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Read the press release here.

Council Passes De Blasio's Police and Fire Pension Plan Without Much Notice

By Jeff Mays | June 11, 2015 5:16pm
 Under a new rule, the city will pay Police Officer Kenneth Healey a reduced $10,000-a-year disability pension if he cannot return to work.
Under a new rule, the city will pay Police Officer Kenneth Healey a reduced $10,000-a-year disability pension if he cannot return to work.
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NEW YORK CITY — The City Council approved Mayor Bill de Blasio's pension bill for police and firefighters Wednesday after the legislation was stealthily added to the Council's agenda.

The City Council did not give its normal notice that the legislation would receive a hearing Wednesday morning. Many police and fire union officials who oppose de Blasio's bill were in Albany lobbying for their version of pension legislation.

The Council voted 31 to 17 with three abstentions to approve the proposal that would alter a two-tiered disability pension system that provides newer police and firefighters with less of a benefit than their longer-serving colleagues.

Under De Blasio's proposal, his second, police and firefighters hired after 2009 would still be eligible for 50 percent of their pension regardless of whether they are eligible for Social Security benefits, but those who were severely injured would get 75 percent.

Police and fire unions want all workers to receive the 75 percent level benefit, saying the two-tiered system is unfair to first responders who all take the same risks to do their jobs.

DNAinfo reported last year on the plight of a rookie police officer attacked in the head with a hatchet who was eligible for a disability benefit of about $10,000 per year, or $27 per day, under the current two-tiered system.

The unions have the support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

De Blasio said Wednesday at an unrelated press conference that the union pension proposal would return the city to the financial "excesses of the past." He described his plan as a "better model to protect our first responders."

The legislation passed Wednesday was a "home rule," which gives Albany permission to make the changes. Police and fire unions criticized the way the measure was passed with such late notice.

Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito defended the last minute addition of the legislation to the agenda, saying the update was provided on the City Council's website.

"The information was online so it was available to all," said Mark-Viverito.

She also refuted charges from the unions that she was carrying water for the mayor.

"This is not about doing anyone's bidding," she said.

She said discussion of the bill was part of a "really long process" where "many voices" had a chance to advocate for their positions.

"Albany is shutting down soon and it was important for the voices of this council to be heard," Mark-Viverito said.