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    PUBLIC TESTIMONY
            Testimony by Jack Wei Lin, Former EMT from New York Fire Department (FDNY)
1:08:31
·
151 sec
Jack Wei Lin, a former EMT with 14 years of service at FDNY, testified in opposition to Muriel Goode-Trufant's appointment as Corporation Counsel and urged support for Resolution 5 to reinstate workers fired due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Lin was terminated after his religious exemption was denied twice.
- Lin argued that the vaccine mandate unjustly terminated dedicated city workers who exercised their right to religious beliefs and bodily autonomy.
- He highlighted the inconsistency in current hiring practices, where new hires are not required to be vaccinated while experienced workers remain unemployed.
- Lin emphasized the emotional and financial struggles of hundreds of terminated city workers across various departments and called for justice and reinstatement.
                                
                                    Jack Wei Lin
                                
                            
                            
                                            
                                            1:08:31
                                        
                                        Sure.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:08:32
                                        
                                        Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:08:34
                                        
                                        My name is Jack Way Lin.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:08:35
                                        
                                        I'm a former EMT with the FDNY for over 14 years.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:08:39
                                        
                                        I was terminated from my position with the New York City Fire Department due to the COVID 19 vaccine mandate after my religious exemption was denied twice.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:08:47
                                        
                                        I'm here to voice my opposition to the appointment of Marielle Goode Truffant as corporation counsel and to urge the city council to support resolution 5 to reinstate workers like myself who are fired for refusing the vaccine mandate.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:09:00
                                        
                                        As an EMT, I dedicated myself to serving the people of New York City during some of their most vulnerable moments.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:09:06
                                        
                                        I worked in person during the pandemic with little when little was known about the virus.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:09:11
                                        
                                        Despite my dedicated service, I and many other city workers were fired simply for exercising our right to our sincerely held religious beliefs and bodily autonomy.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:09:20
                                        
                                        The appointment of miss Goode Truffant as corporation counsel is concerning because she has been part of the law department that has actively fought against reinstating workers like myself.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:09:29
                                        
                                        Her long tenure in the department suggests that she will continue to defend the city's unjust policies rather than seek to right this wrong.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:09:37
                                        
                                        I urge the city council to reject miss Goudreaufant's nomination and support resolution 5.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:09:43
                                        
                                        This resolution would require the reinstatement of city employees dismissed due to the vaccine mandate.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:09:48
                                        
                                        It's a common sense measure that recognizes the valuable contributions of dedicated public servants who are wrongfully terminated.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:09:56
                                        
                                        The current situation makes no sense.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:09:58
                                        
                                        While we remain out of work, city positions stand vacant, and new hires are not mandated to take the very same vaccines.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:10:05
                                        
                                        How can the city justify keep keeping experienced workers like myself out of our jobs when there's a clear need for our services?
                                    
                                            
                                            1:10:12
                                        
                                        Why the double standard with the DCAS waiver?
                                    
                                            
                                            1:10:15
                                        
                                        How can the city continue fighting reinstatement after doctor J.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:10:19
                                        
                                        Barm was exposed for having drug fueled orgies while he was pushing the mayor to kick us out of work?
                                    
                                            
                                            1:10:24
                                        
                                        Where is the justice?
                                    
                                            
                                            1:10:26
                                        
                                        I am not alone in this fight.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:10:27
                                        
                                        Hundreds of city workers across various departments, firefighters, EMS, police officers, teachers, and more lost their livelihoods over this mandate.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:10:37
                                        
                                        Many of us are still struggling financially and emotionally from this unjust termination.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:10:41
                                        
                                        By supporting resolution 5 and opposing miss good Truffant's appointment, you have the opportunity to correct a grave injustice and bring valuable, experienced workers back to serve our city.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:10:51
                                        
                                        I implore you to do the right thing and stand up for the rights of dedicated public servants who have made who have been wronged by this mandate.
                                    
                                            
                                            1:10:59
                                        
                                        Thank you for your time, and thank you for your consideration.
                                    