....May 15, 1:41 PM
	A Quick Response With all the problems the City currently faces, it’s good to see some results. After a 90 day pilot program, Queens’ fire response time has dropped significantly. The Queens department was ranked last among the five boroughs in average response time in 2007, lagging behind the city average by 37 seconds when every second counts during a fire. It was outrageous that such a large disparity existed within the City and we have called for attention dozens of times over the years. The problem has plagued the borough since 1995 when the 30-second lag time was first reported. It was exacerbated by 2002 budget cuts, which closed six firehouses including Engine Co. 261 in Long Island City and put more residents in danger. The pilot program, which began Feb. 14, decreased the response time by 30 seconds by asking the caller for an address and assigning a firehouse electronically. It may have taken 13 years but at least Queens is finally seeing results. With the summer heat upon us, we can breathe a sigh of relief that our emergency services are finally up to par. Main Street Speaks Out On Wall Street Council Members Mixed On Term Limits Hometown Hero Dies In Afghanistan Civilian Honored Miracle Dog Needs Home Rec Hall Named For WWI Heroes Redfern Community Center Saved Again Restaurant At Odds With Parks Department Park Renaming Does Weinstein Justice Trobiano’s No Longer A Kitchen Nightmare Young Voters Show Big Numbers In Queens Queens G.O.P. Gaga Over McCain Hospital Lives On, Continues to Fight Maltese Loses Key Ally In Seminerio Stadium Memorabilia Selling Fast Fugitive Convicted In 2001 Murder Rally Howls For Affordable Housing Sikhs and Arab Still Suffer Since 9/11 Queens’ Latin Jazz Coalition Finds Rhythm Going From Here to There — Got Ideas? Protest To Keep School Bus Routes Rival Term Limits Bills Approach Council Floor Stolen Torahs Returned