In dueling news conferences, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza clashed over whether the city’s benefits for police officers disabled by COVID-19 is fair to cops.
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza speaks on behalf of her brother, Sgt. Joaquin Mendoza, in photo, during a news conference at Chicago City Hall on Tuesday.
“I do hold the mayor accountable because that’s her board,” Mendoza said. “And so she can’t say with one face that you support the men and women in uniform, our first responders, and then do what they did to them.”Mendoza said Tuesday she’s seeking passage of state legislation that would grant police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians who survived COVID-19 the duty disability benefits.
“The board has always acted independently and votes based on the information presented,” a Lightfoot spokesperson wrote. “The mayor is not involved in any pension board decisions nor would it have been ethical or appropriate for her to involve herself in any such decisions.” Susana Mendoza’s office responded that she also is a “strong advocate” for vaccines but that “is not at issue here” because the officers in question were infected before vaccines were available.Joaquin Mendoza’s former supervisor, Eric Winstrom, said he was also frustrated by the decision to deny Mendoza duty disability.
Susana Mendoza was joined Tuesday by several aldermen, firefighters and police officers. Among them was Officer Diana Cordova-Nestad, who spoke softly from a chair and had a tube running to her nose, which she attributed to the complications she suffered from COVID-19.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
Lightfoot denies Mendoza claims she directed board to deny full benefits for cops disabled by COVID'The city is making some of these officers feel like they are worth more dead than alive. That's unforgivable,' Mendoza said.
Baca lebih lajut »
Lightfoot accused of denying full disability benefits to CPD officers severely affected by COVIDMayor Lori Lightfoot is accused of denying full disability benefits to Chicago police officers who have been severely affected by COVID-19.
Baca lebih lajut »
New Illinois bill would protect officers severely impacted by COVID who were denied disability benefitsIllinois comptroller Susana Mendoza announced a new bill to protect police officers seriously injured by COVID-19 before vaccines were available.
Baca lebih lajut »
Lightfoot Blasted on Voting Comments as Vallas Faces Criticism Amid DeSantis Visit to AreaWith just over one week to go until the 2023 Chicago municipal elections, some of the frontrunners in the race for mayor are facing intense criticism in the waning days.
Baca lebih lajut »