A lookback at the six-year firefighter PFAS expedition on Beacon Hill

The Signing…

Diane Cotter
12 min readSep 8, 2024

The signing of Senate Bill S.2902 August 15, 2024.

How many times had we driven this ride from our home in Rindge, NH to Boston for hearings and testimonies on this issue? Or testified via zoom, or traveled alone to Worcester-taking the ‘T’ into Boston for a hearing- carrying a toxic bag of turnout gear, afraid I’d be told it couldn’t come into the building. But today was different. Today we were celebrating.

Crisp, almost Autumn-like August morning and all blue sky. I asked Paul how he was feeling and he felt the same, almost disbelief. I though about what David Ferry said in Men’s Health, … “in something so deep she doesn’t realize what she’s done…”

https://www.menshealth.com/health/a37624731/cancer-firefighter-gear-pfas/

Friends who knew of my targets asked if I’d be going. Of course. I almost died for this issue. Maybe that’s where the anxiety left me. Or maybe it’s age. I’m 64 this year. Still, this Golden Dome is home of leaders I targeted with flaming arrows. But now, we were with longtime allies, thankfully ~ fully restored to the degree that we are genuinely happy to see one another.

We drove through the Back Bay and I looked for 298 Beacon Street, thinking of Kathy, and how often she must make this drive, and wondered where would we be without her.. and that if not for Michael… and Ed. The ten year anniversary of Michael and Ed’s passing was earlier this year.

Paul drove our Jeep into the underground garage while I was on the phone with 1009’s President Will Mosley who told us the officer he was sending was at the hospital where his grandchild was just born. He was concerned he wouldn’t make it in time from Worcester as he was stuck in contract negotiations. We already had word our son was on his way. I said, “Will, you are represented. Pauly is here”. That made his day. We walked across the common, Paul in his uniform, looking handsome, and carrying his ‘come near me and I’ll kill you’ persona.

I let Senator Moore know we were on our way to his office and that we had received word from Blair Miller in Atlanta he was sending a Boston TV crew to cover the signing and they’d meet us there. Blair’s covered us since 2018 on his “Boston’s Bravest” firefighter cancer series covering every twist and turn including acting as our MC for the premier of #burned in Worcester.

Worcester Fire’s photo-bug Paul Shea was with us for the third time in Boston. He’s covered every event we’ve had over the years.

My cell was pinging from everyone who was coming in to meet up. Longtime allies Lt Michael Murphy and his wife Nancy were waiting for us.

We made our way through the rotunda and entered the grand staircase — marble floors, soaring ceilings, and ‘the staircase’ ~ white marble steps cascading from opposite sides of a sky high second floor, lined by stoic oak railings, the room lined with paintings and stained glass windows overlooking the staircase that capture the sunlight of the day. Floor to ceiling grand columns adding to the greatness of the room. It was only 12:15 and there was quite a few people there already. We saw our guys — lots of hugs -so many hugs- Kathy had text Jason and me that she had a issue just come up and may not be able to make it…

Jason, I barely know where to begin when I think about him. From 2017 to today. Our first suspicions spoken out loud while in the parking lot at the Worcester Public library.. That was the turning point. When I knew others in the union saw what I saw. How Jason rode the storm waves with us, holding very difficult lines in our defense, and now the go to leader and passionate speaker on this issue.

Massachusetts State House Rotunda
Massachusetts State House Rotunda
Massachusetts State House Grand Staircase

I said, “Kathy, get here — we started this together and we’re gonna finish it together.

I was so happy to see her across the room, we caught eyes and smiled. Pauly looked like a chip off the block of his dad sitting next to him in the front row. He carries that same ‘don’t fuck with me’ look. Till he smiles.

The room was filling up fast. I found our PFFM guys. I smile / snicker knowing all we’ve come through together. I recall the August 1st, early morning phone conversations with RichyMac, Billy, Jay, and Jason, after they’d just won the 23-hour siege of Beacon Hill when the 193rd Session was in suspended session to allow continued talks and negotiations to pass critical bills, holding the line for us the 11th hour of the session when the bill was in danger of a last minute fail. These wardogs of PFFM, Rich, Billy, Paul J. Craig, Sam, Randy, Rob G.. I know I’ll forget someone.. I picture that 23-hour battle where these firefighters now in suits and dress shoes were running from building to building to LITERALLY stare down every legislator — their allies, but they HAD to send the message ‘don’t fuck with me fellas!’ in the strongest way possible. The leaders of Beacon Hill were in some kind of chess-game with firefighters.. More on that in the memoir… it would come down to these men using their own cannon of resistance to outmatch the leadership. Now, I can tell you, I have BEEN on the receiving side of that death stare.. and it’s a killer.

So yeah, the message was delivered and received to the leadership. They weren’t going anywhere until this bill was approved. And sparrows have told me there would be Hell to pay if it wasn’t delivered this session. In the last moments of the 11th hour after an epic battle, S.2902 was passed in the House. Now the Governor had ten days to sign.

I saw folks that recognized me but weren’t comfortable around me as I acquired the reputation of a beast. Deservedly so. So be it. I saw folks who were part of — but likely unaware of — an effort to intentionally exclude me from Beacon Hill discussions by an NGO I felt was commodifying this issue for its prosperity.

One familiar party approached me, asking if I was Diane Cotter, I replied firmly but politely, “yes” — the response was, “well that was a hell of a news article where you told these dudes to stick it where the sun don’t shine!”

‘Beyond disgraceful’: Bill to protect firefighters from PFAS stalls in State House

https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/2024/07/12/diane-cotter-angry-over-stalled-state-bills-to-protect-firefighters/74359932007/

I smiled and we had a pleasant discussion. I added “you are attached to an NGO. You can’t speak the way I do. I’m not attached to anyone by design and you need voices like mine to say what you can’t say”. The party nodded in agreement.

Suddenly there’s commotion around us and it’s the Governor. She’s dressed in a pink coat and signature haircut. I wondered how I’d feel in this moment, she was the target of years of my flaming arrows, calls with staff, Medium articles, and of course over 200 emails. Again, nothing felt. This was no different from any other high profile party or institution I’ve spoken truth to over the years.

The war did that to me. The war change me; left me numb? strong? dead inside? I don’t know. But all of a sudden firefighters, lawmakers and enviro groups were staging behind Governor Healy on the staircase — I saw a perfect spot for us, I said, “Kath” and grabbed her hand and shimmied past everyone to perch ourselves alone but with everyone…we were the tip of that pyramid, taking it all in — the mom who lost her son and formed Last Call Foundation Honoring Firefighter Michael Kennedy, recalling all the battles she’d fought for us to bring belief to this issue when the climate was cold in Boston, and this beast.

…during the war years 2016–2021…

Governor Healey gave her introduction and read a portion of the bill while Kathy and I gripped each others hands tighter with every word.. she then asked Senator Moore to speak. He spoke stoically about the years of work that went into this bill, dating back to 2018 working with Rep Hawkins, author of H.B. 3661, Senator Diana DiZoglio and the PFFM.

While he spoke, I though of the 2019 hearing we gave testimony for with Karen Hensel who broke the story in September 2018 to Boston NBC and affiliates in the USA.

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/chemical-in-firefighter-turnout-gear-eyed-as-potential-cancer-agent/116266/

With much exasperation, Senator Moore asked the American Chemistry rep if she, “ really believed what she was telling us? “ !! (It was so bad I wanted to crawl under the table for her… he said, “miss, excuse me, but did you ever hear of Parkersburg, West Virginia?” !!! GAWD !!!)

…and up until the final hours of the 193rd session American Chemistry was STILL doing it’s grind: From PFFM days before the signing of S.2902

Senator Moore said, “Paul and Diane were my constituents, and if she gets your cell phone and email you better look out!” Everyone laughed and clapped as did Kathy and I. Auditor DiZoglio spoke of her firefighter family and their cancers, and then Rep Hawkins who carried the House all these years spoke. I remember the first time I met Jim at Pepe’s in Worcester where we were filming Notre Dame’s what would you fight for, and he and I spoke about the high number of firefighter funerals he goes to.. that there is no other occupation like it… I’d never heard that from someone before and it struck me hard.

… after this commercial aired on NBC Sports at the Notre Dame home game, Lion Gear sent a letter of protest to Dean of Notre Dame.. who, I hear replied., “well, he’s a nuclear physicist sooo…

The moment the Governor signed the bill.

Her aide brought the antique desk and chair, and a container full of pens. Governor Healey asked President McKinnon to speak, he’s a SME on firefighter PFAS and the opposition. He spoke of firefighters he knew with cancer, and the recent acts of pushback of American Chemistry on this bill. But my God, my knees almost buckled when Richie said in his booming voice, “ we wouldn’t be here without Diane Cotter!Christ we’ve come so far…

RichyMac and Di

Governor Healey then sat at the small desk and read part of the legislation, those words, “firefighter PPE shall contain no PFAS in year 2027”… and drew a pen from the container and wrote the fist letters of her name, then with a smile called for Senator Moore to take the pen. Senator Moore yelled out, “Diane! Where is she?!” I looked at Kathy and she nudged me to railing and then firefighters led me down the staircase and corralled me next to Senator Moore, who, with a wide smile, put the pen in my hand as we hugged and laughed. At that same moment, Governor Healey was calling President MacKinnon’s name and he accepted it with pride, then again, he yelled, “Diane!”.. and turned his 6' 8"? frame (he makes Paul look small!) and reached over a group firefighters surrounding him to hand me the his pen, I hugged him with all of the joy and pride I had in my heart. We know what we’ve been though. And by God I’m so proud of us RichieMac.

Then Governor Haley herself said, “ oh Diane!” and held out her hand with a pen. Here it was, the moment — I stepped up to her and she handed me the pen and I took the pen, and her hand and thanked her. We exchanged a moments stare of acceptance I would call it. I know I was brutal and to be on the receiving end had to of been awful. “ I’ve been a beast to you and I want to thank you for putting up with me”… She replied, “you fought for what you believed in and we need activists like you to keep us on track… it was very humbling.

Governor Healey then handed me the sign that was in front of the podium that read, ‘Protecting the Protectors’ while Paul Shea took photos.

We had a few moments to visit with folks from the AG’s office, to our many reps, and enviro groups we’ve worked with. It’s important to add here the strongest words of support on this law came from BOTH sides of the isle.

I saw Rep ‘X” ( Steven Xiarhos) standing with PFFM by the staircase and wanted Pauly to meet him. He’s a Gold Star father. He’s one of our Republican representative who has pushed tirelessly on this issue, and was relentless in pushing this bill though the standoff.

I introduced our son as a firefighter and, I’m not sure who said it first but I mentioned he was a Marine, and ‘X” rolled up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo.. of his Marine, his son, on his wrist, and the lump in my throat made it hard to breath.

X said, “this is my boy in Afghanistan, how old are you, Pauly?” He answered, “36 Sir” and X replied, “my son would be 36”. They spoke for a few moments privately as Paul and I chatted with Jay, Richie, Jason, Billy, Randy, and after dropping intel someone asks, “how do you know that di?” — “my sparrows” I say. They crack up. 😆🤣

The crowd dispersed. Kathy, Jason and I had a moment together, then we said our goodbyes. We went out through the rotunda and I paused, “I’d like to stay here for a minute and take this room in”. We don’t usually have time to take in the spaces we visit. We read artwork and flags while Pauly asked about X., I said, “he does so much for police and fire’… then he slid his hand out of his pocket showing us something that clearly moved him. Something he was given by X…

We walked across Boston Common with Paul Shea and Pauly, tourists buzzing all around us on a gorgeous day in August. Making small talk, and taking in the beauty of this August day. Paul Shea found his walkway leading to his garage, then a few more steps with Pauly, and finally Paul and I made the last steps to the garage and made our way home. Ordered pizza and drank it all in ~ .

Hollywood couldn’t have written a better ending…

Signing off on Medium for a good while as I turn my attention to finishing the first manuscript of ‘Products of Deception’. The full accounting of who knew what, when they knew it, and what was done to keep the truth from you. A memoir by Diane Cotter ~

“…and once the storm is over you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in.” ~ Haruki Murakami

d.c. 9/8/2024

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Diane Cotter

A very private individual who fell into a very public rabbit hole of epic proportions. I call it the #greatestdeceptionever - really, EVER.