Firefighters can't vote?

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I just watched an episode of Law & Order in which Jack McCoy has this line: "Lucky for us, most firefighters can't vote in New York County". Why would he say this? Why couldn't firefighters vote, the same as any other citizen?

I realize that this is a fictional TV series and all that, but L&O has usually been fairly accurate when it comes to technical details. If there wasn't some rule against firefighters voting, I highly doubt they'd say there was.

(BTW, the voting in question was in regards to the upcoming election for District Attorney)

 

[Hermiod]

Maybe they all live outside the county limits?

Edit - the borders of New York County are the same as Manhattan's. I'm thinking, without stereotyping, most Firefighters don't make enough money to live there.

 

[Marten]

It has to be a matter of where they live. Unless all firefighters are non-citizens.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I believe a large percentage (perhaps the majority?) of NYC first responders live in Staten Island. In which case they wouldn't be able to vote in a New York County (Manhattan) DA race.

I think that's all they were saying, not that they were barred from voting or anything.

 

[Trekker4747]

It has to be a matter of where they live. Unless all firefighters are non-citizens.

Or most NYC firefighters are ex-felons.

 

[SmoothieX]

NYC's 5 boroughs are 5 separate counties. If you live in Bronx County (as I used to), you can't vote for many things in Queens, Kings, New York, or Richmond.

 

[Marten]

It has to be a matter of where they live. Unless all firefighters are non-citizens.

Or most NYC firefighters are ex-felons.

NY-voting laws is not my strong suit.

 

[Alpha Romeo]

It has to be a matter of where they live. Unless all firefighters are non-citizens.

Or most NYC firefighters are ex-felons.

Not funny.

 

[ByrdMan]

sure it was. Lighten up.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

It has to be a matter of where they live. Unless all firefighters are non-citizens.

Or most NYC firefighters are ex-felons.

Not funny.

I lol'd.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ I didn't.

I suppose it could be an issue regarding where they live, but it wasn't made clear in the episode. It seemed to be a blanket statement on all firefighters. Just like that earlier post.

 

[doubleohfive]

Well I think, regardless of what the truth of the matter is, it's important to remember that Law and Order is just a TV show, and shouldn't really be held accountable as the "go to" source of factual information about New York City.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Apparently you missed the part where I said this:

I realize that this is a fictional TV series and all that, but L&O has usually been fairly accurate when it comes to technical details. If there wasn't some rule against firefighters voting, I highly doubt they'd say there was.

That better?

 

[doubleohfive]

I did miss it, thanks.

But the point remains -- you found out about this from an episode of Law and Order. At the very least it piqued your curiosity, to the point that you believed it might indeed be a fact. And much as Law and Order likes to go for the 'realism' angle, the fact (pun intended) of the matter is it shouldn't be regarded as such.

I guess the peripheral point I'm trying to make is simply that no matter how 'real' a TV show or movie may make a particular city seem or feel, in reality, the way the show presents the city and the way the city actually is are pretty much always two entirely different things. Orange County, CA is nothing like the way it's presented on The OC.

Still, being relatively uninformed about New York districts and voting, the answer that makes the most sense to me would simply be the voting regions thing mentioned above. I'll have to ask one of my friends who lives in the city if they know anything about that.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

(pun intended)

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=puns

Sorry doubleoh, had to pick on you

 

[Locutus of Bored]

^ I didn't.

I suppose it could be an issue regarding where they live, but it wasn't made clear in the episode. It seemed to be a blanket statement on all firefighters. Just like that earlier post.

If it was a blanket statement on all firefighters, it wouldn't make the point of using the word "most." The fact that most firefighters don't live in Manhattan is the only way the voting comment makes sense.

Are you two somehow under the impression that Trekker was being serious with his firefighters are ex-felons comment? It's a joke for crying out loud. Lighten up, Francis. When you start deifying groups (soldiers, firefighters, etc.) to the point where you can't even make harmless and non-insulting jokes about them, then you've gone too far.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Lighten up, Francis.

Seconded.

 

[sidious618]

It has to be a matter of where they live. Unless all firefighters are non-citizens.

Or most NYC firefighters are ex-felons.

Not funny.

Debbie Downer!

Edit: The Law and Order joke was probably about them being ex-felons as well. Let's burn Dick Wolf!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The fact that most firefighters don't live in Manhattan is the only way the voting comment makes sense.

That's probably it, yeah.

Are you two somehow under the impression that Trekker was being serious with his firefighters are ex-felons comment? It's a joke for crying out loud. Lighten up, Francis.

I take everything seriously. You should know that by now.

When you start deifying groups (soldiers, firefighters, etc.) to the point where you can't even make harmless and non-insulting jokes about them, then you've gone too far.

Ok then.

 

[scotpens]

I guess the peripheral point I'm trying to make is simply that no matter how 'real' a TV show or movie may make a particular city seem or feel, in reality, the way the show presents the city and the way the city actually is are pretty much always two entirely different things. Orange County, CA is nothing like the way it's presented on <i>The OC.

And, believe it or not, there's no private detective agency at 77 Sunset Strip! In fact, there isn't even any such address. The “Sunset Strip” is an informal name for the stretch of Sunset Boulevard that runs through West Hollywood. And all the addresses there are in the 8000–9000 range.

OK, so that has nothing to do with firefighters voting in New York. But 77 Sunset Strip was a cool show.