Coalition Wants City To Honor 9/11 Health Claims
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Members of the NYC Coalition of Uniformed Services came together Thursday to protest what they say is the city's effort to dismiss court claims regarding illness and injury suffered by 9/11 first responders.
Coalition members say the Bloomberg administration wants a Federal Judge to dismiss claims filed by members of the FDNY, NYPD and Port Authority Police.
They say the city argued uniformed personnel are not entitled to workplace protection under state labor laws.
"I remember on 9/11 we came down here, all the firefighters, cops, everybody wanted to help out. Now what kind of message is they mayor sending when he doesn't want to help us when we need help," said Kenny Specht, a member of the FDNY.
"It's difficult to hear that I possibly overperformed, did somebody else's job, and because I may have acted as a construction worker, out of necessity, my claim should be dismissed," said John McNamara, a member of the FDNY.
In response, the city says its motion did not ask for the dismissal of a single plaintiff's case.
The city added, "All the motion would do is simplify the issues for the court. The reaction to this motion highlights the need for legislation to reopen the federal Victim Compensation Fund, which the city supports, to provide compensation without the need for costly and divisive litigation."