Public Service Retiree Community

This is fourth of a series of “special messages” on my plans as Mayor.

“The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”

— Hubert Humphrey, 38th Vice President of the United States (1965-69)

For over half a century, New York City’s mayors and other elected officials promised and provided City workers top-notch City-funded health insurance coverage. Countless municipal employees dedicated their lives to—and, in many cases, risked their lives for—this City based on that promise.

The current City Hall administration, and its immediate predecessor, tried to deny these promised benefits to those who need them the most: elderly and disabled retirees. In my Administration, I will honor the City’s longstanding commitment to retirees. I will do three things:

First, my Administration will protect retirees’ access to traditional Medicare and a Medicare supplement, paid for by the City. This is what they earned and were promised.
Second, I will restore the timing of Medicare reimbursement checks, so that retirees do not have to wait a year for their checks.
Third, I will present a bill to the Speaker of the City Council—similar to the bill first introduced by Councilman David I. Weprin in 2005 (Int 0728-2005)—protecting the healthcare of municipal retirees’ spouses after the retiree’s death. Then-Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, a legendary New York public servant, co-sponsored Weprin’s bill, so you can trust that the measure makes good sense.

This is my promise. You have it in writing. Hold me accountable.

Other candidates should commit to this policy. If they refuse, hold them to account.

Jim Walden,

Candidate for Mayor