QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, November 23, 2023 Page 4
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FDNY boss battling unsafe bike batteries Commissioner Kavanagh meets the press to spread the FDNY’s warnings by Michael Gannon Senior News Editor
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh last Friday was asked for a compelling argument for the city’s f ight to crack down on uncertified lithium-ion batteries that have proliferated in the last three years, and become increasingly dangerous. She said the casualties were a good place to start. “The statistics we have are very compelling,” Kavanagh said on a Zoom call with about 20 reporters from a small and ethnic media group. “We’ve had 17 deaths [in 2023]. That’s an extraordinary number. That number was zero in 2020. That shows you how quickly this has become a problem.” Kavanagh and Chief Fire Marshal Daniel Flynn outlined the city’s ongoing legal and legislative battles against the batteries, as well as a massive outreach aimed at educating the public. “Nothing is more important than getting the message out there,” Kavanagh said. “We can save lives in every community, in every language, in every method people use to consume their news.” Kavanagh said the key is for everyone from recreational bike and scooter users to professional
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh is enlisting everyone from Congress to concerned neighbors to stop uncertified FDNY PHOTO / TWITTER / FILE — and increasingly lethal — lithium-ion batteries. food deliveristas who rely on them to make a living to purchase only batteries or vehicles that have been certified by UL or a similarly reputable testing agency. “It’s not the legal bike shops where we are having fires,” the commissioner said. “One of the things that’s so
unusual about these fires, what make them so dangerous, is that they don’t begin slowly like most f ires,” Kavanagh said. “They explode. This is essentially having a ticking time bomb in your house. And you’ll see, if you’ve seen any of our [public service announcements] that once they go off, peo-
ple have no time to get out. Maybe a matter of seconds, if that.” She also said the speed makes it more difficult for firefighters to get to a fire and get inside quickly to begin putting it out. Flynn was direct when asked about reconditioned batteries. “Don’t buy them — shor t
answer,” he said. Flynn and the commissioner said anyone who chooses to buy the bikes and batteries make sure they are UL-certified and from reputable manufacturers. “With these devices, sometimes the cheapest option is not always the best option,” he said. Kavanagh said there are other do’s and don’ts, such as not using incompatible batteries, bikes and chargers; not charging them when asleep; and charging outdoors when possible. “And never keep them between you and your door out,” she said. Kavanagh said she and Flynn got a promising reception this past summer when lobbying in Washington, DC, for national safety standards. “Nobody was against it,” she said. Then, of course, Congress ran into delays such as kicking out and replacing the House speaker’s post. “We don’t want this passing next year,” the commissioner said. “This is a crisis now.” She said while uncertified vehicles and batteries are illegal in New York City, it is very easy to bring them into the five boroughs from elsewhere in the country. She said a national federal standard could keep them from comQ ing into the country illegally.
Black Friday service changes, closures Minor changes for trash and transit by Michael Gannon For the latest news visit qchron.com
Senior News Editor
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, will affect some public offices and services but not others. The city’s Department of Transportation says alternate side of the street parking regulations will remain in effect on Friday, and parking meters must be fed. The Department of Sanitation, posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, reminded people there are no residential collections on Thanksgiving. For those whose regular trash or compost day is Thursday, the DSNY is asking residents to place their items out the evening of Thanksgiving for pickups that will start on Friday. For those with Thursday recycling days, items should be held and placed outside on Wednesday, Nov. 29, for collection beginning the next day.
City and state offices do not technically list Friday as an official holiday, though certain offices and services may be impacted. Residents should call or check online. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said in a press release that city subways will run on their regular schedules on Friday. Most New York City Transit and MTA Bus Company buses will run on a reduced weekday schedule, and some limited stop service will not be run. Riders are asked to check for any service changes under “service status” online at mta.info. The Long Island Rail Road will run on its regular weekday schedule on Friday, with lower off-peak fares in effect all day. All MTA agencies will operate on regular weekend status on Nov. 25 and 26. The MTA is recommending that travelers to and from LaGuardia Airport on Black Friday and over the Thanksgiving weekend take the
Some city bus lines will see minor scheduling changes at certain points over the four-day PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON /FILE Thanksgiving weekend. LaGuardia Link Q70 Select Bus Service. The Q70 connects with the Long Island Rail Road complex and No. 7 train at the Woodside/61st Street station; the No. 7, E, F, M
and R lines and numerous bus routes at the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue/74th StreetBroadway subway complex; and airline termiQ nals B and C at LaGuardia.
