(CBS) You don't have to go to Ground Zero to see and feel the depth of the grief that is everywhere in New York, even as New Yorkers push ahead with their daily lives, determined not to let the terrorists win.

Standing on the street, waiting for a bus, you may see one of the many firetrucks driving around the city with funeral wreaths on the front of the engine, and a huge flag flying on the back.

On another corner, a firefighter in full uniform and boots walks by with a bouquet of flowers.

It's a good bet the flowers aren't for Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who, along with other city officials, has been embroiled in a dispute with the firefighters over how best to continue searching for the thousands who still haven't been found in the rubble that used to be the World Trade Center.

A week ago, the city's decision to dramatically scale back the number of workers searching for bodies at Ground Zero led to a large protest by firefighters and arrests of firefighters who clashed with police at the site.

Thursday, Mayor Giuliani said the number of firefighters assigned to Ground Zero at any one time will be increased to 50, from the 25 announced last week.

There had been as many as 150 firefighters and police officers involved in recovery efforts at the site.

The reduction to 25, put into effect last week, was explained by the city as a response to the safety and health hazards in having large numbers of firefighters searching through debris in the midst of cranes and excavation equipment.

AP Photo Firefighters salute outside St. Patrick's Cathedral Thursday, at the funeral for firefighter Durrell Pearsall of Rescue Company 4.

Firefighters - who lost 343 colleagues on Sept. 11, many of whom remain among the 3,770 still listed as missing - were angered by that and some openly suggested the scaleback at Ground Zero was financially motivated.

Giuliani has said that is absolutely not true and Thursday, he again emphasized that the city is determined to recover as many bodies as possible.

He also responded directly to those who have questioned the city's motives in reducing the number of people working at the site.

"They really are so off base it's a sin," said Giuliani. "They really have no monopoly on caring about people there."

The decision followed a meeting Wednesday between city, police and fire officials in which it was agreed that more firefighters would be allowed onto the site to recover remains, one of the sources said.

That same day, firefighter unions postponed a memorial service which had been planned for Nov. 18 at Madison Square Garden, for all the firefighters killed on Sept. 11.

The fire department said it requested the postponement because some family members of the firefightes who died thought it was too soon to have a memorial.

Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, says the memorial service will not be rescheduled while Giuliani is still in office.

Giuliani leaves office at the end of this year.

Five police officers were injured and more than a dozen firefighters were arrested at last week's Ground Zero demonstration.

A probe followed, leading to the arrest of three more firefighters on Wednesday.

Sources say the investigation is now over, and charges against some of the arrested have been dropped.

By Francie Grace © MMI, CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Back To Top