Albany lawmakers are pushing a invoice that will provide relations of late sanitation employees who cleaned up Floor Zero a number of the identical advantages offered to family members of first responders who died from 9/11-related diseases.
The Ignazio Giacalone Act would give youngsters and siblings of sanitation employees who died from 9/11-related diseases extra credit on their civil service examination, bringing them in keeping with firefighters and cops.
The invoice is known as after Ignazio Giacalone, who died in 2021 after a battle with most cancers, associated to his work at floor zero.
“They gave town the whole lot. And eventually, at the least they’re getting some kind of assist. It’s good,” Giacalone’s son, Michael, advised The Submit.
Over 100 sanitation division employees have died of most cancers tied to their work cleansing up the commerce heart’s web site.
The youthful Giacalone is hoping to comply with in his father’s footsteps. He at the moment has an inventory quantity and is about to attend orientation and endure a bodily to affix DSNY in just a few months, however had he gotten extra credit score just like the invoice would offer, he might have been capable of be part of earlier.
“I’m grateful for the [Sanitiation] division. They’ve helped out tremendously,” Giacolone mentioned.
“My dad mentioned, on the finish of the day, that the job gave him his life. It gave him a pension and it gave him the whole lot that he had constructed up. I’m very grateful for the job, and I’m grateful for town,” Giacolone continued.
Giacalone mentioned the trouble to get the invoice taken up by state lawmakers has largely been led by former DSNY supervisor Edward Panzarella.
“This invoice honors the legacy of sanitation employees like Ignazio who put their lives on the road for New York. However extra, this invoice’s passage is an announcement from New York State that we see you, we thanks, and we’ll always remember your heroism and your sacrifice,” Assemblyman Sam Berger (D-Queens), the invoice’s sponsor, mentioned.
The Meeting unanimously handed the invoice earlier this month, and it now simply must cross within the state Senate earlier than heading to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk. The laws is carried within the higher chamber by state Sen. Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan).
The laws has additionally gotten assist from metropolis lawmakers.
“New York’s Strongest misplaced over 130 individuals on account of 9/11 associated diseases, but we seldom hear about their contributions. It’s time that we honor them the identical method we honor the First Responders who have been there getting town again on its toes within the aftermath,” Councilwoman Vickie Paladino mentioned.
Supply hyperlink
