typical JC. Feeding the union beast.

What happens in 2 years when the grant runs out?

Robin.

Jersey City will use $8.2 million federal grant to hire 64 firefighters to rebuild ranks reduced by retirements

Thursday, February 24, 2011
By TERRENCE T. McDONALD - JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City received some rare good news yesterday when federal officials announced the city's Fire Department will receive an $8.2 million grant to help cover staffing costs.

The city plans to use the two-year grant to hire 64 firefighters, reversing the "slow decline" in the number of city firefighters, said Fire Director Armando Roman.

"This is wonderful news," Roman said.

Roman said the city currently has 497 firefighters, down from a recent high of 610 in 2007. The city lost 73 in 2009 and 100 over the past year, mostly through retirements, said Roman, noting those firefighters weren't replaced.

"We're in dire straits here," he said.

Mayor Jerramiah Healy praised New Jersey Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, as well as U.S. Rep. Albio Sires for helping to secure the grant from the federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program. Irvington and Westhampton received smaller SAFER grants.

"This much-needed funding will go a long way to helping us to hire 64 firefighters to re-establish our manpower and cut overtime costs," Healy said in a statement.