Letters to the Editor
Deeper Pain for VSF Shutouts

To the Editor:

Your Oct. 13 edition included a Letter to the Editor from retired Correction Capt. Tony Mignone. Understandably, he seems quite devastated by the loss of the Variable Supplements Fund. However, some of his thoughts are not fully accurate.

Most notable is a part of his first sentence ... " A crushing blow to all Correction Retirees." The truth of the matter is that those in Correction who retired prior to July 1, 1999 were left out of the VSF. Those individuals received nothing between 1999 and the present, and will get nothing in 2019.

Captain Mignone, and I am sure many others, need to be reminded that most of those who were left out voted for Norman Seabrook, Peter Meringolo, and Sidney Schwartzbaum, presidents of their respective associations. Collectively, they turned their backs on the retired members who, in Captain Mignone's words, "worked hard at a very difficult job for 20 years ... with incredible stress that is proven to shorten their lives." They also suffered humiliation and seemed to be "behind the Fire and Police Departments when it comes to respect." But, be reminded, they suffered the ultimate embarrassment when their own family turned up their noses at them. At least the Police and Fire departments included most of their retirees in their Variable Supplements Funds. The Correction associations did not.

Captain Mignone wishes "God bless Seabrook and Meringolo for obtaining this great benefit." I wish them no ill will, but I have to wonder if God will forgive them for screwing so many of their members. I should know; I was left out by 66 days.

Captain Mignone, you have the right to be devastated. However, take a moment or two to think about how devastating it is not to be included at all. For us, there is no 2019.

PATRICK JOHNSTON, Captain, Retired