NEW YORK — FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro promised to accelerate recruitment of women by changing firefighters’ training.
At a rally on the steps of City Hall before a New York City Council hearing on the issue, former congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman blasted the department for its lack of progress.
In 1982, there were 41 women in the FDNY. In 2014, there are 44, according to CBS New York.
“That’s the best that New York City can do?” she said. “I don’t think so.”
Commissioner Nigro said the FDNY needs to do a better job at recruiting female firefighters.
“We need to ensure we are using all the resources at our disposal to help women navigate through the hiring and academy process successfully,” he said. “So far, we have not done a good job in recruiting women who have the physical ability and the desire to be firefighters. Certainly, there are thousands of women capable of being firefighters in this city.”
He also said the department is going to great lengths to ensure that female firefighters have proper restroom facilities.