Four Firehouses Curtailed Over Weekend
As of Saturday evening, a firehouse in each borough except Queens will remain closed nightly from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. The City approved the change last week.
The firehouses are Ladder 53 in City Island, Bronx, Engine 4 in Lower Manhattan, Engine 161 on Staten Island and Engine 271 in Brooklyn.
The night closures are expected to save the fire department almost $9 million annually.
In other cost-cutting measures, The Fire Department of New York canceled the next class of newly appointed or “probationary” firefighters and is doing away with a number of civilian positions.
Of the firehouses, Ladder 53 in City Island was most controversial. Opponents of the nighttime closings say that it will increase the estimated response time to more than double the citywide average, disproportionately affecting local residents. Proponents of the change maintain that Ladder 53 is the least active of all the City's firehouses and that crews from nearby firehouses can respond in reasonable time.
Dunkin's Inaugural Donut Joins Obama-Inspired Items
President-elect Barack Obama has long been the inspiration behind items of clothing, tchotckes, and figurines…and now food. Now the coffee chain upon which America runs has launched a donut for inauguration day.
The donut bears pink frosting and sprinkles in red, white, and blue. Though it comes in patriotic hues, some have commented on web forums that the donut is not representative of the President-elect, or more specifically, his diverse racial background. “It should be vanilla cake with chocolate frosting—truly Obama!” wrote one commenter.
Earlier this month, Ben & Jerry's ice cream launched a flavor in honor of Obama named “Yes Pecan!” The Ben & Jerry's creation consists of “amber waves of buttery ice cream with roasted non-partisan pecans,” according to the Ben & Jerry's website.