PEP, April 2012: Letters to the Editor

Public Employee Press

Letters to the Editor

Hits Republicans

The primaries are in full swing and the Republicans are fighting amongst themselves. Their motto is the same: Attack President Barack Obama. During the last elections the Republicans were routed because all the problems President Obama is facing were created by Mr. Bush. Obama has been trying to solve them but the Republicans are not cooperating with him at all. Now, they are making false promises to the public. It is rightly said that the greatest enemy of mankind is man.

Obama has not created debt he got $15 trillion of debt from Bush, who wiped out surpluses and created debt. The Republicans want to eat the whole American pie themselves and give the public some crumbs. They make money through dubious means and leave millions of dollars for their loved ones and leave the country bankrupt.

What shall it profit a man if he wins the whole world and loses his own soul? This is what is going on with rich Republicans. They have everything but they are hungry. Millions of people have nothing for food or medication. They pay their fair amount of taxes. They cheat the public and God. It's a shame.

I am sure that President Obama will win the next election and will be our next president.

—Chandur D. Malkani
Retiree, Local 1549

OTB retiree angry at mayor and governor

New York City OTB retirees have literally been told to drop dead by Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. Cuomo. Bloomberg's decision to cancel NYC OTB retirees'health insurance, during the 2010 economic crisis, was shocking; but his decision to reclassify them as unworthy-of-life was more shocking.

It is unfortunate that Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. Cuomo have shown a total disregard for human life. They have been behaving like a pair of inanimate book-ends, while the human condition has been calling for a sympathetic ear and an empathetic heart. Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. Cuomo have proven that they lack the human qualities for humane and responsible government. Their inhumanity to New York City OTB retirees will live in infamy for decades to come.

Last May, a misguided appeals court panel decided that it cannot order New York City or New York State to pay NYC OTB retirees' health benefits.

This odious decision was devastating. Instantly, New York City OTB retirees' health benefits terminated (a fitting reward for 35 years of public service). The sudden cancellation of the health benefits has created a perilous health care situation for OTB retirees. Most cannot afford health insurance. OTB retirees under the age of 65 are hurting most because they cannot enroll in Medicare and their income exceeds Medicaid guidelines. (What are NYC OTB retirees to do, die?)

Gov. Cuomo made the decision on Sept. 23 to veto essential NYC OTB retirees' health legislation. Apparently, Gov. Cuomo had decided that "two wrongs make a right."

—Robert Sica
NYC OTB Retiree

Editor's note: The issue of providing the health insurance was before the legislature as PEP went to press.

Thanks for PEP article

On behalf of the Eligibility Specialists, thank you for addressing their issues and acknowledging their dedication to their clients and agency in the article by Jane LaTour, "Growing hunger - shredded safey net." They hope this will help resolve the problems they face daily in the Food Stamp Centers.

—Kathleen Newallo
Grievance Rep., Local 1549

Our schools are not a business

Ms. Roberts, I know that you are not going to take this Tier 6 sitting down. Our mayor and our governor are certainly, slowly but surely, trying to chop away our unions.

Look what they have done to our schools. I think it is time for us to show them that we mean business. Ms. Roberts, I know that you can do that.

Being a retired School Aide, I can see that Mr. Bloomberg has turned our schools into a business. Our schools are not a business and our children are not a commodity.

—Phyllis Levy
Retired School Aide, Local 372

Says she feels lucky to be a part of DC 37

I want to tell you how grateful I am for the services provided by the union's Audiology service.

I've been wearing hearing aids now for several years and I recently saw Ms. Mary Raad again for a hearing test.

The new hearing aids are perfect and the exam and aids did not cost me anything. I feel very lucky to be part of DC 37.

—Helga Pamm
Retiree