dates to fit your schedule and a three-week free trial of undergraduate classes with no financial obligation. In addition, you can earn credit for eligible work-life experience, IAFF training, Pro Board fire certifications, NREMT certifications, prior learning and more. Purdue Global is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and recognized as a FESHE institution. Fire science degrees are IFSAC accredited. Visit the IAFF-Purdue Global website (https://go.purdueglobal.edu/els/iaff/) or call 866-583-6765 for more information.
Posted by Jim on March 24, 2019
By Martin Galvin
Sitting in the gallery of the Ballymurphy Massacre Inquest courtroom,
you see two battles being waged. There is the legal battle for truth by
victims’ families. There is also a battle of wills wherein the British
Crown seems intent on grinding down families who dare fight for legacy
truth by a strategy termed “deny, delay and die”.
British tactics seem obvious. Deny the truth, until the truth becomes
undeniable. Delay legacy inquests, ombudsman reports or any legal path
to justice, until no further delays are possible. Wait as survivors,
eyewitnesses or close family members die and maybe make others lose
heart. In cases with fewer victims, the death of the family member
awarded legal aid might even halt family representation and become a
British legal triumph.
For Ballymurphy the denials began 47 years ago, when the British denied
that killing a priest, a grandmother and nine others had been criminal,
and blamed the dead to justify massacre. Delays began when new inquests
were ordered in November 2011, including 24 preliminary hearings, the
pretext veto for Arlene Foster blocking inquest funding, and insults
about “innocent victims.”
How many parents, spouses, and relatives will not live to see if loved
ones are exonerated? How many witnesses will die before giving
testimony?
“Deny, delay and die” means even the British military does not believe
Karen Bradley’s claims that crown force killings “were not crimes”.
If their legacy killings were justified, the British would want to get
to court and prevail, the sooner the better. The British Ministry of
Defence must have seen reports made at the time of the Ballymurphy
massacre. If they believed the accounts crafted to justify these
killings, presumably, they would want their day in court and vindication
for their troopers.
“Deny, delay and die” for Ballymurphy did not stop with the new inquest.
Families who, but for the massacre, would never have set foot in a
courtroom, must prepare each day, often to face what seem like
deliberate delays caused by MoD stalling.
Ballymurphy exemplifies what Terence MacSwiney said nearly a century
ago: “It is not those who inflict the most but those who can endure the
most, who will conquer.” Ballymurphy endured having loved ones massacred
and then defamed. They endure every British delay and every death of
those who did not live to see the new inquest.
By enduring they will conquer by getting justice or proving that Britain
cannot give legacy justice even when 11 British army victims include a
priest and a grandmother.