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To the editor:
Legislation introduced by City Council Member Christopher Marte to preserve retiree health benefits has a better chance of passage this time around.
Last year’s bill, introduced by former Council Member Charles Barron, died in committee, partly due to threats by DC37 head Henry Garrido to withhold endorsements and campaign donations from supporters.
Speaker Adrienne Adams added to the intimidation with threats of lost committee positions and discretionary funding.
But the new bill, Intro 1096, has more promise of passage. One excuse from Council leadership for inaction was the ongoing litigation, but since then retirees have won ten court victories. Since then. the United Federation of Teachers has withdrawn support for Medicare Advantage.
Marte said in a WBAI interview that “The winds are changing…. the momentum is definitely changing to the side of the retirees.”
Marianne Pizzitola, the president of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees, observed in the interview that while the Municipal Labor Committee originally endorsed the Medicare Advantage plan, it would probably not pass today given the UFT’s walk-back and resounding legal victories.
She added that it is “unlikely” that the city will win the appeals, so what is the city waiting for? We need to ask Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, chair of the Committee on Civil Service and Labor — who killed the bill last year, lamely citing “protocols” — what will she wait for? Legally, she doesn’t need permission from the speaker to advance the bill. Nor from the mayor. Especially a mayor whose popularity has plummeted since last year, amid an indictment and corruption probes, who has no political future
Adrienne and Carmen, cease worrying about political winds and enshrine health benefits for retirees that include the disabled and 9/11 responders.
As Van Morrison sang, “It’s too late to stop now!”
Harry Weiner
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