ACT NOW!!!

CALL THE CITY COUNCIL!

AND NOW YOU CAN SEND "THE LETTER" ELECTRONICALLY***

SCROLL DOWN TO SEND IT...

APPELATE COURT FINDS IN OUR FAVOR-HOORAY!

SEE THE HOME PAGE FOR THE DECISION

NOW LETS CONTINUE WITH THE BUSINESS AT HAND-

CALL ADRIENNE ADAMS at 718-206-2068 OR WHICHEVER

REP YOU WANT TO CALL JUST CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW

TO CHOSE A REP THAT YOU WANT TO TALK WITH.

USE THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOUR OLD FIREHOUSE WAS LOCATED

PUT THAT IN THE ADDRESS BOX.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It doesn't matter if you are active, a retiree, living in NYC 

or living anywhere in the 50 states, 

You can call the City Council and tell them not to approve changing the City's Administrative Code 12-126 which would diminish our guaranteed Health Benefits.

If you live in the city, please call your perspective City Council Representative, or better yet go to their office and drop off the letter that we made up for this issue. You can click on the link to find out who your Rep. is among the 51 by inserting your address into the address box at the top of the page: https://council.nyc.gov/districts/

The letter that was distributed at our meeting on the 27th can be 

downloaded below. 

(SCROLL DOWN \/ )

Those of you who do not live in the five boros-you too can call the City Council and identify yourself as being a member of a POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE, ie: THE RETIRED MEMBER'S ASSOCIATION, FIRE DEPT. CITY OF NEW YORK-which is us. They have to by law record your information, they can't just blow you off.  Here is the link to the 51 Members of the City Council: https://council.nyc.gov/districts/

Now a decision to make is who to call? Everyone should call Adrienne Adams who is the Speaker of the City Council, her number is 718-206-2068. If you do not know what to say, use the letter as a guideline to express your opinion, but above all that make sure you tell them to Vote NO when it comes to changing the NYC Administrative Code 12-126. Their offices are open daily from 9am to 5pm. Most likely you won't be talking directly to the Rep. but to their staff. 

They will take your info and pass it along to him or her.

We need you to keep up the pressure,    

maybe call one per day.

***11/8/22-UPDATE TO SEND THE LETTER ELECTRONICALLY:***

The Professional Staff Congress Congress, a union that voted NO and is totally against the resolution being passed as we are has a way to send the letter electronically. Click on the following to go to their site's page where you can follow the prompts and send the letter:

(If you do not live within the five boros, you can use the address of your old Firehouse)

 https://psc-cuny.org/issues/act-now-to-protect-our-health-insurance/

ps: you do not have to join to send the letter.>FYI: the letter you will be sending is the same letter 

that is being circulated by our association. [FDNYRMA]

As of  11/8/22 the resolution still hasn't been heard by the City Council.  The City Council for reasons not discussed chose to "Table" this and take it up at a session in the days to come in November. Once it is introduced into the City Council it is deemed a "Bill". Once it reaches this status, a bill and not a law it must be sent to one of the committees within the City Council and two hearings are scheduled.  For more on the legislative process- 

click here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/intergovernmental/city/city-legislative-process.page#:~:text=A%20bill%20(proposed%20legislation)%20is,local%20law%20before%20the%20Council.

Click on the following link to see some resolutions concerning Health Care that are being discussed in the Chamber,  there are many! > https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/Legislation.aspx

At each hearing the public may attend and say their piece. You can view these hearings on NYCGOV TV (NYGOV), {On Direct TV it is channel 25-2} on your local cable services. They are on everyday. 

When it comes time to attend the hearings, Marianne Pizzitola would like us to pack the hearing room which is located at City Hall,                    

250 Broadway. 

Click here to find out how to visit the City Council: https://council.nyc.gov/visit-the-council/

To see the Schedule-

Click Here>  https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/Calendar.aspx

The Public will be informed about the hearings ahead of time and I am sure Marianne will let us know thru e-mail and social media when it is time to attend the hearings. Then we will notify you thru our e-mail database and or phone calls and via this website- so please 

check this site frequently.

The response to this calling has been enormous. We thank everyone who has brought the letter in person to their respective Reps-that is the best way to make an impression, however a phone call and follow up phone calls are also imperative. 

Here is an update on our progress: 

Once it becomes a Bill, it has to be discussed by the City Council and two Public Hearings have to be held. They, the City Council would post it on their website.

At those hearings we are allowed to attend. The general public is allowed to attend them and also 

we would be allowed to voice our opinions. "

So we won the first battle. City Council Members at the meeting have delayed the resolution until the November 14th Session. This is the next "stated meeting", where a resolution could achieve Bill Status.                                   Calling them, sending a letter or sending an email or dropping off a letter at their office informing them of our displeasure of changing the City Administrative Code is imperative. Already the City Council wants no part of this resolution. We must keep up the pressure until the end of the month. We will keep you informed of all the proceedings-stay tuned...

Don't lay down and take this! We need to make sure our City Council knows that this issue is weighing heavily on our minds. The turnout at the RMA Meeting was incredible! It was just the first step in waging a battle for our health care benefits. 

If you have any questions you can call our staff here at the RMA:

Jimmy Hayhurst (516) 965-1281

Mike O'Keeffe (917) 853-5772

Bill Schillinger (917) 902-6689

or email me: bill@fdnyrma.org 

Please keep me up to date on your progress.

Sincerely,

Bill Schillinger

Website Media Dept.

ps: when the hearing is scheduled we are allowed to attend it

this is the link to submit your name https://council.nyc.gov/testify/

It was sent to me from the Office of Linda Lee. You can look it over but don't register until we know the date of the hearing(s)

>bilschil<

(NEW PAGE ADDED 

TO WEBSITE 9/29/22)

Updated 11/22/22 8:00PM