DC 37 Retirees, which represents more than 50,000 retired municipal workers, will endorse Joe Addabbo for State Senate. Councilman Addabbo has been consistently supportive of the retiree’s needs and concerns and is proud to accept their endorsement.
“Joe is sensitive to the needs of retirees even though he is a generation removed. He understands how government can help retirees, seniors and union members. He supports our proposals including the continuation of health insurance coverage to surviving spouses of city retirees. DC 37 Retirees enthusiastically support Joe Addabbo for State Senate. He is far and away the best candidate to represent the 15th Senate District,” said Stu Leibowitz, President of DC 37 Retirees.
The Retirees listed a number of reasons for their endorsement:
Spousal Coverage: As chair of the City Council Civil Service and Labor Committee, Joe is a co-sponsor of legislation that would allow spouses and domestic partners of deceased city employees to continue to receive medical benefits.
Tenants and Homeowners: Joe supports efforts to preserve quality rental properties, expand homeownership opportunities and assist constituents facing foreclosure. He supports strengthening of existing rent control and rent stabilization laws and is proud to have the endorsement of Tenants PAC. Joe supports inclusionary zoning that require new multi-family housing to provide a reasonable percentage of units for lower-income families.
Strengthening Unions: Joe has stated “We need to reform the Taylor Law to encourage employers to negotiate. We’re just forcing workers to work without a contract, for the benefit of the employer and the detriment of the people.” As chair of the Civil Service and Labor Committee, Joe has held oversight hearings on the inequities inherent in the Taylor Law, improvements in public sector pensions and curtailing the wasteful practice of contracting-out.
Health Care: In addition to spousal coverage, Joe supports extended health care and other benefits for the workers who helped with rescue, recovery and clean-up after 9/11. He supports paid medical leave for those who care for sick relatives and for new moms.
Constituent Services: Joe’s district office telephone, (718) 738-1111, has a live 24/7 answering service for rapid response to emergencies such as blackouts and floods. He secured funding to create a new ferry service to Manhattan and for increased bus service on the QM15 and QM11. He has fought for funding for our senior centers; secured over $11 million for our schools, over $11 million for local parks and $1.5 million for our local libraries.
The Right DNA: Joe is a lawyer and lifelong Democrat who grew up in a proud tradition of public service. Joe Addabbo Sr., his father, represented western Queens in Congress from 1960 to 1986 where he was known as a supporter of union and civil rights. Joe was elected to the City Council in 2001, taking back a Republican held city council seat. His wife, Dawn, is from Glendale and they have two daughters Alexis, 4, and Ariana, 18 months.
“I am grateful to have the support of the retirees with whom I’ve worked on a number of initiatives, and hope to continue that close relationship in Albany. Labor should never be taken for granted, especially not the men and women who’ve devoted their working lives in service to our city. I will fight hard for a decent wage, solid benefits, and fair housing to keep New York City a place where working people can raise their families and retire comfortably,” said Councilman Addabbo.
“Councilman Addabbo has always been a friend of Labor and particularly SSEU Local 371. As Chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Civil Service and Labor, he did not have to be taught what the issues are. From supporting of the Civil Service Merit system to always advocating for the protection of City workers’ jobs and benefits, we can always count on Joe Addabbo. Now Joe Addabbo can count on our union to help put him in the New York State Senate, where he can bring the same advocacy and support to workers issues,” said Faye Moore, President of SSEU Local 371 which represents approximately 18,000 social service employees throughout the City of New York and is affiliated with DC 37 and AFSCME, AFL-CIO.
The Tech Guild, Local 375 of District Council 37 was present and offered their full support as well.
List of Unions for Addabbo:
Amalgamated Transit Union 1056
Amalgamated Transit Union 1181
Civil Service Tech Guild Local 375
CWA 1180
CWA 1182
CWA District Council 1
District Council 37 Local 983
Doctors Council
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 891
Iron Workers
New York Hotel & Motel Trades Council
New York State Nurses’ Association
Plumbers Local 1
RWDSU
RWDSU Local 338
SSEU Local 371
Tenants PAC
UAW
UFCW Local 1500
UNITE HERE
Working Families Party
