Bloomberg's Closing 20 FDNY Houses, But Won't Say Which Ones

When you're the Mayor of Money, you don't have to tell anybody anything - at least that's what this sounds like:

The FDNY refused to identify 20 fire companies slated for closure yesterday, sparking outrage from the City Council - and the threat of legal action.

Mayor Bloomberg plans to shutter 20 companies as part of the city's budget cuts, but the identities of the endangered units have been shrouded in mystery.

Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano admitted he had a tentative list of units on the chopping block but he would not disclose it to lawmakers.

"Negotiations are still ongoing and I'm not going to send it out until I have to," Cassano said at a contentious Council hearing.

His stonewalling sent lawmakers into an uproar.

"There is no lawful means for you to not provide the committee with that information," fumed Queens Councilman Dan Halloran, who ordered Council lawyers to file a subpoena to obtain the list.

Other lawmakers vowed to file a Freedom of Information request or refuse to vote on a budget - which must be submitted by June 30 - unless the Council is provided the list.

"The mayor won't tell us the companies but expects us to vote on the budget - what color is the sky in his world?" asked Queens Councilman Peter Vallone Jr.

What color is the sky in Bloomberg's world?

He doesn't have to tell you.

And if you don't like it, well, too bad.

As Bloomberg likes to say, accountability in this city comes around every four years for the mayor.

And back in 2009, Councilman Vallone, you gave the Mayor of Money a pass on it.

So if you want to know the color of the sky in Bloomberg's world, you'll have to FOIL it, just the way the City Council is FOILing which firehouses he wants to close.

You should hear back in, oh I dunno, six months to a year...