Charter Revision Questions – Turn the ballot over and vote NO!
The UFA recommends all active and retired NYC Firefighters vote
NO on all 5 questions. \
Turn over the ballot to see and vote on the Charter Revision Questions.
Visit ballotpedia.org/New_York_City_2019_Charter_Revision to learn more. Early Voting
For the first time in NY State, voters have the choice to vote early from October 26 through November 3, or to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5.
Visit https://www.voteearlyny.org/ to determine locations and times for early voting in your neighborhood.
Martin Galvin responds in the Irish news on October 18th to Trevor Ringland’s -‘Time to challenge those who want to chain us to flawed ideologies’ which feature in the Irish News of October 4th.
A chara,
Trevor Ringland begrudges the ‘Hooded Men’ their court fight, putting British torture victims “well down the list” in his “hierarchy of wrongs that need to be investigated”. This solicitor and former candidate opposes nationalists pursuing legacy justice, “whether they’re doing it through the ballot box or law courts”. Why should Irish nationalists be allowed lawsuits or elected representatives troubling British rule?
Mr. Ringland prescribes his reconciliation formula. Everyone else takes full responsibility for their actions in the conflict. Everyone else repents political beliefs or “flawed ideologies” motivating their actions. See, hear, speak and remember no evil for which British rule and state violence could be faulted.
We pretend that Westminster had no responsibility for its Orange State, Internment, Ballymurphy or Springhill Massacres, collusion with loyalist killers and the like. Stop disturbing the crown with legacy cases in British courts, or by electing anyone who raises inconvenient truths.
If nationalists adopt this selective amnesia, (plus surrender hopes of a reunited Ireland), Mr. Ringland feels, it would “free up future generations from the legacy of hatred.”
Mr. Ringland’s hostility to the ‘Hooded Men’ fits in this puzzle. They were selected for Internment without charge by British military. They were then selected to be tortured by British troopers.
How do we explain the ‘Hooded Men’ without blaming Westminster? How do we fault sectarianism instead of the British regime? Brian Faulkner wanted Internment. Did Edward Heath, his cabinet and military really have to approve and unleash British troops to begin Internment, ‘Hooded Men’ torture and the Ballymurphy Massacre? Every court victory for these torture victims is a reminder that British officials backed Brian Faulkner with terror and repression because of Westminster’s deeply flawed Orange State hegemony and ideology.
Mr. Ringland instructs the ‘Hooded Men’ to wait their turn. It has only been 48 years. There are unsolved killings of British forces more worthy of investigation than mere Irishmen being tortured. Does he imply the RUC did not bother investigating, when RUC members or British troopers were killed by the IRA? Did they jail twenty-five thousand suspected Republicans without really trying?
Mr. Ringland urges “challenging those who want to chain us to the flawed ideologies which led to so much tragedy”. I challenge you Mr. Ringland!
RANGERS FIRST RESPONDERS NIGHT The UFA has partnered with Madison Square Garden once again to provide special access to discounted tickets for the upcoming Rangers First Responders Night on October 29 vs Tampa Bay at 7:30 PM. All attendees will receive a limited edition First Responders Night t-shirt with their ticket purchase. For every ticket purchased through the link https://tinyurl.com/Rangers1stRespondersUFAOct29, $10 will be donated to the UFA Widows & Children’s Fund.
RAY PFEIFER FOUNDATION The Ray Pfeifer Foundation is having a fundraiser to raise money to purchase a wheelchair accessible van for the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation. It will be held on November 1st at Hudson Station in Manhattan. Tickets and details for the event can be found at https://www.theraypfeiferfoundation.org/rob-serra-fundrais…/.
VIGIANO BROTHERS’ BRAVEST & FINEST SKI MEMORIAL The Annual Vigiano Brothers’ Bravest & Finest Ski Memorial will take place January 5, 2020 – January 9, 2020 at Stowe Mountain Lodge, VT. Welcome Reception is $40 per person on January 5 at 6:00 PM with hors d’oeuvres, drinks, t-shirt and fundraiser. For room reservations, call Stowe Mountain Lodge at 888-478-6938 and reference the 2020 Vigiano Event. Rooms are $150 per person per night up to minimum occupancy, two night stay minimum, $42.75 for additional guests over minimum occupancy. Room reservation deadline is December 14, 2019. Discounted lift tickets can be purchased at www.payit2.com/e/vigiano up until December 22, 2019. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/VigianoBrothers/ or contact Ren Terry, SQ-288, at 516-900-2057.
FDNY HOLY NAME SOCIETY HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP EXAM The Holy Name Society will hold their High School Scholarship Exam at 8:30 AM on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at All Hallows High School, 111 East 164 Street, Bronx, NY 10452. Test is solely for the purpose of determining winners of the scholarship program. Five awards are granted to the highest scores. Sons and daughters, brothers, sisters and grandchildren of Holy Name Society members in good standing (including deceased members) in their eighth year of elementary education are eligible. Applications, rules and regulations can be printed at www.fdnyholynamesociety.com or by contacting Scholarship Chairman William Meade at 718-335-9685 or wm519@msn.com. Mail completed applications to William Meade, PO Box 525, Maspeth, NY 11378. Applications must be submitted by November 20, 2019.
