Outraged New York City lawmakers on both sides of the aisle called on Mayor Eric Adams and the FDNY to help the family of a terminated firefighter who died of a heart attack after he was let go to help pay for the city's migrants.
Derek Floyd, 36, suffered a fatal heart attack earlier this month leaving his family to struggle in the absence of more than $600,000 in death benefits they would have received had he still be employed by the FDNY when he passed away, according to the New York Post.
Floyd was reportedly cut from the department — just months before he would have been vested with five years on the job — as part of the city's cost-cutting measure to pay for nearly $10 billion to feed and house the thousands of migrants who have flooded New York City in recent months.
"What a heartbreaking story," Democrat Bob Holden wrote on social media. "Why was a man who served our country and our city treated so poorly? This is unacceptable. His family deserves so much better. The FDNY needed to do more to find a position that could accommodate him medically.
"The city must do better," he added.
The order to let Floyd go was issued Nov. 14 — two days before the Adams administration enacted its first round of 5% cuts — the Post reported.
In order to meet the budget cuts, FDNY was targeting employees on long-term light duty who could not return to work for more than a year and a half, city officials told reporters.
Floyd, a Marine veteran, had been hired in 2019 but suffered a heart attack at home before he made it to full active duty. Unable to complete the fire academy, he was assigned to work in the ceremonial unit, which handles funeral arrangements for the department.
"I wouldn't wish it on anyone," Floyd's widow, Christine, 34, told the Post of the family's experience.
"I think it definitely took a toll once they let him go," she said of her husband's termination. "He always tried to stay positive about it, and he wasn't really angry."
Republican councilmember Joann Ariola called the situation a "travesty."
"I went to the funeral and saw the hurt on his family's faces," Ariola said. "Derek Floyd was a true hero, and he and his family deserve better than this.
"A special exemption should be granted for the Floyd's to ensure that they get the full benefits that Derek would have been entitled to. We have a $110 billion budget — you would think amidst all that, the city would be able to find a way to guarantee that the family of a hero can receive proper benefits."
City minority leader Joe Borelli, a Republican, called on Adams to act.
"We need the mayor to right the wrong on this one," Borelli told the Post.
The Adams administration disputed the reason for Floyd's firing, saying Monday it had nothing to do with budget cuts.
"Sometimes in rare cases, light duty fire fighters have been able to stay on the job although they're unable to fulfill their duties as fire fighters," City Hall spokesperson Amaris Cockfield told the Post. "In this case, separation occurred before and unrelated to the November plan. However, we will continue to ensure that his family gets the support they need during this time."
The Uniformed Firefighter Association has set up a fund to help Floyd's family. Donations can be made to the "New York Firefighters Foundation" and sent by mail to FF Derek Floyd C/O UFA – NYFFinc 204 E. 23rd St., New York, NY 10010.
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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