Morano explains vote on 692A, notes para who retired before benefit
Council Member Frank Morano votes yes enthusiastically on Intro 692, congratulating De La Rosa and recognizing former Council Member Keith Powers. He notes regret that a para from his district, Ellen Santarelli, retired the day before and won't receive the benefit, wishes the payment were pensionable, and criticizes the administration's opposition. He votes no on Intro 972 and 983A.
Morano.
Permission to explain my vote?
Permission granted.
I wanted to speak a moment on Intro 692.
I'll be voting yes enthusiastically on this legislation.
I want to congratulate Councilmember Carmen De La Rosa for getting this bill across the finish line.
I also want to recognize former Councilmember Keith Powers, whose leadership on this issue helped lay the groundwork for where we are today.
I don't know that anybody told him he's a former council member, though, because I feel like I see him at City Hall just as much now as when he served in this body.
He's kind of like the municipal equivalent of Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense, but it's great to see him.
Every day, our school paraprofessionals do some of the hardest and most important work in our education system.
They help children with disabilities learn, communicate, and succeed.
They support our teachers, strengthen classrooms, and make a real difference in the lives of New York families.
Yet for far too long, they've been asked to do that work for far too little pay.
I do have one regret in this bill, though.
A wonderful paraprofessional from my district, Ellen Santarelli, devoted her career to serving our children.
She retired yesterday, and because of the timing, she won't receive this benefit.
That's unfortunate because people like Ellen are...
are exactly the public servants struggling to afford to continue to live here that we should be rewarding.
I also wish this $10,000 payment could be pensionable.
Unfortunately, this legislation doesn't permit that.
My hope is that making compensation like this pensionable becomes part of the next collective bargaining agreement so these hardworking employees receive not only immediate relief, but greater retirement security as well.
Finally, I think it's disappointing that this administration has indicated its opposition to this and other similar legislation.
Too often when it comes to giving working people the support they've earned, whether it's paraprofessionals, EMS workers, or others, we're told that collective bargaining means nothing can be done.
Collective bargaining is obviously important, and it must be respected, but it shouldn't become an excuse for not helping working folks in our city.
Thank you.
With that, I'll vote aye on everything with the exception of Intro 972 and 983A, on which I vote no.
Thank you.