“I was an FDNY firefighter who was placed on involuntary leave without pay for declining the COVID-19 shot.”

Dear DailyClout,

My name is Sophy Medina. I was an FDNY firefighter who was placed on involuntary leave without pay for declining the COVID-19 shot. I am a lifelong New Yorker and a long-time Brooklyn resident.

I am writing to you – with many other Brooklyn residents cc’d – because it was brought to our attention that you are not supportive of  Resolution No. 5 (Res. 0005-2024). This resolution calls for all NYC workers fired or displaced for declining the COVID shot to be brought back to their jobs. However, this resolution does not call for workers to be compensated with back pay.

We were informed you thought the resolution called for back pay, which was why you opposed the resolution. We hope that now that you are aware the resolution does not call for backpay, you will support it being brought to the floor for a vote, and that you will vote YES.

Many working-class people have suffered greatly for not getting the COVID-19 shot, especially many people of color. I myself am a mixed-race child of immigrant parents by way of the Dominican Republic and Colombia. I also want to draw your attention to Alfonso Ventura, an immigrant who up until the mandates had his dream union job working as a kitchen aide in a school cafeteria and he was living the American dream. He was fired because he didn’t get the COVID-19 shot and became homeless as a result, living in the shelter system in NYC. Alfonso testified to this on the floor of the City Council. 

You can watch Alfonso’s heart-wrenching testimony here: https://x.com/cafecitobreak/status/1805619306161447066

We greatly appreciate you taking this matter seriously and we look forward to your reply.

Respectfully Submitted, 

Sophy Medina, Brooklyn Resident