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Subscribe to RSSUpdated at 3:36 a.m. ET: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has fired his $153,000-a-year emergency management director for diverting a crew to remove a tree from his Long Island home's driveway after Superstorm Sandy hit, a state official said Wednesday.
ny.gov
Director of Emergency Management Steven Kuhr was fired after the governor was told that Kuhr called a Suffolk County crew to remove a fallen tree from his driveway.
Director of Emergency Management Steven Kuhr was fired after the governor was told that Kuhr called a Suffolk County crew to remove a fallen tree from his driveway, according to the official. Kuhr was working in Albany at the time last week, shortly after Sandy hit.
The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the personnel decision wasn't announced. A spokesman for Cuomo declined to comment. The New York Times first reported the action.
Cuomo appointed Kuhr in October 2011 as executive deputy commissioner of the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.
There was no answer at Kuhr's office Wednesday night and a phone number listed in his name was not working.
The action comes as Cuomo has bitterly criticized utilities for what he said has been slow progress restoring power to customers from the Hudson Valley through Long Island. Most of the power has been restored to more than 2 million customers who lost electricity because of Sandy, though lights started flickering off again Wednesday night as a new storm raked the region.
Full coverage of superstorm Sandy's aftermath
Kuhr previously was president of Strategic Emergency Group, a consulting firm that had contracts with New York City, the state and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, according to the news release announcing his appointment. Kuhr had also worked for New York City for 20 years including with the fire department.
The Times quoted State Senator Martin Golden as saying Cuomo "made the right call." Golden, a Brooklyn Republican, added:
"I've got people sitting in their homes with two inches of snow outside, they have no electricity, no hot water, they're sitting in their homes and freezing to death," Mr. Golden said.
“This guy's only worried about his own home? It's sad."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Residents across the Northeast pick up the pieces after Superstorm Sandy killed more than 100 people in 10 states and left a trail of destruction.
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Leave a Comment:
Accountability for a government employee and quick punative action. What a concept.
hear! hear!
Got caught up in Sandy here on the Island.
The out of state crews that came to help are doing one hell of a good job. As for LIPA , They all should be jailed for greed and stupidity . Every major storm it is the same old story. LIPA does not do their tree trimming program till after the storm. Even then they soon stop doing it until the next storm. Hope the Governor holds the heads of LIPA's feet to the fire and fires them.
bob
Dumb? Dumber? No, dumbest. What an idiot. Like he wasn't going to get caught! He gave the governor no choice but to fire him. I hope it sticks and he doesn't quietly get appointed to some other high paying job after this blows over.
LIPA isn't the only power company that waits until after the storm to do its tree trimming. I went through the same thing in 2004 down in Florida when the worst hurricane season ever to hit the state happened. Went 3 weeks without power from one storm then 2 weeks without in another storm a couple weeks later.
All for the same reason; lack of tree trimming in advance.
I hope the Gov doesn't stop with just this lackey...
Who's holding Cuomo accountable? We still have to wait on ridiculously long lines for gas. Staten Island is all but forgotten, but Cuomo and Bloomberg like to pat each other on the back as though they are doing such a terrific job. It's sickening.
Craigf1998
Accountability for a government employee and quick punative action. What a concept.
Maybe we should elect Cuomo as our next president..........Action with no bullsh*t.
What??? He doesn't get to go to the rubber room with the teachers in New York?
Ah, but I'll take small victories such as this one. Justice served.
How do you like this for trying to help people on Staten Island!!!! Alabama Co-op went to help Staten Island get their power back on and was told since they were not in the Union they declined their help!!!!! If I lived in Staten Island and found that out I would be mega pissed. Alabama Co-op said they went to Connecticut and help them get powering going to their area instead. How could Union officials but so uncaring for the people of Staten Island!!!!
quote the source chreizman, I'd be intersted in finding out more about that.
Last night, here in NJ I saw Florida Power & Light trucks working through the snowstorm. We are getting a lot of help and are very thankful for it.
If only we could fire all of the scum that had risen it's way to the top within government.
hey derek. he will be unanle to quote the source because its bull SihT. this was an anti union story some random alabama company made up and when the news heard it and started to check out their story, they changed it saying that it was a misunderstanding and that they never actually went but talk to somebody on the phone and got the impression of yada yada yada. people hear stuff on the radio or somewhere else and never do their own research. i hear that story and i was pissed as hell and i looked it up and waaallla, it was debunked by everybody. GOOGLE is a powerful tool.
http://www.waff.com/story/19981857/some-nonunion-ala-crews-turned-away-from-sandy-recovery
But don't quit spewing lying crap nutters, cause that's what you do best!!!
Union will get his job back plus back pay.
This guy is getting two or three government paid pension according to the article.?
WASTE and spend
True that. That's New Yuk for ya.
He should be charged with interfering with emergency workers, I know it is a crime in Florida.
I think what he did was necessary, you have to have all your rescue people secure. So they can hunt and help others without that worry.
It may have been handled a different way, but don't fire him.
And yes I have run some very large businesses in different States.
Ala. utilities: Our crews not turned away from N.J.
www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57544237/ala-utilities-our-crews-not-turned-away-from-n.j/
The article also says the crews were allowed to work in New York.
chreizman, nice try but you are a little late to the dance. That story has been debunked a long time ago both by Gov. Chris Christie and the CEO of the company. You just joined the shameless scavengers who prefer to win cheap political points from the situation.
truth seeker, are political points earned any other way?
ButGi, the article said he was working in Albany at the time, far, far from his home on Long Island (Suffolk County). He did not need to have his driveway cleared immediately in order to get to where his crews were working.
Nor should his family be at the head of the line for tree clearing just because he is a State official.
I read the article, debunking the lie ) and what do you know? All the comments of THAT article were anti-union, blamed the unions for turning the crew away, etc. Didn't ANYONE read the article?! God help this country! It's full of morons.
So.....what is new.
There was a Tennessee State representative who "DIVERTED" State road crews to pave his 1/2 mile driveway to his "country" house and NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT.
Why would the union get his job back? It wasn't a union position, this guy was the head of the agency, not a rank and file working guy.
Where do you get the idea that he is drawing 2 or 3 pensions? The article stated that he was retired after 20 yrs with the NYFD. That would be the only pension that he MAY have been drawing. The article didn't say if it was deferred or if he was drawing it. Do you think he will get a pension from the job he was fired from, that he held barely a year? Sounds more like a reason to bash the union instead of bashing the guy who was wrong for placing his own interests above of the truly needy citizens interests. Even if he was drawing a pension, are you saying he didn't earn it or that he doesn't deserve it because YOU don't think it's right?
Do you actually realize how hard people fight the power company when it comes to trees being trimmed or taken down before they topple over? Every idiot with a tree screams and runs for their lawyer to protect a tree that should never have been planted where it was in the first place. Especially if the tree is on their property instead of the parkway along the curb. Do people even read the lables on the trees they purchase or do they think that the label was kidding when it said the tree will grow to 70 feet tall? Don't get me wrong I love trees. I planted 5 of them on my property. But not one of them will ever endanger a power line because they are no where near one. If it's your tree you should trim it yourself especially if it's on your property or the utility should charge you for it!
Could you even make a more stupid remark? He's MANAGEMENT!!!
Could you ever make a more stupid response? He was also both a city & state employee and has TENURE!!!
DOH
When did Jon Lovitz go into public service?
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001484/
www.cs.ny.gov/pio/publications/summofcsl.pdf
Tenure never mentioned once. He's not a teacher
Cuomo did the right thing.
zildjan
Could you have a dumber response? He was in a state management position appointed by the governor. It is non-union and he works at the pleasure of the governor. There is no tenure in his position. Get a clue before you start insulting others.
Another stupid libtard response. He will be getting money from the State of New Yuk for any services he has done for the last 20 years. He's not going to be thrown out the street in poverty because of this and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he has a big fat pension coming to him.
Get a fukking clue, libtard.
Read the story, moron. He ALREADY retired from his New York CITY job and is receiving his pension. He then worked for a private consulting firm before being appointed to the STATE job, which is totally SEPARATE from his CITY job and is a NON-UNION position. And, besides, moron, where did I say he would not be getting his pension? Try comprehending what you read. It really does help one understand the FACTS much better. But as a typical conservative moron, you only believe what you see on TV and are told by Fox News and Rush Limbaugh. You are incapable of thinking for yourself.
Not much detail provided. There may be mitigating factors. Was his family unable to evacuate from a damaged home to a safe haven because a fallen tree prevented them from getting out of the driveway? At the time, was his energy and focus best spent on the state's critical issues or his personal ones?
Maybe he overstepped the bounds. Maybe he is the sacrificail goat. Sure can't tell from this in-depth article.
People in power baby, people in power. Don't over-analyze it too much.
Yea, like he could not have picked up the phone and called a local man to come get the tree out of the way. It's been done many times in my area. It's not rocket science. One man could have had the driveway passable in a couple of hours max! Didn't take a government crew with trucks and several men! Would he have fired the crew if they had refused to do his bidding?
A bit harsh maybe? These types of people put in way more hours to help and serve the community... not saying it's right if he put himself first, but if the crew was in the area anyway.. gee... To be repremanded is one thing, but to be fired? Yeah, like ya said... sacrificial perhaps.
Are you serious. He's the head of Emergency Management. Thousands of trees had fallen onto streets and houses throughout the region. This guy prioritizes the clearing of his own driveway over clearing a roadway or securing a damaged house or downed powerline? That tells you a lot about where his priorities lie. Glad he's out of office. Next time grab a chain saw and wheel barrow and clear your driveway like the rest of us.
I agree Steve. The key word is 'diverted'. He diverted a crew to clear his driveway. Regardless if he was without power, etc., EVERYONE has to wait for 'their turn'. He jumped the line, took crews away from what they were supposed to be doing, to benefit personally. Glad he got fired, it is an outright abuse of power and position.
Only 2 comments. Please people. this is a precedented action in NY. These people are being taken advantage of on so so many levels. For the governor to openly and swiftly dismiss a top guy is heroic. KUDOS CUOMOS. God bless ya all who have survived this horrific storm. My thoughts and prayers are constantly with ya all. I'll be up soon to help clean up. Maybe there is hope for humanity after all. KUHR- you self-centered, heartless, fascist pig!!!! What comes around goes around and may God give you exactly what you deserve.
Harsh. A reprimand may have been better as efforts to get people back up and running is a priority with the onset of winter storms. A knee jerk reaction I think but if you are well off and take advantage of your system over others I think this sends a message out. Don't be selfless.
Knee jerk reaction my eye, the complete devastation that blew into that area, ALL of those workers needed to be in areas that REALLY needed attention, not some loser bum who thought more about HIMSELF than those desperately suffering IMMEDIATELY! I honestly do not believe that the governor did ANYTHING wrong, and a reprimand? laughable, nothing short of his immediate REMOVAL *especially* at the salary that he was pulling in, was in order!!
chreizman, get your facts straight. That Alabama crew never went to Staten Island, let alone left their own driveways. No one has been turned away for trying to help...no one!!
EBrown-3787847 - Don't be selfless?
In all fairness to chreizman, I had heard the same story out here in CA. I read it online, heard it on the car radio, and saw it on TV.
That people who arrived to help were turned away. Then another article with someone else stating it wasn't true. Was it true, or not, it wasn't clear.
Renee - But that's why it's important to not blindly accept everything the media tells you. Just because the guy on the radio or the talking head on the TV says it doesn't make it true. The internet, especially, is full of fake stories created by liars on both sides trying to score political points.
Typical politician. Blatently abusing their power. What's the big deal? You see it every day.
Loving that Cuomo more every day. He is showing that he is for the people, and business as usual is NOT going to remain business as usual.Go Cuomo!
You love Cuomo? You've got to be kidding me. Who is holding him accountable. While he holds press conferences talking about holding the public utilities accountable, who is he answering to? These are agencies under his control. Why is it Staten Island and the Rockaways still look like war zones, we are still waiting on lines for gas, but you love Cuomo.
Good for you, but as a resident of NYC and NY State, I hate him. He's done just as bad a job as the public utilities.
How do you like this for trying to help people on Staten Island!!!! Alabama Co-op went to help Staten Island get their power back on and was told since they were not in the Union they declined their help!!!!! If I lived in Staten Island and found that out I would be mega pissed. Alabama Co-op said they went to Connecticut and help them get powering going to their area instead. How could Union officials but so uncaring for the people of Staten Island!!!!
It's not even a case of putting one's self first, it's downright theft.
A tree in your driveway is your personal liability - and so is the cost to remove it. Now if a LIPA crew removed it for you in their attempt to restore power, you lucked out, say thanks, and make them a pot of coffee.
Sending a crew on the taxpayers dime to remove a tree is akin to sending them to paint your house or clean your pool. He reminds me of the guys that always bought Sony's off "the back of a truck" and looked the other way. A "no tax for cash" kinda dude, dishonest to the bone. HA! That tree just bit him in the azz for $153,000.00.
chreizman, get your facts straight. That Alabama crew never went to Staten Island, let alone left their own driveways. No one has been turned away for trying to help...no one!!
Poor guy - he has probably been doing this for his entire career - using company or public resources for his own personal benefit. He probably did it when he worked for the city, and when he worked for the consultant firm (which worked for public organizations.) It has become second nature for him to use anything handy for personal purposes, so it probably felt perfectly normal - not immoral / illegal at all. Nobody ever called him on it. He had no internal guidance to keep him out of trouble, and he still does not understand that he did a bad thing (only that he is being punished without cause.)
More people (in government or private business or any organization) should follow Harry Truman's example. He kept a roll of stamps he purchased with his own money in the desk drawer. He used them for all personal letters. When his term was over, Mr. and Mrs. Truman got into their personal car and drove home to Missouri. Any chance that Nixon, Obama, or even Reagan ever behaved like that? That would be a sight - four years from now, Barry loads the wife and girls into the family truckster and drives home to Chicago. Of course, all traffic would be cleared from the interstates and there would be a 75-SUV caravan of S.S., with 20 black helicopters escorting the parade.
Taking as much as a ballpoint from work is unethical. If everyone had that mindset, it would keep many persons out of trouble.
I'm sure that he already has been collecting a nice pension.
I am sure that he was collecting that Pension while working..... Double Dipping has not gone away, it is just not discussed.....
Good for the governor!
Nothing harsh about a scum sucking dog who thinks he is above the fray receive his just due. How many first responders, utility workers are still out there while their own homes need attention? This is the prime reason people don't trust governments. Good! Great! Fantastic! Maybe they could send this jerk to jail too after he reimburses the state say at $3,000.00 the amount they are getting for gutting out storm ravaged homes? Putz! Let's see a picture of this scumbag too! Plaster it all over the state too!
Gov. Cuomo sent a clear message to department heads and State employees. There are other politicians who could learn by this.
What a good job our governor is doing;time to fire some of the worthless congressman we have too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
big
that was your job tuesday
Texan, you're right, but instead we idiots in NY voted for all the incumbents. Then we sit around and scratch our heads and wonder why our lives are so bad.
Big-our governor has NOT done a good job. Don't believe it? Come down here to the Rockaways or Staten Island.
Don't feel bad, California has been doing it for years and they are almost bankrupt....and still keep doing it. Real stupid.
I notice in all the pictures of the storm and people on the street,noticable trash? is anyone helping to stack and clear that up? do they help the sanitation people or is this common for that area. I say this as one who has never been to the northeast area.do the photographers just pick areas of total devastation to display?Hoping that everyone comes through this and get back to some semblance of normal.
Don't worry, the rats and cockroaches will survive.
rac1, Having gone through Katrina it takes a long time to get all the trash and refuse picked up. First you have to have the heavy equipment to move it, trucks to cart it off, and a place to put it. You can't just dump it in the ocean. On top of that, having another severe storm coming through screws up any progress that might otherwise be made. These people are going through a horrible situation far worse than Katrina. At least when our power was out we were sweating and not freezing.
He should have been fired! KUDOS Cuomo, my heartfelt prayers go out to the people of ny/nj and ALL impacted by these natural disasters!!! Is anyone collecting clothing/blankets to distribute to the people in that area? Ive got at least 10 comforters on the shelf in my garage as well as my teenage daughters clothing that i'd LOVE to donate to this area from georgia!!! Now people up north will heed the warnings when hearing of natural disasters, much like new orleans and floridians do!!!
Godspeed!
angry mom - while I appreciate your wish to help, I did see pictures of lots of clothing etc that had been delivered, but there is no way to get it distributed at this point. Also, when there was flooding in western NY several years ago, lots of well meaning people sent clothes that were just not helpful - warm weather clothing from the south just doesn't quite cut it in NY in the winter. Perhaps you could make a donation to your local thrift shop, etc., and the clothes and comforters could be used on a local level.
Again, I'm not criticizing your wish to help but right now it is a logistical nightmare to just distribute food and water.
How sad for the people in those areas their goverments are doing so poorly. Yet they won't vote for people based on their credentials, only that they belong to a certain party. Wake up and stop voting a party line and demand that those who run for office have a plan to do things. Lawyers should be barred from running for government, since government is a business and needs to be run like one. No nonsense, do what it takes within your budget to get the job done.
Well it is about time government grew some balls! Keep up the good work and start firing more unethical crooks that think they are above everyone else!!!! Maybe if all government, local, state and federal started to clean house this country would be doing better. These people make way TOO MUCH MONEY for the jobs that they do POORLY!
Hurricane Andrew in 2016. Are you feeling it?
Good call governor.
you need to throw more people under the bus.
Good start
Under the circumstances, firing this guy was the right call!
Too bad the US has spent over a trillion dollars in Iraq and Afghanstan. You can trim alot of trees, and feed alot of people for that kind of $. As usual the folks effected voted republican and democrat. Wake up. peace
Just imagine all the jobs we could have created with that money and all the tax revenue states and the federal governments would be taking in, not to mention that local businesses could be flurishing and also hiring to handle the influx of the business because so many other people were put to work by the government.
ok people, dont get to happy. this guy will appeal, and he will either win his job back, or get a financial payoff from the state so cuomo can save face.
how can you blame this guy, he has fed at the public troff for a long time, retired fireman, state contractor, politically connected. he was made to be above us.
So now he will get 80% of current wage in retirement forever, and will still be able to work a union job.
Maybe we should elect Cuomo as our next president..........Action with no bullsh*t in the way.
Stay cool everyone. None of you know the full story and you are all talking like children. Those in charge know the real facts and with trust we assume he made a clear decision not a knee jerk decision like biting off his nose to spite his face. Leave his job to him because it sounds like he is aware of what happened. For the people who want to string the officials from tree tops because they could have prevented these problems by keeping these trees trimed on a regular basis remember it takes tax dollars to pay tree trimmers to do their jobs and nobody wants to pay for it in higher taxes. We all want this and that and say why didn;t someone do this and that before... but no one wants to pay the players. It would have been a reason for stimulus money in "infrastructure" but some would say "oh no". Everything and everyone is going to be really geniusus for the nest half year with all their hindsite backyard coaching. Don't add to these people's misery by ranting over "could ofs", "should ofs", and focus on more "can, will, try, help and hugs". right now these people need a lot of listening to but don't add to their anger. They aren't really mad at any one person they are just frustrated and scared. THINK POSITIVE! TALK POSITIVE, open up your hearts and keep your mouths shut. I've been there, I know of what I speak.
I could not agree with you more. Everyone including Govenor Cuomo is upset. Everyone is agitated and unfortunately, under these circumstances, emotions run hot and people do irrational things. I don't think having a tree across your driveway cut up is a fireable offense. This is a public official who is charged with getting out and working in is community. I hope the Govenor reconsiders and rehires this man. Many people believe that $150,000 a year is a lot of money. Trust me, hedge fund managers and bank ceos make that in a month...Stop hating, Stop being jealous and get out and DO something. When the world is panicking, leaders take action...Love and patience are the operative words here. God Bless
oh my god, if you believe that stuff your talkin you are the problems
Maybe he needed to get out of his driveway SO HE COULD GET TO HIS OFFICE to manage the crisis. For as 'tough and resilient' as New Yawkers all claim to be, there is certainly a LOT of whining and whimpering going on up there!
Maybe you should read the article SO YOU CAN MAKE AN INFORMED RESPONSE for everyone to read. His home where the tree was removed is on Long Island. Where was he working at the time of tree removal? ALBANY So he either wasn't home or his driveway is 150 miles long.
well...since he was working somewhere else and helping everyone else MAYBE his own family was suffering since he wasn't there to help them out. We don't know the circumstances, so maybe we shouldn't be so quick to judge.
@mnprj
Do you have a reading comprehension problem? Mathuin stated that Kuhr may have needed to get out of his driveway. I pointed out he wasn't within 150 miles of his driveway. That's it. I didn't make any judgments.
Good Day
if his family can get out of the driveway safely then we can assume they have power & gas. you don't leave people w/out basic neccessities like heat & electricity so someone else can drive to the mall. emergencies require prioritizing. having power is a priority not moving a tree.
This shows that it is hard for administrators from the private sector to move into public jobs and understand that the public comes first, they are use to perks and do not understand the ethics of public life.