The following letter was sent to Senator Flanagan urging the State Senate’s passage of the VSF Disability Inquiry Bill S.1031 in order to support our disabled firefighters and police personnel, who have served and sacrificed their own life and limb for our safety and security here in New York City.
June 4, 2015
The Honorable John Flanagan
Senate Majority Leader
NY State Senate
Albany, NY 12247
Dear Senator Flanagan,
We fully support any measure to protect NYPD/FDNY retirees’ pension and health insurance benefits. Recently, I was informed of the Senate bill S.1031 that creates a temporary task force to examine the history and current status of the Variable Supplement Fund (VSF) of New York City’s Police and Firefighters Retirement System.
I am writing to voice my full support for S.1031 which has no financial impact on either the state or NYC’s budget and ask that you to do everything in your power to approve this legislation before the session ends later this month. Since the inception of the VSF program, much controversy has been generated due to the exclusion of disabled retirees from this benefit, causing a great deal of confusion and frustration for disabled NYPD and FDNY retirees. This temporary task force would clarify any misinterpretation of the law.
I urge you to do whatever you can to have the State Senate pass the VSF Disability Inquiry Bill S.1031, in order to assist our disabled firefighters and police personnel, who have served and sacrificed their own life and limb for our safety and security here in New York.
Sincerely,
Phil Orenstein
President
