Letter: City cutting healthcare subsidy is a mistake

We were surprised and disappointed to read that the Glendale City Council has voted to unilaterally cut off a healthcare subsidy for retired employees that has been in place for many years. This will undoubtedly create a great financial hardship for many and we hope the council members will reconsider their action and look for alternatives.

Loss of the subsidy may also jeopardize the health of older former city workers and limit their access to quality medical services. The council’s action is especially problematic and hard to understand at a time when America is focused on expanding healthcare benefits, not cutting them.

Finally, the inclusion of a reference to a single retiree’s 2014 “pension benefits” was an unprofessional cheap shot. The majority of the 700 retirees do not receive $150,000 a year. The remark added nothing to the story other than to reveal bias on the part of the reporter and/or editor.

John Ortega &

Irene Cordoba

Glendale