City’s black firefighter organization backs Crowley for borough president

Former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley was endorsed by the Vulcan Society, an organization representing black FDNY firefighters. Photo via City Council/Flickr

By David Brand

An organization representing black FDNY firefighters has endorsed former Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley to be the next Queens borough president.

Crowley announced the endorsement from the Vulcan Society during a candidates forum at Queens College Monday night. She previously served as chair of the City Council’s Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice Services.

“The Vulcan Society has been a partner at City Hall when I fought for transparency in the department’s hiring and training practices,” Crowley said in a statement Tuesday.

The organization was founded in 1940 and is open to current and retired members of the city’s emergency medical services, fire inspectors and FDNY civilian personnel. The Vulcan Society has led the decades-long effort to integrate the FDNY, an agency still marked by major racial disparities.

“Elizabeth has been a friend and advocate to Firefighters and EMS workers for many, many years,” Vulcan Society President Khalid Baylor. “We have seen first hand the fight and commitment she has in helping to meet the needs of the first responders.”

Crowley has also received endorsements from the Uniformed Firefighters Association and the Uniformed Fire Officers Association.

Crowley is one of six candidates vying to replace former Borough President Melinda Katz in the March 24 special election. The other candidates include Councilmember Costa Constantinides, Councilmember Donovan Richards, retired NYPD Sergeant Anthony Miranda, former Queens prosecutor James Quinn and businessperson Dao Yin.