Written and edited by Norm Scott:
EDUCATE! ORGANIZE!! MOBILIZE!!!
Three pillars of The Resistance – providing information on current ed issues, organizing activities around fighting for public education in NYC and beyond and exposing the motives behind the education deformers. We link up with bands of resisters. Nothing will change unless WE ALL GET INVOLVED IN THE STRUGGLE!
ABC, A Better Contract, will have a bunch of people there.
The NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees are
having an in person mayoral forum on April 17th. Many retirees live out
of state and cannot attend. Retiree healthcare is not just an issue for
those who are retired. This issue is important to us all, for our
future. We need to demonstrate people power so that mayoral candidates
know that we are paying attention. Candidates need to see we can deliver
numbers. So, let’s stand in solidarity with all public service retirees
and exercise power.
Of
all the candidates that were invited, Curtis is attending as well as
Jim Walden, Scott Stringer, Brad Lander, Zellnor Myrie , Michael Blake,
Whitney Tilson, and Jessica Ramos.
Zohran Mamdani backed out after agreeing, Adrienne Adams said no, Eric Adams ignored us, and Andrew Como said no.
Attending
is not an endorsement of any candidate. It’s demonstrating to all
candidates that they must address the issues that are important to
the constituencies they want to endorse and vote for them.
The NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees are
having an in person mayoral forum on April 17th. Many retirees live out
of state and cannot attend. Retiree healthcare is not just an issue for
those who are retired. This issue is important to us all, for our
future. We need to demonstrate people power so that mayoral candidates
know that we are paying attention. Candidates need to see we can deliver
numbers. So, let’s stand in solidarity with all public service retirees
and exercise power.
Of
all the candidates that were invited, Curtis is attending as well as
Jim Walden, Scott Stringer, Brad Lander, Zellnor Myrie , Michael Blake,
Whitney Tilson, and Jessica Ramos.
Zohran Mamdani backed out after agreeing, Adrienne Adams said no, Eric Adams ignored us, and Andrew Como said no.
Attending
is not an endorsement of any candidate. It’s demonstrating to all
candidates that they must address the issues that are important to
the constituencies they want to endorse and vote for them.
Updated Video Message Updated Video Message Dec. 31
PLEASE WATCH!
Dec. 31
OK GANG - It's Crunch time. The Adams/Mulgrew/MLC/OLR/DRACULA TEAM HAVE FOUND A FLUNKIE TO INTRO A BILL TO CHANGE THE ADMIN CODE ---
Council Member Carmen DeLaRosa, Chair of Civil Service & Labor and
Speaker Adrienne Adams will bring the MLC Admin Code amendment to the
floor on Wednesday January 4th. Tentative hearings on Jan. 9, 10 and Vote on Jan. 19.
We are hearing rumors from city council people that the UFT is threatening those who vote not to change the code with loss of UFT endorsements - pretty funny when Unity at a recent exec bd meeting argued that no one issue should be used to deny a politician an endorsement.
Mulgrew can win but still lose
If Mulgrew wins this he still loses support from segments of the retiree chapter, where there will be a chapter election in the spring of 2024. Retiree Advocate received 30% of the vote in 2021, up from about 15% in 2018. If the vote gets to 40% anti-Unity, that becomes a threat to Mulgrew in the general election in 2025.
First, it has been confirmed that the Chair of the Civil Service &
Labor Committee Carmen DeLaRosa will be bringing the bill drafted by the
MLC and OLR to the floor on Wednesday, January 4th at Noon.
It is suggested we go to the hearing they scheduled on January 9th and the final vote on January 19th. (SEE BELOW).
We will put out more information regarding these dates and how YOU can testify.
Lastly, because this is going to her committee, you will need to call & email them daily. The list is below.
***************************************
List of City Council Members on the Civil Service and Labor to be called: (CALL BOTH NUMBERS)
28 Speaker Adrienne E. Adams Legislative Office: 212-788-6850 District Office: 718-206-2068
10 Hon. Carmen De La Rosa Legislative Office: 212-788-7053 District Office: 917-521-2616
3 Hon. Erik Bottcher District Office: 212-564-7757
Dear CM________,
The City Council is being threatened that if they don’t amend the
statute to force retirees into the Medicare Advantage, the Mayor will do
that on his own. Amending the statute does the same thing! Why should
the City Council amend the law if the Mayor will do this anyway? Why do
his dirty work? Let the Mayor take the political hit for hurting
retirees and remove City Council Members from the ire of retirees and
constituents in their next election. If the Mayor does this act, the
Retirees will be able to challenge and win this in court where we have
been successful because the City has violated the law and this is his
way around it. If the City Council amends this Administrative Code, they
will affirmatively be hurting retirees and preventing us from winning
this in Court. Don’t prevent us from winning again in court. We served
our time as employees and have a right to enjoy our time as retirees
with proper care that we earned and paid for.
Don’t buy the Big Lie. Don’t amend the Code, protect it like every City
Council before you has against a greedy Mayor. Protect 12-126. Scheinman
has no jurisdiction over the City Council nor the Retirees.
We request that you do NOT support the bill being introduced on January 9th by Civil Service and Labor Chair DeLaRosa.
Thank you for protecting us from financial peril and losing our healthcare.
Name _________________, Retiree or Employee
Agency, years of service, year retired
******************************
************** Target Dates
January 4th @ 12pm City Hall: Bill to be introduced
January 9th @ 10am City Hall: Civil Service and Labor Committee Meeting **JOIN US AT THIS HEARING!!!
January 19th @ 1:30pm City Hall: Stated Meeting and Vote on the Bill **JOIN US AT THE VOTE
If you are on Twitter and Instagram, please comment and share our messages.
We also created an OPEN FaceBook Page https://www.facebook.com/NYCRetirees
It appears the MLC has been working overtime like the Grinch.
This is a call to arms.
Please reserve on your calendar the FOLLOWING dates: January 4, 9, 10,
19th. YOU MAY BE ASKED TO CONVENE AT CITY HALL ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE
DATES. We will update you next week.
PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO IN THIS EMAIL.
It explains that Council Member Carmen DeLaRosa, Chair of Civil Service
& Labor and Speaker Adrienne Adams will bring the MLC Admin Code
amendment to the floor on Wednesday January 4th. YOU MUST
ACT NOW and tell them NOT to amend the Administrative code and remind
them the Scheinman paper they all think is arbitration is NOT.It was paid propaganda and his OPINION, and it is NOT legally binding. EMAIL EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER, a sample script is below!
This is the list of Council Members. Click to open! Make sure you send emails to CM Carmen DeLa Rosa and Speaker Adrienne Adams when you email all the others!
If you are on Twitter or Instagram find us and share our message. @NYCRETIREES
Next week we will advise you the next steps. SHARE THIS MESSAGE!
Yours in TRUE Solidarity,
The NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees
If you need a sample script when emailing or calling the Council.
We have been advised that Civil Service and Labor Chair Carmen DeLaRosa
and Speaker Adrienne Adams will be bringing the MLC Administrative Code
Modification to the City Council floor on Wednesday January 4th at NOON.
YOU HAVE HOMEWORK EMAIL City COUNCIL, especially CM DeLaRosa and
Speaker Adrienne Adams (the Full list is here:
https://mcusercontent.com/036ef3a3db4831f1dc593990d/files/df85df38-69ff-72b6-9621-fe82156dc2d4/Council_Member_List.pdf
)
A sample Email: Hi! My name is_____________ and I am a retiree/ (if
you are active/in-service say that!). We want you to know the Scheinman
report is NOT a “ruling”, it’s an opinion and IS NOT BINDING! It’s paid
propaganda and they’re hoping the city council falls for it… it is not a
decision, it is not a ruling, it is not an award!! The retirees have
identified at least $300 million in savings. OMB knows about some of
these savings options, and has NOT implemented them NOR informed the
city council… and OMB is unaware of others! Which is worse? HOW CAN THE
MAYOR OR THE COUNCIL MAKE A DECISION IF THEY ARE NOT BEING PROPERLY
INFORMED BY OMB? DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGE TO THE AMINISTRATIVE CODE!
Please reach out to the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees for
real facts! The MLC doesn't want you to know they sold off ALL of our
healthcare for raises! Yes, that includes you! Please remember this as
we go into the New Year. Happy New Year! AND DO NOT AMEND THE
ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 12-126!
Signed, YOUR NAME AND YEAR/AGENCY YOU RETIRED or Where you work
Your friends, and retirees in SOLIDARITY...
The NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees
**************
Donations
are Needed! It is fall, copays, inflation, etc, but we need to keep
donations coming in to fund our October litigation!
TO DONATE TO THE LEGAL FUND
Donation Instructions to Support Our Class Action Suit Against the City To Protect Our Retiree Healthcare:
We worked decades for our benefits! Let’s make sure the City and the MLC don’t take them away!
A suggested $25 Donation* will help start the fight to keep our
current benefits. Give more if you can, and/or often! If you cannot
meet the minimum suggested donation, we appreciate whatever you can give
towards this fight for our benefits. We also added the option to make
your donation recurring (monthly) as was requested.
The fundraiser group is incorporated as a Non-Profit. ALL proceeds go to
fund the organization and its legal challenge. Volunteer retirees are
running this effort. Our 501C3 is pending.
TO DONATE, HERE ARE 4 SIMPLE WAYS!
1.Zelle using email NYCOrgofpublicserviceretirees@gmail.com
2. Make your check out to:
NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees PO Box 941
Venice, FL 34284 (our treasurer lives in FL)
VENMO is a Phone App or can be used on a PC or Tablet
You can download and install the Phone App from the Android Play Store
or Apple App Store. There may be fees involved using this method.
Our ID is:@NYCRetirees
If you are on this list, it is because
you subscribed to hear what we are doing as an organization that
represents all NYC Municipal workers in protecting their Health benefits
in retirement. Currently, we have a FACEBOOK page located here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/888622578669131
If you are not on FACEBOOK, we will be updating you here. And Check our website for FAQ www.nycretirees.org
Thank you for signing up for our newsletter and pass this to a friend to sign up too!
If you are a retiree, tomorrow is the day for you to show up and be counted at one or both events.
The
city council will be voting soon on the future of your health care.
Tomorrow 12:15, press conference around 1 at City Hall, followed at
3:30 a few blocks away at 52 Broadway where we show numbers to Mulgrew
and crew. Keep the pressure on both the politicians and UFT leadership.
For working UFT members, this is the first delegate assembly of the year. Show Mulgrew you won't accept healthcare cuts.
Reports are coming in on new deductibles and co-pays. If we are silent it will only get worse.
Norm
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022
I posted yesterday about the two rallies coming up on Wednesday:
We hear the big screen truck will be joining us with Mulgrew videos following us downtown on Broadway. We have sound and speakers - and Marianne Pizzitola will speak at both rallies - a bunch of UFT war horses met with her on zoom last week to fill her in on how the UFT operates. Her videos below are a sample.
Here is a new leaflet focused on the DA.
Here is the posting by The NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees
