“People, you can do it. You can get what you want and need, so go for it. . . . Because you are unique and there's no one like you, and you have special skills and life experiences that are needed and necessary. So go after what you want and go after it with a lot of thought, creativity. Don't believe what you hear, read, or see. Believe what you think is the right thing.” - Betsy Combier
In this episode of the New York Mandate Podcast, I talk with Betsy Combier, a longtime advocate for New York City public sector workers.
We talked about administrative remedies available to former City workers who lost their jobs under New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates and are seeking reinstatement or compensation such as back pay. Combier discussed the importance of filing a Notice of Claim and the upcoming May 10 deadline to file one in relation to the City’s vaccine mandates.
She also delved into the murky world of problem codes, which she recently shed light on in court documents for the New Yorkers for Religious Liberty, Inc. v. The City of New York lawsuit.
More from Betsy Combier:
You can contact Betsy Combier at betsy@advocatz.com and find a wealth of information on her websites:
Notice of Claim Pursuant to General Municipal Law Section 50-E
This is a recent article by Betsy Combier on how to file a Notice of Claim.
Conversation with Rachel Maniscalco
This is another informative conversation with Betsy Combier, hosted on Instagram by former NYC public school teacher Rachel Maniscalco.
Here are some links related to things we talked about during the episode:
Interview with FDNY Captain Brendan Fogarty
Fogarty speaks with Michael Kane about how he was reinstated after being forced into early retirement as a result of COVID mandates.
NYC Teachers Who Refused COVID Vaccine Slapped with ‘Scarlet Letter’ in Personnel Files: Lawyer
This New York Post article covered the role of problem codes as noted by attorney John Bursch in his oral argument for New Yorkers for Religious Liberty v. The City of New York. The article includes comments from Betsy Combier as well as a City Hall spokesman who disputed her statements about problem codes.
About the New York Mandate Podcast
The New York Mandate Podcast is an ongoing series of conversations exploring the costs and consequences of vaccine mandates in New York City. I talk with workers, students, and parents who have been directly affected by the mandates, as well as legal and policy experts.
In late 2021, the City introduced a series of requirements for workers and to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. These requirements were put in place through executive orders issued by the administration of former mayor Bill de Blasio. They covered nearly all workers in New York City, in both the public and private sectors. They also barred unvaccinated adults, including parents, from schools.
Current mayor Eric Adams kept the mandates in place until November 1, 2022 for the private sector and February 10, 2023 for City workers, and has encouraged private employers to put their own vaccine requirements in place.
The views expressed in the New York Mandate podcast are the personal opinions of the people speaking, and are not intended to provide medical or legal advice.
Join the Conversation
Have you lost your job, been put on leave, or lost opportunities to work as an independent contractor as a result of your decision not to comply with a New York vaccine mandate? Did you take a vaccine against your wishes in order to keep your job? Please get in touch with me at NYMpodcast@protonmail.com.
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