18 Comments
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Judy Schneider's avatar

Congratulations Arthur Goldstein on a well worded letter! We can only hope Mulgrew will follow by writing the Amicus Briefs requested and follow up with a sizable Donation!!

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Joan Miller's avatar

Thank you very much!!

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Arthur Goldstein's avatar

You're very welcome.

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Neil Edwards's avatar

This is an excellent letter. For the last 2+ years, I have been contributing money to the retiree group’s legal fund. I agree that our union should join me and all others in supporting the fight against Adams and his allies in attempting to diminish the retiree health benefits we worked so hard for. There should be substantial financial donations from the UFT as well as an amicus brief to show solid support for what the retiree group has accomplished and how it continues to fight to protect our previous victories.

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Arthur Goldstein's avatar

Thank you, and obviously I couldn't agree more. Union exists to represent the interests of the members, and the recent election demonstrated exactly where we stand.

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Cindy T's avatar

We should all copy and email this to Mulgrew.

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Arthur Goldstein's avatar

Be my guest. Add your own comment.

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Keith Brooks's avatar

as usual, good job arthur !

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Arthur Goldstein's avatar

Thank you Keith.

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Kathy Napoli's avatar

Perfectly written letter. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into helping retirees.

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Arthur Goldstein's avatar

Thanks for your kind words!

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Frances E Wilder's avatar

I’ll second you Arthur.

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Arthur Goldstein's avatar

Thanks. Everyone needs a second!

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Sam Noel's avatar

Thank you Arthur for your perseverance and diligence!

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Arthur Goldstein's avatar

Thanks for your kind words Sam. They mean a lot coming from you!

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Keith Firestone's avatar

The UFT is the AFT’s biggest local union. President Weingarten has influence over politicians in New York State both statewide and in the City. I know she is busy with national issues but her public support for the New York State and New York City legislation to preserve Medicare etc for NYC retirees and her constituency would be a powerful message to Mr. Mulgrew and public officials in the state and city.

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Keith Firestone's avatar

Thank you.

Since Randi Weingarten said at the RTC meeting that “we hear you” she and NYSUT and the AFT should also be involved in the fight to preserve Medicare and Medicare supplement at no cost to retirees including removing the co-pays from the plan which is cost shifting to the retirees.

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Arthur Goldstein's avatar

In fact I also wrote to Randi Weingarten, and she said she was working on the national level. We did not discuss specifics. I'm far more familiar with what's going on here. I will say, though, that Project 2025 specifically wishes to make Medicare Advantage the default,

https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/project-2025-trump-medicare-advantage-rcna160896

and that Trump issued an Executive Order favoring privatization as early as 2019.

https://www.americanprogress.org/article/trumps-plan-privatize-medicare/

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