Meet Rob Becerra. Despite just entering his thirties in April, he’s been barred from taking FDNY’s entrance exam — the first open to the public in five years.
The reason? According to archaic city rules, those who’ve hit their 29th birthday simply aren’t allowed. They’re too frail, brittle, worldweary.
“At 30 years old, I’m in the best physical shape of my life,” Becerra, a well-proportioned personal trainer, tells The New York Post.
“According to the FDNY, I’m ready for the AARP.”
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The FDNY continues to have some of the most age-restrictive rules in the nation. Chicago’s maximum age is 37. It’s 36 in Houston. Boston? 32 is considered the age where it’s still appropriate for you to run into burning buildings.
Philadelphia, Miami, and Los Angeles have no age caps.
“Talk about age discrimination,” Becerra wrote on Facebook. “You’re telling me I can’t do the job — I’m too old? An outrage at the least, especially for all the people in my age bracket — 30 to 35.”
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The FDNY does make some exceptions, however. Military vets can have the age limited raised by each year served.
After shelling out $90 million to settle a race-discrimination lawsuit in 2014, the FDNY also hired several black and Hispanic applicants in their 30s and 40s who’d previously been passed over.
Queens-based Becerra tried applying four years ago — which was too late to take the last open exam in 2012. He was determined to apply as soon as he could.
“I always loved to help people,” he says. “It took a little later in life to realize I wanted to be a firefighter.”
Applications opened on April 5. And though only 29, he was turned away.
“It’s disheartening when they tell you you’re too old,” he says.
“I know a couple guys who are 25, and, with all due respect, they’re in nowhere near as good physical shape as I am, yet they have the opportunity. It’s not about age — it’s whether you can do the job.”
Becerra is 5’11 and 170 pounds.
“I work out five days a week,” he tells the Post. “I can bench 315 pounds. I can run a mile in under six minutes.”
“It’s a shame,” says girlfriend Grace Navarro, who says he comes to the rescue when she’s tired of walking in heels. “Sometimes he’ll pick me up, and carry me for blocks.”
In 2016, City Councilman Andy King introduced a bill attempting to raise the maximum age to 36.
He tells The Post the current restrictions “might have worked in 1950, but people are living longer today and keeping themselves healthier.”
“If a person isn’t in shape, we aren’t hiring them anyway.”
The FDNY reportedly objected, according to the Post, fearing “it might dilute its $10 million minority recruitment drive,” King said.
But FDNY spokesman Frank Dwyer insists the department is “in favor” of increasing the age restriction.
ChrisK
So apparently it only applies to white men past 30. What a f*cked up racist policy.
ChrisK
and of coarse super ageist.
Ummmm Yeah
They should be. They claim to be for racial equality. Yet they mainly hire from a pool of 6 to 7 percent of the population.
Ummmm Yeah
Oops. This was supposed to go to Kieran’s comment.
DarkZephyr
He looks Latino to me.
Kieran
I’m waiting for the NFL to be sued for the lack of Jewish and Chinese men represented on the teams.
Xzamilloh
Please….. the Jewish and Chinese men are too busy representing the players on the field as their agents. Everyone’s winning. Calm down, silly person.
chris_clb614
Obviously, when there are enough such players to make the 53-man rosters for 32 teams… it won’t make a dent in the representation.
Ummmm Yeah
And what happens in 15 or 20 years when he’s really too old to do the job but can’t retire? I she supposed to just get a free check and do nothing? That’s they are are age caps on a starting age.
marcus_collack
The same question could be asked about the 28 year olds that take the exam. Heck by that time he’d probably be a fire chief, a teacher, a lieutenant, an arson investigator, maybe even retired,possibly dead (firefighters have shorter life expectancies than the average)
Steve
That is so wrong considering the man is in absolutely the best shape of his life. Hate to say this but think back to 9/11 and how you had man his age and older running into those towers trying to save lives.
JerseyMike
If they are going to have an age restriction they need to have a fat and out of shape restriction… Half the firefighters and cops I have seen are grossly out of shape…
lauraspencer
The article references he has a girlfriend. Why is this on a gay blog? Other than gay men tend to discriminate on age I can’t figure out what this has to do with LGBT issues. If it is about being ageist then link the story to gay culture.
Heywood Jablowme
It’s because he got photographed with his shirt off.
leobaga
Because he’s eye candy. Geez. Men should also be objectified. Equality!
misterhollywood
Because if gay blogs only reported on strictly gay topics, they would cease to exist. It’s a private blog. They can report on anything they want, including eye candy. There’s nothing wrong with this. Be grateful there are a few gay blogs left. Many of them have gone to the grave.
dinard38
Why is it that whenever there is an article that’s not directly related to LGBTQ issues, someone ALWAYS make a comment on why is this article on Queerty. There’s no rules stating that 100% of the articles must be directly related to LGBTQ issues.
Come on…..chill!!!!!!!
jag4313
My partner is 45 and is a fire fighter in Houston. Most of the men on his team are over the age of 40. Not sure where this age restriction came from.
surreal33
OMG the ULTIMATE hypocrisy here!!! The foundation of the gay community is ageism, therefore, gay men are the last group people that should be up in arms. While I DO NOT agree with the bullshit age restriction. Gay men should have several seats until ageism, is no longer status quo in the gay community.