Union members Left, Right, Center Unite to fight City/UFT Leaders in Healthcare battle with Desparate Lies and Distortions as they Blame Retiree Resistance

UFT Ex Bd member Ibeth Mejia at Ex Bd meeting, Nov. 21, 2022

Most retirees do not want to be forced into a privatized Medicare Advantage plan where some health insurance company can get even richer on our backs. Strong unions like the UFT should be taking on these insurance giants... this is clearly a splitter issue. It is the MLC leaderships and their supporters against the rank and file retirees.....

Arthur Goldstein at NYC Educator:  MLC Takes Us for Carnival Rubes

Given Mulgrew's walkback of the contention that all doctors who took Medicare would take the Advantage plan, we know the advice he gets and relays to us is less than reliable. As far as I know, those same people are still sitting around, getting paid by our dues money, and giving him the same awful advice. There is no way I want to be at the mercy of some company whose profits are more important than my health....Imagine my surprise, then, when I saw this NY Times article comparing traditional Medicare to Advantage plans. I'd figured Medigap programs must be prohibitively expensive. Otherwise, why would all those members be queuing to pay 191 bucks a month? How much was it? 500 bucks? A thousand? Here's what the NY Times says on that:

Medigap policies are not inexpensive; a Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that they average $150 to $200 a month.

So not only were we not being offered a particularly good deal, but the price we were being charged was on the high end.

[Let me chime in on Arthur's point - the $250 a month I pay for two of us for the UFT drug plan (it was $300 for years). We were reimbursed $840, a little less than half, so the actually cost was $80 dollars a month. We were reimbursed . ... I could get a similar or better plan at Costco.... so I don't get the taketh away and giveth back policy -- why not just charge $80 a month? Unless there's something going on I can't see ----- Like let's find a gimmick to make the union look like it's giving us ice water in the winter -------Norm]

Nick Bacon, UFC Ex B at New Action blog:

Unity Caucus Votes Down UFC Resolutions to Fund Our Healthcare... 

Question period: Ed Calamia: What is our exit strategy if the amendment to 12-126 does not pass?

Geoff Sorkin (head of UFT Welfare Fund): Cannot give you answer right now. MLC is working on it. Right now our focus is on changing the administrative code.

Lydia: Which companies answered the RFP for in-service healthcare? Who are we actually considering working with?

Geoff Sorkin: I signed a nondisclosure agreement, so not available for public consumption at this time.

Oh, boy, our union leaders can't tell us which blood-sucking health industry giant we want to hand our money too  because they signed a NDA. Nick posted the entire United for Change reso which called for looking for alternate sources and the debate that followed here. A short closing resolved:

Be it further resolved that the UFT will take the lead urging the MLC to wage a full-scale campaign, by organizing rallies, protests, and buses to Albany to push the City and State to institute or restore these revenue sources, which could be used to secure the continued stability of our members’ and retiree’s health care. Signed by: Ronnie Almonte, Nick Bacon, Ed Calamia, Lydia Howrilka, Alex Jallot, Ibeth Mejia, Ilona Nanay

I love this crew and I schlepped to the meeting from Rockaway to support them Monday night. Look to the sources of rising healthcare prices like a stock transfer tax.

I especially appreciate Ibeth, who hit all the hot points in her brief speech (read it all at Nick's post). She made a great political point by quoting a political mix of City Council members who oppose changing the Admin Code: a Republican, a left wing Democrat and a more moderate Democrat

Council Member Joann Ariola (R-Queens) told Work-Bites she had fielded thousands of queries from constituents on the Medicare Advantage controversy and that it was running 10 to 1 against making the change in the Administrative Code sought by Mayor Adams and the MLC leadership.

Brooklyn Council Member Charles Barron, (D-Brooklyn) said he was “100 percent with the retirees…because I think they have to keep the commitment they have because it’s beneficial for those who paid their dues and I think the Medicare Advantage approach is privatizing."

"Healthcare costs are out of control,” said Council Member Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan). "I have been lobbied by both sides but at this point, I am supportive of the retirees.”

It's not just the city council but rank and file union members across the city unions uniting right leaning uniformed with left leading teacher dissidents. Who ever thought you'd find MORE and police on the same side? The UFT, as it often is, is on the wrong side of history. 

 

I copied this from Breaking Points segment on Nov. 22 where they pointed a recent piece by Josh Hawley of all people urging Republicans to go after the working class by criticizing corp profits -- just propaganda I believe but interesting and a sign of a reversal as Dems (and their partners leading the AFT/UFT) suck up to corp donors. Dems did some light work in this regard in the election which I think actually helped in the end when Biden pointed to the energy industry profits. Our union leaders should be leading the way on health industry profits.

 

UFT, Dems tail as Americans of both parties turn against banks and corporate greed -- Krystal and Segaar take a look at this segment --- https://youtu.be/RVpRIbZqbuc?t=699 or watch the entire 20 minute worthwhile piece at https://youtu.be/RVpRIbZqbuc

 

Let's Blame the retirees instead of the health insurance industry

Nick has written another follow up blog -

UFT Leadership’s Plan B? Let Our Healthcare Implode, Then Scapegoat Opposition.

And let me point out Nick ran with Unity in 2019 - just think of the people the leadership has alienated (Daniel Alicea voted for Unity in 2019) who have become leading lights of the oppo. I'm certainly glad Nick is on our side:

In 2018, UFT leadership went even further, when it lied to membership about our new contract, telling us all that there were no givebacks, only to sneak in a backroom deal to annually find hundreds of millions of dollars in healthcare savings. Even with an expired contract, we are obligated to find these savings for the City. In the plethora of propaganda that has been shoved down our members throats, nowhere has it been explained why UFT would ever agree to reduce the City’s healthcare spending in the midst of record inflation. Something just doesn’t add up. 

It sure doesn't add up.

UFT leadership, seeing they were losing in their campaign to change the admin code in the city council so they can charge retirees almost $200 a month for the same plan they have been getting or force then into a MedAdv plan, has gone into full scale panic mode by sending out notices to chapter leaders to call the city council using threats to their own healthcare. I heard rumors of a phone meeting held in Queens where misleading propaganda was given out. One Queens chapter leader posted "I was at last night’s Zoom meeting with the Queens UFT. I’m going to share the latest court ruling with my chapter Wednesday morning and the script to NOT change the code. We had a very negative meeting with the head of the Queens UFT last year, which no one in my chapter has forgotten…"

 

Defending the indefensible as health care costs rise way beyond the currently high inflation.

Amazing how UFT leadership lines up with corporate greed instead of pointing to it as a chief cause of rising healthcare costs. Why? These corps are big donors to the Dem (and Rep) party. We did see some virtue signalling from Mulgrew in private meetings about corp greed but when push comes to shove they cave and try to force the costs on to us.

Nick brings home the bacon with this point:

We’ve suspected for a while that UFT Leadership’s ‘strategy’ is to let healthcare implode and scapegoat opposition when it does, an absurd act that would put millions of members and their families at risk all for political gain. But what options do they have? After all, our union is on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in annual healthcare savings, and grassroots retiree organizations have blocked the specific ways that the UFT/MLC tried to make those savings on the backs of our most vulnerable members. Any solution, like taxing the rich, is too radical for UFT leadership. To be clear, I responded to Sorkin. So did many others in the opposition. Sorkin had no real response, other than name calling. Let’s hope the people in charge of our union and the MLC wise up and fix this before it’s too late. The lifeline we gave on stock transfers and corporate taxes is still on the table. Please use that, Mr. Sorkin. Don’t let healthcare fail, then falsely scapegoat opposition for political gain. 

Sorkin and Mulgrew under cones of silence by signing non disclosure agreements they claim as their excuse for not informing people. At the Nov. 8 Retired Teacher meeting Mulgrew was asked by a retired secretary who cannot afford to pay over 2K a year to opt out of the forced MedAdv plan why the botched rollout originally and why should she trust him now and he punted it to blame the city and  Emblem and his signing  a Non Disclosure.  

 

The job of union is to defend members, not the employer and corp greed. Sorkin called the unique MedAdv plan "Revolutionary" -  for sure when union leaders team up with the employer to mess with member healthcare and then hide behind Non disclosure agreements. The Health insurance industry makes massive profits and raise costs and UFT leaders want to help them do even better with a fat contract while they should be exposing their profits and high exec salaries and stock buybacks on our backs. Demand they reduce high profit margins before we pay a dime more. Don’t whine about high health care costs. Fight them instead of us.

 

I copied this from Breaking Points segment on Nov. 22 where they pointed a recent piece by Josh Hawley urging Republicans to go after the working class. Dems did some light work in this regard in the election which I think actually helped in the end when Biden pointed to the energy industry profits. Our union leaders should be leading the way on health industry profits.

UFT, Dems tail as Americans of both parties turn against banks and corporate greed -- Krystal and Sagaar take a look at this segment --- https://youtu.be/RVpRIbZqbuc?t=699 or watch the entire 20 minute worthwhile piece at https://youtu.be/RVpRIbZqbuc.

 

Let me close with Jonathan's comments:

Today Mayor Adams, Harry Nespoli (Sanitation), and the UFT’s own lame duck, Michael Mulgrew, are off trying to change the law, as an end-run around the ruling. Section 12-126 of the administrative code protects workers and retirees against exactly the type of scheme these guys are trying to force on us. Call, email, tweet, write – let your city council member know how you feel “Do Not Amend 12-126. Do Not Amend the Code.”

Today Adams, Nespoli, and Mulgrew are trying to smear their opponents – the members, the retirees, us, the people who have so far blocked their plans to cut our healthcare.

Today Adams, Nespoli, and Mulgrew are off trying to find a new vendor for Medicare Advantage. They will eventually find a vendor – the deal is too good – take federal money – and the more procedures you deny, the more $$$ doesn’t get spent on healthcare – the bigger your profits will be.

Lame duck Mulgrew? I have a half-written  blog called Whither or Wither Mulgrew. Should be a fun Thanksgiving weekend.

 One more from

The Chief:

https://www.thechiefleader.com/stories/appeals-court-backs-retirees-in-medicare-skirmish-with-city,49329

 

Appeals court backs retirees in Medicare skirmish with city

Council support for administration's plan uncertain

Another defeat for #Mulgrewcare - NYC RETIREES WIN in NY Appellate Court - Administrative Code § 12-126 (b) (1) requires respondents to pay the entire cost, up to the statutory cap, of any health insurance plan a retiree selects.

Today, the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees won their case in the First Department NY Appellate Court.   The Court was very clear Code § 12-126 (b) (1) provides: “The city will pay the entire cost of health insurance coverage for city employees, city retirees, and their dependents, not to exceed one hundred percent of the full cost of H.I.P.-H.M.O. on a category basis.”

The court correctly determined that Administrative Code § 12-126 (b) (1) requires respondents to pay the entire cost, up to the statutory cap, of any health insurance plan a retiree selects.

The Retirees applaud the decision.

Marianne Pizzitola

President

NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees

This is why the UFT leadership is so desperate to change the code and has had Dist Reps send out a plea to chapter leaders to call their city council to change the code -- so the city would not be required to pay the entire cost? 

At last night's UFT Ex Bd meeting, United for Change reps made a plea to the UFT to reverse course and support current members and retirees. I will post their comments in a follow up.

I will also add the link here to the decision when I get it.

And here it is: https://www.nycretirees.org/_files/ugd/6a0ad2_247a57e48c164348b17a8aeb3817a5da.pdf

This is resounding rejection

Nothing in the statutory text or history supports respondents’ interpretation that the provision is satisfied so long as they pay for the costs of one of the health insurance plans offered to retirees, which they have determined to be the Medicare Advantage Plus Plan.

This was a major talking point for needing to change the code.

Unanimously told its BULLSHIT

Not only did they lose but the court squashed their initial propaganda campaign

It’s no wonder they’ve pivoted to this ends our collective bargaining rights

Which is even more ABSURD

 

Daniel interviewed Marianne Saturday on WBAI -a Must listen.

https://talk-out-of-school.simplecast.com/episodes/healthcaredebacle

click above link to listen - a most informative hour.

Ibeth Mejia at UFT Ex Bd Opposes changing Admin code, urges Blue Ribbon panel on healthcare changes

I support the UFT changing course to come out in opposition to amending Administrative Code 12-126.  Most retirees do not want to be forced into a privatized Medicare Advantage plan where some health insurance company can get even richer on our backs. Strong unions like the UFT should be taking on these insurance giants. 12-126 gives us a nice benchmark plan with the HIP-HMO rate. Leave it alone and find savings elsewhere. The Taylor Law protects healthcare collective bargaining rights. It is a mandatory subject of bargaining.The moratorium clause is part of a state law that protects school district retirees in NY. I am not a lawyer but I like our chances if the City or Arbitrator Sheinman try to impose something unpopular on our retirees or active people. Privatized Medicare is unpopular. This is from Workbites.

Council Member Joann Ariola (R-Queens) told Work-Bites she had fielded thousands of queries from constituents on the Medicare Advantage controversy and that it was running 10 to 1 against making the change in the Administrative Code sought by Mayor Adams and the MLC leadership.

Brooklyn Council Member Charles Barron, (D-Brooklyn) said he was “100 percent with the retirees…because I think they have to keep the commitment they have because it’s beneficial for those who paid their dues and I think the Medicare Advantage approach is privatizing."

"Healthcare costs are out of control,” said Council Member Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan). "I have been lobbied by both sides but at this point, I am supportive of the retirees.”

That is a Republican, a left wing Democrat and a more  moderate Democrat I just cited.

Now I would like to cite a past UFT President: the legendary AL Shanker. He said the Union should avoid splitter issues. By seeing what the Council Members are saying, this is clearly a splitter issue. It is the MLC leaderships and their supporters against the rank and file retirees.

Change course. Let's play this out. If the MLC leadership gets a bill in front of the Council, there have to be public hearings. I can pretty much guarantee the MLC leadership will be standing against 9-11 survivors and heroes who will be at the Council en masse to oppose this change to 12-126 that will force them into privatized Medicare. Please don't do it. There is no MLC consensus on revising 12-126 Most of the uniform unions who are quite popular oppose changing 12-126 and they blame the UFT for leading this battle. Don't split the labor movement and don't try to balance the City books on the backs of retirees by privatizing their healthcare. We need to buy time until we can work for a national single payer system like every developed nation on earth has except for the USA. 

I suggest putting together a blue ribbon panel as has been proposed. Find otherb ways to save money with new audits and other savings but please leave the 12-126 as it is and support this resolution.

#Mulgrewcare Update - Move Retirees into scam plans - Audits Reveal Millions in Medicare Advantage Overcharges

Officials at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have said they intend to extrapolate the payment error rates from those samples across the total membership of each plan — and recoup an estimated $650 million as a result. But after nearly a decade, that has yet to happen. CMS was set to unveil a final extrapolation rule Nov. 1 but put that decision off until February.CMS appears to be “carrying water” for the insurance industry, which is “making money hand over fist” off Medicare Advantage.  

We see our UFT leaders whining about the increasing costs of healthcare while aiding and abetting the very companies that are a major reason for these escalating costs. And Medicare administrators have also been covering for insurance company fraud.

 

https://khn.org/news/article/audits-hidden-until-now-reveal-millions-in-medicare-advantage-overcharges/

By Fred Schulte and Holly Hacker November 21, 2022

The story of how AIPAC and DMFI are reshaping the Democratic Party - Ryan Grim

While Levin, a former synagogue president, describes himself as a Zionist and opposes BDS, the Michigan political scion has frequently clashed with the pro-Israel establishment over his criticism of the Israeli government, including the recent introduction of legislation that would, among other things, condemn Israeli settlements while placing restrictions on U.S. aid to Israel.

The attack on Levin helped define what DMFI meant by pro-Israel, and it included support for expanding settlements and ruled out criticism of the Israeli government. That Levin couldn’t be written off as antisemitic made him that much more of a threat. That he was willing to defend his colleagues like Omar and Tlaib was intolerable. Accusing Tlaib of antisemitism is made difficult if a former synagogue president has her back. AIPAC CEO Howard Kohr, asked by the Washington Post in a rare interview why Levin was targeted, said, “It was Congressman Levin’s willingness to defend and endorse some of the largest and most vocal detractors of the U.S.-Israel relationship.”.. Ryan Grim

Levin loss indicates you can be a zionist and still get attacked - cancellation by the right - for criticizing Israel -  

On the other hand, as a member of DSA I don't support their hard edge positions on BDS and Israel, though I find myself moving in that direction at times. Call me confused. I don't think I'm the only one.

Nov. 21, 2022

I expect to be labeled a self-hating Jew for publishing this story. I believe Israel is currently, or at the very least, moving closer toward an official apartheid state - if you put that label on you are viewed as anti-semitic. The first thing you hear is how well the Israeli Palestinians are treated. Sure - watch how the increasing right wing treat them. 

On the other hand, I also feel pretty insecure being a Jew after 2000 (at least) years of persecution. I do feel we need a safe haven. For some historical perspective -See -A New Focus on a Jewish Artist Who Broke Barriers in Medici-Era Florence -

The life of Jews in 17th-century Florence was quite constrained. They were confined to a ghetto, a cramped area about the size of a football field that housed about 200 families. They could work only in certain professions, like rag-picking, and were not allowed to join professional guilds or corporations, which would have opened the door to fields like architecture. Their interactions with Christians were strictly regulated.

So let's not trivialize the emotional reactions of Jews to real and perceived threats. But to do to others what was done to you is not kosher.  Jews especially should stand with progressive ideas and that includes figuring out a way to treat Palestinians decently and not descend into doing unto others.

 

It may seem a contradiction, but there are left wing zionists.

 

This story from Ryan Grim has been percolating for a month and ties into the way the Dem Party corporate wing vilifies the left - see the last post on Hakeem Jeffries (Pelosi Replacement Corporate Shill, AiPac darling, pro-charter Jeffries Is At WAR With Progressives - fights Left Dems more then Republicans).

 

An Update on the Summer Lee segment - AIPAC piled in for the general election again but this time she won in a landslide. But scratch a progressive, especially a declared socialist, watch AIPAC money flow --- hmmmm, maybe I will run for something to get money flowing to an opponent.

 

And Maxwell Frost won handily in Orlando running a progressive campaign but removing mentions of Palestinians, while Val Demings got slaughtered running to the right.

The story of how AIPAC and DMFI are reshaping the Democratic Party

A Sunday (very) longread

Ryan Grim

Oct 16

▷  Listen Save

Depending on how you date it – whether it’s Ned Lamont and Donna Edwards in 2006, or the first Bernie Sanders campaign in 2016, or the rise of the Squad and Justice Democrats in 2018 – there’s been an insurgency brewing on the left flank of the Democratic Party that transformed its politics and also threatened to fully take over the party. That didn’t happen in 2020, but the progressive wing continued to make major gains, and significantly shaped Biden’s legislative agenda in 2021 and 2022. 

UFT Bloggers #Mulgrewcare updates, Marianne Pizzitola guest on Daniel Alicea "Talk Out of School Sat. 1PM WBAI

This week there was a Retiree Chapter Meeting - Tuesday, Nov. 15 and A Delegate Assembly, Nov. 16 - I attended the RTC meeting and was outside the DA leafleting. 

 

UPDATE- Listen to archive- https://talk-out-of-school.simplecast.com/episodes/healthcaredebacle

 

But first some exciting upcoming news from Daniel:

Sat 11/19 at 1 pm, on @WBAI 99.5 , listen to my talk w/ Marianne Pizzitola, of the Organization of Public Service Retirees abt the NYC teacher, city worker & retiree healthcare debacle. We’ll discuss Medicare Advantage & attempts to change the city code that protects HC.

 

Here are DA minutes from James and Nick:

• LIVE BLOGGING FROM NOVEMBER DA

• Notes from November DA – UFC High School Executive Board Authors first Resolution with UFT Leadership

I could say a lot about Mulgrew's presentation on Tuesday at the RTC -- I began writing something pointing to inaccuracies or obfuscations but other bloggers are covering some of the same ground.

 

One thing - Mulgrew keeps saying the judge took away collective bargaining and says the city can offer us only one plan - in fact his ruling says they can offer us the current option BUT CAN'T CHARGE US -- sure -- Mulgrew is fighting to give me the choice to pay $4500 a year for me and my wife for what we are now paying nothing. Ice water in the winter.

The  other issue I harped on was his changing his tune to attack corporate greed of private insurers while handing these private insurers an enormous contract that would suck money out of the only public option we have - traditional Medicare. He says he wants a national universal healthcare system while pushing the transfer of $600 a year out of Medicare and thus helping destroy the public option. I had my hand up for that question but somehow they missed me.  I need to trip the lady with the mic as she walks by.

 

I just got an email with a list of alternatives ways of paying for healthcare - I added it below the blog links.

 

That's all I will say for now since I can't keep up with these bloggers - James, Arthur and Jonathan -  they are on the case. So I'll just link with a few excepts below -- I have been in some contact in private chats with all of them.

Jonathan: Big Picture vs Misdirection – Admin Code 12-126

Mulgrew wants Medicare Advantage Plus. Retirees block him. He tries to change the law to “unblock” the City and the MLC (so they can force retirees onto Medicare Advantage). They block him again. He tries campaigning with members. Nope. He tries using the Campion letter to scare members into supporting amending 12-126 so he can force retirees into Medicare Advantage. Still not working.

• Mulgrew issues a new “fact” sheet.
• He buries the argument over 12-126 in details (it’s SIX pages. I’m not sharing)
• He claims this has nothing to do with Medicare Advantage.

So I put it to you. After fighting for almost two years to force retirees onto Medicare Advantage, is Mulgrew now fighting, with the same people on his side, and the same opponents, but not about Medicare Advantage anymore?

 

Arthur: This article in Gotham Gazette -

UFT and MLC Leadership Deceived Us About Health Care...was such a dagger to the heart of UFT leadership - "Say it ain't so, Arthur" -- they reached out to him as he reports in this follow-up:

I Meet With UFT to Discuss Healthcare - http://nyceducator.com/2022/11/i-meet-with-uft-to-discuss-healthcare.html

I got a little bit of flack for my Gotham Gazette piece. There were many arguments put forth. Some were more understandable than others. While they had a lot to say, I did not get a strong sense my responses were valued. 

They told me the proposed Advantage plan, which does not actually exist anymore, were it to be replaced, would do everything the current standard Medicare plan does. It's absolutely necessary to change the code, they said, or the city will place everyone in some Advantage plan or another. Some disagree. Personally, I remain unpersuaded that changing the code is necessary, and I am not eager to enable the Eric Adams administration. 

 

James: MULGREW ADMITS TO DELEGATES THAT RETIREE PLANS DON'T COME CLOSE TO HIP-HMO RATE SO WHY ARE THOUSANDS PAYING PREMIUMS?

Mulgrew's new argument appears to be that we must change the law so the City-MLC can create a new cheaper benchmark healthcare plan. At that point, the City will be able to legally charge retirees who don't take their new cheap plan a monthly premium for what the City is currently illegally charging them for. 

... the judge didn't say anything limiting our collective bargaining rights. They are subject to the Taylor Law where healthcare is a mandatory subject of bargaining. Nothing on healthcare can change without union agreement. Also, remember for school district employees state law says a school district cannot diminish retiree health benefits unless they do the same to active workers.

Why the desperation of Mulgrew to giveback on healthcare?

Here is the letter to The Chief:

Please read the op-ed for alternatives to the Medicare crisis.

This letter was sent to council member Erik Bottcher by a CROC member.

Kindly note the following alternatives presented by CROC (Cross Union Retirees Committee)  in a recent letter that you might have received as a City Council Member( see below)  I am also sharing with you an excellent Op-Ed that appeared in today's The Chief issue, written by one of our incredibly active PSC retirees, Dr. Evelyn Jones Rich. It presents all the necessary background information and rationale to VOTE No to any changes to 12-126  and rather ask the elected officials and union leaders to do the right thing: looking for real alternatives that would not affect the health care benefits of the in-service municipal employees and retirees. https://thechiefleader.com/stories/find-a-better-solution-to-the-medicare-impasse-or-resign,49283

Bottom line: what we are looking for is for the City Council as a whole to go beyond predictions, and rather stand up publicly with us now  and say that you are all committing to Vote No to any changes to 12-126 and to look for any other viable option that will not affect any of us as retirees or in- service municipal employees.

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear                     , 

Retirees urge you to protect our healthcare. Please vote NO on any amendment to Administrative Code 12-126. 

Healthcare costs are high but we believe the City can bridge funding for the next several years by drawing on reserves in the Retiree Health Benefits Trust Fund to shore up the Health Stabilization Fund. This would allow time to seriously evaluate alternatives that the OLR and MLC have themselves put on the table.

Such long-term cost-saving measures to explore could include:

1)  Creating a city-run self-insurance plan;
2)  Negotiating aggressive hospital cost-containment measures;
3)  Consolidating and negotiating group drug plans;
4)  Auditing the membership of the insurance plans to remove those ineligible for benefits;
5)  Reining in billions wasted on bad management and inefficiencies used in healthcare plans. 

There are practical solutions that creative, competent minds can come up with. We, retirees, have thought of just a few. Retirees should not be forced to lose their current quality Medicare with Seniorcare benefits while these long-term alternatives are explored. 

Please stand with 1/4 million municipal  retirees, current municipal employees and their dependents. Do not throw us under the bus! Vote NO on any amendment to Administrative Code 12-126. 

Signed, 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Pelosi Replacement Corporate Shill, AiPac darling, pro-charter Jeffries Is At WAR With Progressives - fights Left Dems more then Republicans

Back in 2009, A bunch of us went up to a court in Albany to oppose the appointment of Cathy Black as chancellor. Hakeem Jeffries was with us. It's the last time I viewed him as a progressive.

The hedge-funders and charter school backers,who have supported Jeffries in the past, are overjoyed.  Will Jeffries continue to wage an open war on progressives?

The notion that the Democratic Party establishment would put
a lawmaker beholden to AIPAC in that position is shameful. The far-right AIPAC supports numerous Sedition Caucus lawmakers, for starters....  Meet the new boss same as the old boss... Oh yea, another banking-industry shill. Just what we need... Comments on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4cIh52OWNc

"I’m a Black progressive Democrat concerned with addressing racial and social and economic injustice with the fierce urgency of now.  -- Hakeem Jeffries

But not so much addressing racial and social economic injustice when it comes to serious healthcare issues like Medicare for all.

While expected, the Jeffries appointment being celebrated by Dems based on identity politics is a dangerous road for Dems since Jeffries has mocked the left in ways that echo Trumpy mocking the libs.  Pro charter, he's a corp Dem all the way and guaranteed to stop any moves to Medicare for all.

 

Here's a section from today's Breaking Points/Counter Points with Ryan and Emily:

He created a PAC to undermine left. He openly opposed Jamaal Bowman but Bowman said he supports Jeffries. Huh? Hates AOC apparently. Left won't fight him - makes them look so weak and allows him to run all over them. DSA is a bigger target for him than Trumpies.

Ryan goes into the nature of personal relationships like Nancy having Omar's back so often and when the left attacks the squad for not opposing Nancy - well, Nancy did have skills. Does Hakeem have similar skills?

Jeffries tied into APAC and they want to exterminate the left --- Emily says it could rupture but Ryan says left too small - like a pothole.

Pelosi Replacement Hakeem Jeffries Is At WAR With Progressives

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4cIh52OWNc

 

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/hakeem-jeffries-pelosis-successor-house-democratic-leader/story?id=93489303

Jeffries, first elected in 2012, has long been considered Pelosi's heir apparent, rising through the ranks to land a perch in the party's House leadership.

However, he could face some opposition from the most vocal progressives in the House, who labeled him a centrist.

"I’m a Black progressive Democrat concerned with addressing racial and social and economic injustice with the fierce urgency of now. That’s been my career, that’s been my journey and it will continue to be as I move forward for however long I have an opportunity to serve. There will never be a moment where I bend the knee to hard-left democratic socialism," he told The Atlantic last year.

 Jeffries would be the first Black party leader in the House and would face the challenge of navigating a wide-ranging caucus, including progressive members he’s clashed with in the past. A former corporate attorney, Jeffries has faced distrust from some progressives for his support from and for business interests, as well as his backing of a political action committee aimed at defeating progressive challengers. 

It doesn't look like he will face objections from the left, fearing a racial backlash. Too bad.