WHAT
YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
District 32 Bronx County, New York
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
District 32 Bronx County, New York
You should know that I am calling upon
Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Department of Corrections to help
provide justice for Mrs. Janis Middlebrooks, a widow of a former NYS
Corrections Officer who has been pleading for assistance for more than 10 years
and who has been pushed around by New York’s bureaucracy and denied the
survivor benefits her husband worked for.
When I read Mrs. Middlebrooks’ email, it
broke my heart.
Mrs. Middlebrooks has given me
permission to share her email, which appears in its entirety below, hoping that
Governor Andrew Cuomo or any elected or government official, member of the
media, or someone with a heart will find a way to provide her justice.
Ladies and gentlemen, they want to talk
about the War Against Women. Well, as the Ranking Member of the Senate
Committee on Aging, I have to say that it is a disgrace to learn about the war
that Mrs. Janis Middlebrooks has been fighting.
I hope and pray that as we begin Women’s
History Month, Governor Andrew Cuomo will help her to finally obtain the relief
that she is entitled to receive.
I am Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz, and
the following information is what you should know.
From: "janis middlebrooks" <janismiddlebrooks@yahoo.com>
Date: March 1,
2016 at 5:43:10 PM EST
Subject:
Pension Denial
Reply-To:
"janis middlebrooks" <janismiddlebrooks@yahoo.com>
I am a widow
of a former New York State Correction Officer. My husband worked for the
State of New York for 18 years before he retired due to cancer. My
husband lost his fight with colon cancer on December 3, 2006. We were
married for 38 years and was still together at the time of his death. We
raised three wonderful men, who became good citizens, husbands, taxpayers and
homeowners for New York State. One of my sons has been a New York State
Trooper for over 10 years; I took care of my husband at home until he passed
away from the agony of this terrible disease. I watched him deteriorate
right before my eyes, and it was something I will never forget.
After my
husband passed away, I notified the State of New York Retirement System, and at
this time I was told that I would not be entitled to my husband’s pension
because they say he had never returned a letter that they say they mailed to
him. Since this time the State of New York has denied me the right to
receive my husband’s pension, when this is what he had wanted me to have.
How the State of New York can deny me this money is mind boggling to me.
My husband had me named on all of the paperwork as his beneficiary and
the State is trying to keep what my husband worked so many years for. I
do not know how many spouses they have done this to but it is downright robbery
to me. I want the people of New York State to know that Albany is
treating widows/widowers unfairly after they have lost their loved ones and
then to be told they will not receive their pension. I pray that the
people who have made this decision are able to sleep peacefully at night knowing
what they are doing to people like me. When the State of New York was in
a budget crisis, there seemed to be no crisis when they outright stole money
from widows/widowers who were entitled to their spouse’s pensions. Where
did this money go, if not to the family members?
My family and
I have written to numerous people to get assistance with getting this matter
resolved. There is currently a proposed bill by Senator Timothy Kennedy
(S3527) and Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes (A6100) on my behalf to help
me pick an election option on behalf of my late husband, which has been sitting
in committee for quite some time.
I have written
to so many people for help in getting my husband's pension after his death and
I am now writing to you, hoping for your assistance. I have been in constant
contact with Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's office, Michael Johnson, for the
past nine (9) years, and I have also written to Governor Cuomo a couple of
times. Whatever you can do to assist me in this matter would be greatly
appreciated. No person should have to go through the ordeal I have been dealing
with for these many years.
I heard that
Gov. Cuomo was thinking about a bill that would take away politicians pensions
that were convicted of felony crimes. I have been addressing this for
quite a while. I am so pleased to hear that another politician is willing to
champion this bill. My husband never committed any crimes and I have
suffered the loss of his pension. I know justice will prevail, and I pray
that you and your colleagues will support my bill.
I am hoping
that your office will be able to approve this bill when it comes before you.
I can be reached at (716) 834-0917 should you or your staff wish to
contact me.
I trust that
you will be a fair and law abiding individual who is in office to help the
people and make changes where it is necessary, and to make a wrong a right when
necessary. Since they were convicted, these gentlemen should not be able
to collect their pension. All my husband ever did was to work hard and
try to make a worry free life for his family after his passing. Since his
passing in December 2006, the State of New York has denied me this right.
I have
told Senator Timothy Kennedy and Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes that I
will not give up, because my husband did not give up with his fight with
cancer, and the money the State of New York is holding is due to him for his 18
years of service with the New York State Department of Corrections. I
pray that all the politicians who are still in office and being corrupt will
suffer the loss that I have been dealing with for the past nine years.
Thank
you.
Very truly
yours,
Mrs. Janis
Middlebrooks
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