Weinstock in the fight of his life

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“He told me most friendships in politics are transactional, but that he would be devastated if anything happened to you,” Weinstock said of Santos’ calls to him.

“‘Promise me that if you’re ever feeling suicidal that you will call me before anything’, he told me.”

Weinstock spoke on the high suicide rate from the condition due to the ongoing pain individuals endure on a daily basis and the lack of a true cure for it.

While photographic evidence shows Weinstock at ground zero, even shaking hands with former Presidential candidate and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, disputes about his involvement on Sept. 11 have become another battle for Weinstock.

Philip Katz, an attorney and the president of Great Neck Vigilant Fire

Company, said Weinstock was not present at ground zero as a member of the Vigilant Fire Company.

Weinstock had filed a lawsuit against Katz and Vigilant’s Benevolent Association for defamation, but said he had to suspend the lawsuit due to his health.

Speaking of Weinstock’s condition, Katz told Blank Slate Media in an email, “I wish him well. This being said, I hope that someone in the media will ask him for proof that he truly suffers from the condition he claims to be afflicted with at some point.”

Weinstock, a member of Vigilant from 1990-20021, said, “Katz felt emboldened to damage my reputation because I am an openly gay man and he doesn’t want the firehouse to be associated with an openly gay person.”

Dr. Bryan Weissman, a former Vigilant firefighter and chairman of the Vigilant board, said in a statement that “The claim that Michael was not at ground zero is unacceptable and the photographs reflect the truth.”

Former Vigilant Chief Andy DeMartin, in a statement, said “I think it’s just bad business for the fire company, the organization should be above the fray. He was there. You can’t just erase somebody being there.”

Despite being in the eye of the storm from the physical and financial situation, Weinstock described himself as “blessed” because of his network of friends and his experience as a litigator. Not everyone in his situation can feel the same way, he said.

More than $8,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe for Weinstock.

The former firefighter thanked everyone who has donated for their support and urged others to learn more about his condition by visiting: https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpa-911-firefighter-walk-again.