GREAT NEWS,
We are very happy to report that on November 16, 1999, Governor George Pataki has signed into law legislation which provides retired NYC Transit and Housing Police, with the same level of health insurance and welfare fund benefits as afforded to NYPD retirees.
As you well know, the merger of the NYC Transit and Housing Police Departments with the NYPD, was accomplished without the benefit of legislation. Provisions concerning the future level and funding of our benefits were vague and were subject to the City's sole interruption. Your Association fought hard to overcome the fierce opposition of Mr. James Hanley from the Office of NYC Labor Relations (OLR) , on behalf of the Mayor 's administration. OLR testified at City Council hearings, that the City never intended for the pre-merger Transit and Housing Police retirees, to receive the same level of health and welfare and medical insurance as their NYPD counterparts.
Your Association representatives were able to successfully challenge the City's absurd justification for their opposition. Our thanks to NYS Legislation sponsors Senator Trunzo, and Assemblyman Vitaliano, and their staffs , Senate Majority Leader Bruno and members of the Senate, Assembly Speaker Silver and members of the Assembly, NYC Council Speaker Vallone, and members of the City Council and of course: The Honorable Governor Pataki, for signing this legislation into LAW. Special thanks to our Association's Ed Ranieri, Dan Rivituso, Floyd (Mr. Legislation) Holloway, Bob Koch, Lou Cruz, Frank Crisa, Bob Crews and many others as well as to all of our members and their families who took the time to contact their legislators, the NYS Metropolitan Police Conference President Gary Dela Raba and the members of the Legislative Committee, National Association of Retired Housing Police President Joseph Gagliardo, NYC Columbia Retirees Association President Rick Carubba, NYS AARP Representative Ollie Owen, NYPD PBA President Patrick Lynch and the Legislation Committee, and many others.. This is a tremendous accomplishment by OUR Association. There are still man inequities that need to be addressed in order to make the retirees from NYCTPD whole. I stand ready, as President , to continue with our executive board, to achieve what is rightfully ours.
Fraternally,
Mike Spadafora, President