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To the editor:
While I am greatly appreciative of the reporting, I can't help but feel that much of the recent articles and debate around reamortization of the city's pension system or reforming Tier 6 miss a crucial point: these pensions should be treated as a fundamental right we deserve as workers (the right to a dignified retirement) rather than an extra benefit that we can have the luxury of enjoying if only we can play financial tricks to "find the savings to pay for it."
Workers of all sectors make New York City run, creating the wealth that makes New York City the wealthiest city in the wealthiest country in the world, and yet our lives and futures are being treated as a bargaining chip in budgetary political football.
New York City is home to the most millionaires in the world (four hundred thousand), and it is also home to the poorest congressional district in the country. This is not an unfortunate inevitability; this is a policy choice, a choice made for decades by politicians from both political parties to prioritize corporate profits and personal wealth over the needs and rights of the working class.
We must cut through the nonsense and demand that all NYC workers have the kinds of fully funded pensions (not to mention other public benefits and services) to retire in dignity after a lifetime of labor, through taxing the immense wealth hoarded by corporations and the rich in this city.
All of Mayor Mamdani's affordability agenda could be afforded permanently by the state taxing the rich and wealthy corporations. The money is out there, without a doubt.
Is the political willpower?
If not, we as the workers of New York will have to make them.
Paul Brown
Paul Brown is an adjunct lecturer at BMCC and a member of PSC-CUNY.
Correction: A previous version of this letter misadentified Paul Brown as a leader of Local 3005.
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Joel Frank
In addition to this fine letter to the editor, i want to remind the editor that the automatic retiree COLA formula has been fixed for more than 20 years. This fixed formula hurts fixed pensioners. It's time to adjust the formula to bring pensions more in line with 2026 prices.
Joel Frank
Thursday, April 23 Report this
Valete
Pensions should be considered a fundamental right to a dignified retirement. However, advocating for taxing the wealthy and corporations to implement Mayor Mamdani’s affordable agenda makes me uneasy.
Increased taxation inevitably results in higher taxes on the middle class, particularly affecting middle-class retirees who face financial difficulties.
Mamdani should prioritize promoting capital investment, innovation, and long-term growth in New York City, rather than raising property taxes to fund his impracticable affordability agenda.
Thursday, April 23 Report this
krell1349
Agree with Joel, 100 percent. At a minimum the $18,000 cap should be raised.
Friday, April 24 Report this