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Hochul Makes History and a Win for Local 100

Gov. Kathy Hochul made history yesterday, Nov. 8, 2022, by becoming the first woman elected Governor in our state. This also was a win for Local 100.

We enthusiastically endorsed Hochul for several reasons:

• She is working with Mayor Adams – not against him – on initiatives to make the city safer. She put more police in the transit system, for example, and increased the number of psychiatric beds for the mentally ill homeless.
• The Governor enacted the first positive change on Tier 6.  The time needed to be vested and receive benefits was cut in half in half from 10 years to 5.
• She signed landmark legislation, championed by Local 100, that allows widows and dependents of workers who died of cancer caused by diesel exposure to file for Workers Compensation benefits. The “Nigro” bill was named after Local 100 Bus Maintainer Bill Nigro, who died of lung cancer in 2012.
• The Governor strengthened Kendra’s Law, which enables judges to order disturbed individuals, who pose a danger to themselves and others, to get treatment or be temporarily committed.

Unlike her opponent, Lee Zeldin, Hochul also has a history of supporting funding for mass transit, which is critical to our livelihoods. And Kathy grew up in a blue-collar, union household. She understands what it’s like to be a member of the working class.

There are no quick fixes to the problems facing New York and other cities right now: inflation and crime. The Governor does have to get bills approved by the state Legislature, which will be very challenging at times. But she is moving NY in the right direction. I believe she truly cares about transit workers.

Stations Stands Strong in the Bronx for Assaulted CTA

NOVEMBER 3 -- Stations VP Robert Kelley, other  Departmental officers, and rank and file members came to the Bronx Hall of Justice for the continuing trial of Alexander Wright, who brutally assaulted CTA Anthony Nelson at the Pelham Bay Park stop on the 6 line. At today's hearing, Wright was brought out in handcuffs but the trial was adjourned until December 15th. We are going to keep pushing prosecutors to do their jobs and bring him to justice -- and we are urging all members to stand with us at the next hearing date.

Brother Kelley told news media that seven years is not enough punishment for those who assault transit workers. He called CTA Nelson's injuries "a life sentence" of a different kind, saying he will never completely recover from the assault.

Why We're Supporting Kathy Hochul for Governor

TWU Local 100 supports Gov. Kathy Hochul for a full-term as Governor because of her ongoing commitment to make our transit system safer for workers and riders, improve the infrastructure that we operate and maintain, and pursue fair treatment for union members. Gov. Hochul has:
·       Expanded Kendra’s Law. Courts can more easily order those who are severely mentally ill, and deemed a danger to themselves or others, get mental health treatment. Failure to comply can result in temporary placement in a psychiatric hospital.
·       Provided more psychiatric beds. Budgeted millions of dollars to restore up to 1,000 psychiatric beds in hospitals that were taken off-line during the pandemic. Creating two new in-patient units for the subway homeless/mentally ill.
·       Increased police coverage and presence in the subway, working with Mayor Adams, the NYPD, and MTA Police Department.
·       Enacted the first positive change on Tier 6.  The time needed to be vested and receive benefits was cut in half in half from 10 years to 5.
·       Signed landmark legislation, championed by Local 100, that allows widows and dependents of workers who died of cancer caused by diesel exposure to file for Workers Compensation benefits. The “Nigro” bill was named after Local 100 Bus Maintainer Bill Nigro, who died of lung cancer in 2012.
·       Supported the $52 billion MTA capital plan, the largest investment in the authority’s infrastructure state history

Indian-American Day Set for Nov 19