Seniors to get farm freebies

A CITY COP charges the NYPD is interfering with her right to pump breast milk on the job.

The officer, who gave birth in November and is breast-feeding her daughter, says bosses have blocked her from taking requested breaks for an hour or longer or forced her to miss them altogether.

“It was very frustrating,” said the 30-year-old Manhattan officer, who asked not to be identified. “I don’t think they really understand that it’s a medical issue. It’s not like I was just asking for a break — I needed it for a legitimate reason.”

In a letter to the NYPD, the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association said that state labor law requires employers to give their workers at least 20 to 30 minutes to pump breast milk for up to three years after a child is born.

But the cop has been forced to delay or miss her pumping sessions because supervisors wouldn’t let her take a break, saying it was an inconvenient time, and during some assignments has no place to express milk, the PBA charged.

“As you may know, not only do delays in pumping breast milk violate the law, but waiting too long in between breast pumping sessions causes severe pain, may reduce the

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mother’s milk supply, and causes a risk of infection,” wrote PBA lawyer Allison Maue.

The PBA also said the law requires employers to give written notification of breastfeeding rights, but the department did not distribute any policy. The NYPD should add a provision on nursing mothers’ rights to its Patrol Guide, the union said.

The officer said that since returning to work in February, she’s been told two or three times a week she can’t go pump when she requests it because there’s no one free to fill in for her.

“It was basically, ‘Sorry, but there’s nobody to relieve you — figure it out,’ ” she said. “It was not an isolated thing.”

The mom of two, who joined the NYPD five years ago, said she decided to bring her complaint to police brass because she wants an established policy to help other new moms on the force.

An NYPD spokesman did not detail the department’s policy on the issue, but said, “The department is committed to permitting nursing mothers to express breast milk.”

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LOW-INCOME New Yorkers age 60 and older can get free produce at local farm stands and farmers markets under a new policy of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.

The agency said $2 million in Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program checks are now available for eligible residents.

The program provides checks to low-income seniors to purchase $20 worth of locally grown fruits and vegetables from participating markets. The checks are available at county offices for the aging.

Recipients must have an income of $1,832 or less per month for a single person or $2,470 for a couple, or be eligible for public assistance. NEW YORK IS lifting its ban on serving food or beverages at funeral homes next year under a law signed by Gov. Cuomo.

The measure directs the state Health Department to write regulations and takes effect in 180 days.

It authorizes funeral homes to serve or have catered service for nonalcoholic beverages and incidental food like baked goods, sandwiches, snacks and platters.

They remain prohibited in preparation and embalming rooms.