Walter Adler testifies on EMS solidarity with vulnerable New Yorkers
Walter Adler, a 23-year paramedic, expresses EMS support for all legislation benefiting elderly and disabled New Yorkers, explains EMS workers came to the hearing because only one or two committee meetings per year address EMS issues, and frames EMS as allies in fighting for affordable housing and vulnerable populations.
My name is Walter Adler.
I'm a paramedic for a hospital-based 911 system in the city.
I've been working in EMS for 23 years.
Let me raise and resolve on behalf of my colleagues who are here from the private sector, the hospital sector, and the fire department.
That any legislation whatsoever that is beneficial to the elderly and disabled of our city, that helps them live lives with dignity and helps them survive, all 15,000 EMS, EMTs, and paramedics support.
And I know that because I know the soul of the ambulance worker.
Which is to say I know that the men and women that sign up to become EMTs and paramedics are the kind of women that will go in every circumstance for when our aging members of our city are at their very worst moment.
The legislation that you're proposing, we support, and we in no means seek to disrespect you or the council by bringing our issues before you.
30 committee meetings that happen a month, maybe only one or two
are about EMS per year, and that is why for 30 years, nothing has advanced in our field.
EMS PAC, the Emergency Services Public Advocacy Council, is always going to stand by low-income New Yorkers, immigrant New Yorkers,
New Yorkers that want an affordable life in our city, and in that regard, our organization will always be on the side of the mayor and members of the council that are fighting for New Yorkers.
How I seek to make this relevant for today's topic, which is purely about aging, disabled New Yorkers getting more secure housing and a better life and opportunity,
is I want people to understand that EMS members are not just here to beg with our hands out for five more dollars salary.
We see ourselves as agents of this city and as members that support the city's most vulnerable members.
So we're here today in solidarity, not just with our own wages and our own labor struggles, but to say we wish to be allies to ARP, to members of the council, to everybody fighting for New Yorkers.
Thank you.
Next one.