Rockland Daily Sits Down For An Interview With Tallman Fire Commissioner David Breuer

By Yisroel R.

With the upcoming Tallman Fire District election, many residents are taking a closer look at the candidates seeking to lead their local fire services. Commissioner David Breuer, recently appointed to the board, is now running for a full term. In this interview, he discusses his background, his work with the Tallman Fire Department, and his goals for the district going forward.

Please introduce yourself for the readers.

My name is Yakov Duvid Breuer, but people know me as David Breuer. I have many years of helping the community and being involved in different organizations. I am a father of three and a business owner. I am not doing this for action or to climb a ladder. That stage of my life is behind me. I am strictly here for the benefit of the community and to work together with the fire chiefs and commissioners to build a better fire department that most of the Yidden here are looking for.

When were you appointed as Fire Commissioner for the Tallman Fire District, and how did that appointment come about?

I was appointed to serve as Commissioner in mid October. Even before the appointment, I had built a strong relationship with the department and the sitting commissioners. They got to know me, they liked me, and they came to trust me, and therefore the appointment was very easy.

You mentioned a number of significant achievements you are proud of. What do you consider your biggest accomplishments so far?

The major accomplishment we have is teamwork. We now have an inside commissioner, meaning someone the department supported and is willing to work with and listen to his advice, and that also helps the relationship with the other Jewish firefighters who grew inside this department. In the last couple of months, we recruited a couple of new members, including some heimishe volunteers. We are working on recruiting even more volunteers, which will make the department much faster, and we already see a big difference in the response times.

You are now running for a full term. Why do you feel the community should support you?

Because of one word, trust. People from the past, through my askanus back in Brooklyn, and people who saw what I and the other Jewish firefighters have accomplished in the past few months in the Tallman Fire Department know that they can trust me. We are building a strong connection with the department, working together, and seeing real progress.

What are your main goals for the next few years if elected for a full term?

First, I want to recruit more volunteers so the response can be quick at any time.

Second, I want to strengthen the training so the members can be more trained and prepared.

Third, I want to focus on keeping the taxes stable and getting rid of the fire bell.

And most important to me is to always keep an open ear when people have concerns.

What is your long term vision for the fire district?

My vision is that people should not need to call the fire department, but at the same time, they should know that if they do call, they are in good hands and the department is here to make sure they are safe. We need to have a strong department, and we also need a strong connection with the community so people can feel calm and sleep well at night knowing they are protected.

How would you describe your working relationship with the other commissioners, and how important is that relationship?

That is very important. If you have a commissioner who is not on good terms with the others, you cannot do the job properly. To make any change, you need at least three commissioners to agree. In the past few months, the commissioners have enjoyed working with me because they like sitting down with me, listening to me, and I am willing to work with them. Having a good working relationship is the key to making real changes.

What strengths do you bring to the board?

Clarity and experience. First, you need to understand the other commissioners, and you also need clarity about the needs of the community. You need clarity in understanding both sides so you can bring everyone together. That is something very important, and it is something I bring to the board.

You speak strongly about keeping taxes stable. How do you plan to achieve that?

The way to keep taxes stable is by truly understanding the budget and being careful with every expense. You have to use the budget appropriately for what the department really needs.

For example, if you want quicker response times, you have two options. You can purchase fully equipped fleet vehicles, which cost a lot of money, or we can implement the usage of personal vehicles and add lights and sirens to the cars, which costs almost nothing.

Working with the budget and choosing the most effective and most cost efficient option is how you keep taxes stable.

You have spoken strongly about getting rid of the fire bell. What is the demand for this change?

The demand is very strong, and Hillcrest recently eliminated their fire bell with strong efforts from askonim in New Square and Pomona. The fire bell mainly affects the sleepers, the neighbors, and scares little kids. When you have an experienced askan in the department and a strong team member that the other commissioners listen to and enjoy working with, I believe very strongly that I can deliver this change and get rid of the fire bell.

As voters prepare for the election, what message would you like them to keep in mind?

They should vote for someone who is inside the department, who knows the system, and who has a strong working relationship with the commissioners. I also want the voters to know that I am an independent leader, not influenced by anyone. I am strictly here for the community, and I appreciate everyone’s support.