REMARKS
Council member Ariola requests commitment to review inconsistent cases
0:45:57
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97 sec
Council Member Ariola responds to the nominee's explanation, emphasizing the need for consistency in handling vaccine mandate cases and requesting a commitment to review specific cases.
- Ariola points out inconsistencies in the Law Department's approach to similar cases
- She expresses concern over the use of taxpayer money for appeals and outside counsel
- The council member commits to sending specific cases for review and requests more equitable treatment
Joann Ariola
0:45:57
safe.
0:45:58
That is true.
0:45:58
And they would still be required to adhere to that mandate if it were so brought back.
0:46:04
But the problem here is that the law department does not have a consistent policy when when it comes to these particular people.
0:46:13
We have had 16, 16 sanitation workers that won their case and yet, the city law department appeals it.
0:46:22
And then you hire outside counsel in Heinz Radix and pay them, you know, 100 of 1,000 of dollars.
0:46:28
These are taxpayer dollars, taxpayer dollars that we're supposed to be saving.
0:46:32
So I would like to know that under your leadership that you would take a more of a look at this and bring equity.
0:46:37
And they I can get send you, and I would like to and I will send you, dozens of cases dozens of cases that are exactly situated to the ones that you brought back to work, yet others are still waiting to hear and are unemployed.
0:46:53
And and when I say that they are living in cars and in shelters and rely on the charity of family, I'm not making that up and I'm not exaggerating it.
0:47:02
But we need to see more equity, and we've been really leading the charge on this.
0:47:08
But each time we try, we hit a stumbling block.
0:47:12
I'm hoping that if you should make it through, that you will look at these cases and you'll see that and I'm going to send them to you because you'll see that they are exactly situated the same.
0:47:26
And there shouldn't be any inequity for all of them to come back, especially when the mandate was lifted.
0:47:32
Thank you.
Muriel Goode-Trufant
0:47:33
Thank you, council member.
