A message from PEF Retirees President Ray Ferraro

Pols promise to pass COLA
We are squarely in the middle of what may finally be the deciding battle for the most important issue we face as retirees — a permanent, automatic cost-of-living-adjustment to our pensions.
I am beginning to feel more optimistic since the marvelous May 9 statewide pension rally in Albany. This is the first time we’ve heard reports that the governor would consider signing COLA legislation.
And it was heartening to hear Comptroller H. Carl McCall, Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver all come forward to say they believe this is the year that a COLA will be enacted.
But just because the politicians are promising to act, doesn’t mean we can stop acting.
The only reason they are finally talking about taking action is their need for our votes in November.
The key to getting our COLA this year is “WCV” — Write! Call! Visit! your state assemblymen, senators and most of all the governor.
It is up to us to ensure the COLA we need and deserve is enacted this year, at long last.

Chapter News:
On March 28, I attended the PEF Retirees Region 12 Chapter meeting in Hauppauge, on Long Island.
Nels Carlson of the Carlson Group which administers our dental plan and our new eyeglass plan, made presentations on both programs at the March meeting on Long Island and at the April meeting in Rochester.
The new vision plan is available at no extra cost if you are already enrolled in the PEF Retiree GHI Spectrum Plus Plan. If you’re not enrolled, you can enroll in the eye-care plan alone for $21.85 per year.
For more information call the Carlson Group at 1-800-487-8004.
I updated members at both meetings on COLA legislation and answered questions.
Our Chapter in Region 6, the Utica/Rome area, is temporarily without a president following the resignation of Marilyn Mahanna. Her fine work for this chapter was deeply appreciated.

Chapter Meetings:
• Albany meets at noon June 5th for its annual picnic; and
• Long Island meets at noon June 28 at the PEF Region 12 office.

The Communicator Home Page