Albany lawmakers are pushing a bill that would offer family members of late sanitation workers who cleaned up Ground Zero some of the same benefits provided to loved ones of first responders who died from 9/11-related illnesses.
The Ignazio Giacalone Act would give children and siblings of sanitation workers who died from 9/11-related illnesses additional credits on their civil service exam, bringing them in line with firefighters and cops.
The bill is named after Ignazio Giacalone, who died in 2021 after a battle with cancer, related to his work at ground zero.
“They gave the city everything. And finally, at least they’re getting some type of support. It’s nice,” Giacalone’s son, Michael, told The Post.
Over 100 sanitation department workers have died of cancer tied to their work cleaning up the trade center’s site.
The younger Giacalone is hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps. He currently has a list number and is set to attend orientation and undergo a physical to join DSNY in a few months, but had he gotten additional credit like the bill would provide, he may have been able to join earlier.
“I’m grateful for the [Sanitiation] department. They’ve helped out tremendously,” Giacolone said.
“My dad said, at the end of the day, that the job gave him his life. It gave him a pension and it gave him everything that he had built up. I’m very thankful for the job, and I’m thankful for the city,” Giacolone continued.
Giacalone said the effort to get the bill taken up by state lawmakers has largely been led by former DSNY supervisor Edward Panzarella.
“This bill honors the legacy of sanitation workers like Ignazio who put their lives on the line for New York. But more, this bill’s passage is a statement from New York State that we see you, we thank you, and we will never forget your heroism and your sacrifice,” Assemblyman Sam Berger (D-Queens), the bill’s sponsor, said.
The Assembly unanimously passed the bill earlier this month, and it now just needs to pass in the state Senate before heading to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk. The legislation is carried in the upper chamber by state Sen. Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan).
The legislation has also gotten support from city lawmakers.
“New York’s Strongest lost over 130 people due to 9/11 related illnesses, yet we seldom hear about their contributions. It’s time that we honor them the same way we honor the First Responders who were there getting the city back on its feet in the aftermath,” Councilwoman Vickie Paladino said.
