By Randy S. Koniowka

City Firefighters are currently pressing Mayor John McDonald to establish a city run ambulance service, which they say will bring the city much needed revenue.

Cohoes is currently served by Empire Ambulance Service, a private company, which provides basic and advanced life support services to the city at no cost. Empire, however, bills for their services and takes in thousands of dollars of revenue a year. It is those revenues that many argue Cohoes is missing out on.

According to Firefighter and Union Shop Steward Shawn Morse, a city run ambulance could bring in 300-500 thousand dollars a year. “It would be a win-win for everyone, he said.

Morse, who is also a Albany County Legislator and former Union President, has had many battles with Mayor John McDonald over the last 10 years.

However, Morse says the issue is providing the best service to the citizens of Cohoes and that there is not any personal animosity between he and the Mayor. “We are both older now, we don’t scream at each other anymore,” he said. “Even if the ambulance broke even, the city would still be ahead of the game because the residents would be getting a higher level of service.”