By Bob Hennelly

On this episode of the Stuck Nation Labor Radio Hour, we welcome NYC Comptroller Brad Lander; New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees President Marianne Pizzitola; Be A Hero Co-Executive Director  Jamila Headley; and NYCCouncil Member Alexa Aviles [D-38th District] to the program.

Together, we talk about the life and legacy of Ady Barkan, the universal healthcare activist and lawyer who died last month at 39 from ALS complications. Barkan, who was diagnosed with the debilitating disease several years ago, was a galvanizing force behind the Medicare for All movement, and helped to organize the Be A Hero campaign, which believes healthcare is a human right.

We’re also tackling New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ shortsighted budget cuts to vital services. In addition to reflecting on his friendship with Barkan — Lander also shares the troubling findings  of his office’s investigation into $1.73 billion in outsourcing 300 contracts executed by the Mayor’s office on an emergency basis to handle issues that include the so-called migrant crisis.

Pizzitola, meanwhile, discusses the important role Barkan played behind the scenes in the campaign by New York City retired civil servants to hold onto their traditional Medicare and resist Mayor Adams’ scheme to  force them into Aetna’s predatory Medicare Advantage Plan — which is neither Medicare, nor an Advantage.

We finish up the show with City Council Member Aviles who talks about what she hopes to accomplish before the end of the current Council’s term at the end of the month — as well as the real world impact of Mayor Adams’ budget cuts to her constituents.

The Brooklyn representative also sheds light on the disconnect between the upbeat aggregate national data that depicts a thriving economy and the difficult reality so many New Yorkers face to just pay their rent. Aviles also takes aim at Pentagon spending, and expresses her support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Listen to the whole show below:

Thanks for reading! If you value this reporting and would like to help keep Work-Bites on the job, please consider donating whatever you can today. Work-Bites is a completely independent nonprofit news organization dedicated to our readers — and we need your support!