Easier to Gripe

To the Editor:

Brandon Ward's long-winded tirade (Nov. 3 issue) seems to blame half of city government (the Mayor, DCAS, CUNY, DOT, Dept. of Education) for the failure to attract more black candidates for the upcoming Firefighter exam by lowering the standards, and further claims it will somehow affect them adversely.

I suggest he ask Vulcan Society President Paul Washington why, when offered the opportunity to run the recruitment unit, he chose not to.

The Hispanic Society seems not to have had the problems that the Vulcans do. Maybe he would consider what course they have taken. I would also submit that historically, minority neighborhoods have had a greater percentage of fire duty, and perhaps those residents choose jobs that do not require running into burning buildings.

ED SULLIVAN, Ladder Co. 16, FDNY (ret.)