EL DIARIO
Raúl Castillo | 22 Oct 2025
La gobernadora de Nueva York, Kathy Hochul, vetó un proyecto de ley que buscaba reforzar la seguridad del personal de emergencias médicas al exigir la presencia de dos socorristas cualificados en cada llamada al 911 en la ciudad de Nueva York, una propuesta había surgido tras el asesinato de la teniente Alison Russo, apuñalada en 2022 mientras cumplía servicio.
Hochul argumentó que la medida generaría un impacto económico y operativo considerable para la ciudad, ya que requeriría la contratación de 290 técnicos en emergencias médicas adicionales, con un costo estimado de $25 millones de dólares, según el veto citado por el New York Post.
De acuerdo con la gobernadora, el Departamento de Bomberos de Nueva York (FDNY) advirtió que implementar la ley obligaría a reasignar a parte del personal actual para emparejarlo con los supervisores que acuden a las emergencias, lo que reduciría la cantidad de ambulancias disponibles y afectaría los tiempos de respuesta.
Su presidente, Oren Barzilay, lamentó en comunicado citado por el Post que “el asesinato de la teniente Russo no fuera suficiente para demostrar los peligros del trabajo” y sostuvo que la reforma habría garantizado una mayor protección para el personal en las calles.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
Hochul vetoes bill seeking to deploy two first responders per 911 call in New York
New York Governor Kathy Hochul argued that requiring two first responders to be present for every 911 call would have an economic impact.
Raúl Castillo | October 22, 2025
New York Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill seeking to strengthen the safety of emergency medical personnel by requiring two qualified first responders to be present on every 911 call in New York City. This proposal emerged following the 2022 murder of Lieutenant Alison Russo, who was stabbed while on duty.
Hochul argued that the measure would have a significant economic and operational impact on the city, requiring the hiring of 290 additional emergency medical technicians at an estimated cost of $25 million , according to the veto cited by the New York Post.
According to the governor, the New York Fire Department (FDNY) warned that implementing the law would require reassigning some current personnel to match supervisors responding to emergencies, which would reduce the number of ambulances available and impact response times.
Support and criticism of the veto
The FDNY defended the recommendation to veto the law, arguing that its priority is maintaining the speedy response to medical calls.
In a statement cited by the Post, the department thanked Hochul for listening to its warnings, stating that the proposal “would inevitably have led to fewer ambulances on the streets and longer response times.”
The FDNY also noted that ambulances already operate with two technicians or paramedics on board, while supervisors respond to emergency scenes in separate vehicles, providing support and supervision without remaining on-scene for extended periods.
However, the decision drew criticism from FDNY EMS Local 2507, which called the veto “cruel” and accused Hochul of downplaying the risks faced by emergency medical technicians.
In a statement cited by the Post, its president, Oren Barzilay, lamented that “the murder of Lieutenant Russo was not enough to demonstrate the dangers of the job” and maintained that the reform would have guaranteed greater protection for personnel on the streets.