NYC Failing to Provide Essential Medical Payments to 9/11 Widows and Orphans, According to Unions

For nearly one year, New York City has not fulfilled its financial obligations regarding critical medical payments to the widows and children of first responders who perished on September 11, as well as other city employees who died while on duty. The cessation of these payments, which total approximately 0,000 per quarter, has sparked significant concern among municipal unions and the families affected.

The financial support in question is derived from the Health Insurance Stabilization Fund, designed to assist the families of fallen city workers by covering costs associated with prescription medications, dental examinations, and eye care. Since November, payments have been halted, primarily due to the Fund’s depletion, which occurred last year. The Office of Labor Relations (OLR) has since focused on renegotiating terms with vendors and restructuring its financial obligations, leaving families in a precarious situation.

Vincent Vallelong, president of the NYPD’s Sergeants Benevolent Association, has underscored the urgency of the situation, noting that the union has taken it upon itself to ensure that families of the fallen are not financially burdened. This includes ongoing support for 165 widows and families of sergeants who have died while serving the city. Vallelong emphasized that these funds are specifically designated for the families and should not be subject to budgetary negotiations.

As the anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, sentiments are running high among union leaders and family members of first responders. Vallelong’s remarks reflect a broader frustration, as the city publicly honors the sacrifice of these individuals while failing to provide for their surviving families. The city has traditionally sourced funds for these payments from the OLR’s Health Insurance Stabilization Fund since its inception in 2001, with no prior lapses reported until the current fiscal crisis.

A September letter from OLR Commissioner Renee Campion to union representatives indicated a willingness to resume payments by the third quarter of 2025, contingent upon addressing existing debts. Campion clarified that the financial responsibility does not rest with the city, stating, “This benefit has never been funded by the City.”

The halt in payments directly impacts families of the 343 firefighters, 23 police officers, and 37 Port Authority police officers who lost their lives during the attacks on September 11, along with others who have died in the line of duty since then. Union leaders express growing impatience with City Hall, demanding that the city honor its commitments to these families. Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry highlighted the importance of ensuring that families of fallen heroes receive the benefits they need.

An underlying theme of urgency and injustice resonates in family accounts of the financial strain caused by the lapse in benefits. For example, Margaret Mosomillo, widow of late NYPD Officer Anthony Mosomillo, pointed out how the funds are critical for maintaining basic health services. The contrasting prioritization of funding for new programs versus the obligations to first responders’ families has raised questions of equity and respect for those whose sacrifices helped to protect the city.

As conversations continue among municipal unions regarding the city’s financial obligations, the emphasis remains on ensuring that the memories of the fallen are honored through concrete actions that support their surviving families, rather than treating essential benefits as a subject for negotiation.