December 27, 2023

NEW YORK - New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock together with NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch, and the NYC Fire Department (FDNY) Commissioner Laura Kavanagh today announced the donation of two firetrucks and two standard-size Department of Sanitation (DSNY) collection trucks to the Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic. The donations come as the Dominican Republic continues to recover from Tropical Storm Franklyn, which made landfall in August 2023, and subsequent torrential rains that inundated the island. The donation is coordinated by the DCAS in close collaboration with the FDNY, DSNY, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, and the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic. The trucks are expected to arrive by January 2024.

“Our hearts are with the people of the Dominican Republic as they continue to recover from the impacts of Tropical Storm Franklyn and the torrential rains that followed.  DCAS is proud to coordinate this donation with FDNY and DSNY,” said DCAS Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock. “Time and again, this administration has shown that the City of New York’s compassion transcends borders, and that we will always look to support our neighbors during times of crisis.”

 "New York City and the Dominican Republic share a special bond, and when the people of the DR needed us, DSNY was proud to answer the call. I want to thank Congressman Espaillat for his advocacy towards making this happen," said Jessica Tisch, Commissioner, NYC Department of Sanitation.

“We feel for the people of the Dominican Republic as they struggle through the aftermath of Tropical Storm Franklyn,” said Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. “We are happy to assist in any way possible, and are glad two of our firetrucks can be of service as they rebuild.”

“NYC is home to a large Dominican diaspora that contributes to the diverse fabric of this great city. In response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by Tropical Storm Franklyn in the Dominican Republic, we take pride in extending this vital support,” said Commissioner for International Affairs Edward Mermelstein. “These vehicles will improve first responders' capacity to help people in need, and it reinforces the unbreakable bond between our great city and the Dominican Republic. This project is another example of Mayor Adams and our Administration’s leadership. Together, we stand firm in the face of adversity,”

In August 2023, Tropical Storm Franklyn ravaged the Dominican Republic, forcing the evacuation of more than 2,000 people, and devastated several municipalities across the country. Several months later, heavy rains caused widespread flooding, killing at least 21 people, and displacing thousands more – the effects of which the country is still recovering from.

The donation of these trucks follows the city’s donation of collection trucks donated to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Fiona which devastated the island in September 2022, and the donation of fleet and construction equipment to Indonesia in 2004 following the tsunami that ravaged the nation. Similarly, the city has donated an NYPD rescue truck to Greenburgh Police Department in Westchester, New York and an FDNY firetruck to the West Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department in Howard Beach, New York in 2015.

“I am honored to help usher in the collaboration between the DSNY, FDNY, International Affairs, and the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic to bring the delivery of these emergency fire and garbage service trucks to fruition,” said New York State Congressmember Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). “Climate change affects each of us, and Tropical Storm Franklin and its impact reminds us of the magnitude of what is at stake when these natural disasters occur. I commend everyone who worked to ensure the delivery of these trucks from New York to the Dominican Republic and hope that more trucks will come in the future as we know they will have a tremendous impact on the responsiveness and preparedness during storms in the region.”

“Giving to those in dire need is at the core of who we are as New Yorkers,” said New York State Assemblymember George Alvarez. “As a proud Dominican-American Member of the New York State Assembly who represents an Assembly District which houses the largest Dominican population in the State of New York, I am enormously grateful for the leadership of United States Congressman Adriano Espaillat and my friends and partners in government, such as the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services; Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in New York; New York City Department of Sanitation; New York City Fire Department and the New York City Mayor's Office for International Affairs, for making possible this much-needed and greatly appreciated donation of two fire trucks as well as two standard-size DSNY collection trucks to the Dominican Republic. The consequences of climate change are real and Tropical Storm Franklin was an unfortunate example of its tragic effects. I am committed to using every legislative tool at my disposal to promote science-based legislative solutions to combat climate change.”

“Thank you to the leadership of Congressman Adriano Espaillat and the collaborative efforts of my colleagues in government for making this humanitarian donation of fire trucks and garbage trucks from the City of New York and DCAS to the Dominican Republic,” said New York State Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia. Tropical Storm Franklin was devastating for the people of the Dominican Republic and this timely donation will provide much needed relief to our fellow brothers and sisters in the Dominican Republic.

“As the home of the largest Dominican diaspora in the world, The Bronx and its residents hold a special connection to the Dominican Republic. As a Dominican woman, I am proud to see New York City working to strengthen the ties between our communities and growing our connection with this donation of critical capital,” said New York State Assembly Member Amanda Septimo. “These donations will help in the recovery from Tropical Storm Franklin’s impact, and bolster ability to respond to future need. I look forward to New York finding more opportunities to support the Dominican community at home and abroad.”

“In August of this year hundreds of thousands of people in the Dominican Republic suffered from the effects of Tropical Storm Franklin, including power outages, no water, severe flooding, landslides, and more,” said New York City Council Member Amanda Farias. “In the light of this tragedy and as a Dominican NYC representative, I am proud to see New York City aiding the Dominican Republic’s ongoing recovery with this generous donation. Representing a large Dominican community here in the Bronx, I pray that the communities most affected in the DR soon find safety and stability once again.”

“Fleet is pleased to extend this emergency trucking assistance to the Dominican Republic to support their storm response and recovery, as we did last December for Puerto Rico,” said DCAS Deputy Commissioner for Fleet Management Keith Kerman. “Thanks to FDNY and DSNY Operations, DCAS Procurement and Legal, and the New York City Comptroller for their important roles with this critical donation of two fire engines and two refuse trucks.”

About the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services:

The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) makes city government work for all New Yorkers. Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the resources and support needed to succeed, including:

• Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees
• Managing 55 public buildings
• Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property
• Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies
• Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country
• Leading the City’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations
  
  

Learn more about DCAS by visiting nyc.gov/dcas or by following us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and listening to the Inside Citywide podcast.