Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers Announces $568,000 Investment for Southeast Queens Emergency Services
On September 1, Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, along with FDNY officials and union leaders, announced a significant investment of $568,000 aimed at enhancing emergency response capabilities in southeast Queens, specifically within the 31st Council District.
The funding, part of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, will allocate $418,000 for a new command vehicle at EMS Station 54, located at 222-15 Merrick Blvd, and $150,000 for a new gear shed for Engine Company 311 at 145-50 Springfield Blvd in Jamaica.
Brooks-Powers emphasized that the new command vehicle will equip emergency medical personnel with essential tools and technology for coordinating responses at emergency scenes. The gear shed will improve health and safety by storing contaminated gear away from living quarters, thereby reducing firefighters’ exposure to harmful contaminants.
“When someone in southeast Queens calls 911,” Brooks-Powers stated, “our emergency personnel are the people who answer that call and run toward danger when others are running away. These investments ensure our first responders have the tools and facilities they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”
Vincent Variale, president of the Uniformed EMS Officers Union FDNY, Local 362, expressed gratitude for the new command vehicle, highlighting its potential to expedite emergency responses amid growing call volumes.
Robert Eustace, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, FDNY, noted that the gear shed will ensure the safe storage of contaminated firefighting gear, protecting the health of firefighters.
FDNY Commissioner Lilian Bonsignore welcomed the investments, noting that the command vehicle will enable quick responses to emergencies, while the gear shed will prolong the lifespan of critical gear through proper storage.
“These generous investments will ensure that FDNY can continue to provide the highest level of emergency response to residents in District 31,” Bonsignore concluded.
