Council Member Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) has asked the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) to ensure that the waiver for US service members and veterans, which exists since it was implemented at the insistence of former New York City Council Minority Leader Vincent Ignizio several years ago, be appropriately conveyed to potential applicants and visible on the website application pages for both the FDNY and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).

Ignizio had lobbied for the veterans’ civil service application fee waivers since 2007 and an official policy was implemented in 2011 with the support of then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg. There are a number of other existing civil-service test fee waivers that cover those receiving public assistance, the unemployed, and recipients of Medicaid benefits.

“I’m grateful for the sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed services, and I know New Yorkers are proud to be able to offer civil-service exams at no cost to these current and former service members,” said Borelli. “With Fleet Week going on, I can’t think of a better time to make sure the exceptional, diverse, and competent men and women of our United States service branches know that they have a right to an application fee waiver and that while they’re in our great city for a few days enjoying the sights they can apply for a career at the New York City Fire Department and start a life in New York when their military service is completed. I am going to be working with DCAS and the Department of Veterans’ Services to ensure that we reach as many veterans as possible and strongly encourage them to lend their talents to one of our many attractive communities here in New York City.”