But there should be no debate about our obligation to pay a living wage to those who care for the disabled and, in doing so, represent us all.

READ MORE HERE

HERE

AND HERE

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Without this funding, they say, the health and safety of vulnerable New Yorkers is placed at risk.

SEE THE STORY HERE

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Lack of funding means agencies are operating with smaller staff and that is limiting program offerings.

SEE THE STORY HERE

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The video at the link below gives the viewer a glimpse into what it takes to be a direct support professional working with people with developmental disabilities. This is a very demanding and rewarding career that takes a great deal of training. Recent increases in the minimum wage and a lack of funding from New York State have eroded the wages of these positions, making it increasingly difficult for non-profit agencies to hire and retain staff and this threatens to reduce the quality and quantity of supports and services for people with disabilities. Please ask Governor Cuomo to fund increases in wages for these dedicated and caring professionals.

VIEW THE VIDEO HERE

After a very quick look at the Governor’s 2017-2018 New York State Budget proposal that was released late last night, following are some highlights of interest. We will provide further details as they become available.

READ THE FULL HIGHLIGHTS HERE

The Budget Documents are all available at DOB’s website at:

https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/executive/eBudget1718/ExecutiveBudget.html

The #bFair2DirectCare Coalition has issued a Statement on the Governor’s failure to include New funding for Direct Care Workers in the Executive Budget.

“#bFair2DirectCare could not have been clearer in what’s needed in this year’s budget to help direct care workers achieve a living wage – the very kind of economic justice Governor Cuomo has championed for other working New Yorkers — $45 million.

What Governor Cuomo proposed can simply described as ‘bupkis.’ It’s an old Yiddish phrase gently translated as ‘nothing.’”

 READ MORE HERE

Also, see the Times Union Capitol Confidential blog post:

“Direct Care group decries ‘bupkis’ budget allocation”

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About three dozen demonstrators representing the bFair2DirectCare Coalition gathered in front of the Governor’s Mansion in Albany today to remind the Governor and the leaders of the New York State Legislature of the need to fund a wage increase for direct care staff working for non-profit agencies who support people with developmental disabilities.

READ MORE HERE

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bFair2DirectCare Coalition members made their case outside the Governor’s State of the State Address in Albany yesterday.

click the link below and view page A-3 to see the photos and captions.

SEE MORE HERE

The articles linked to this page are provided as a public service by CP of NYS, and do not necessarily reflect the views of CP of NYS, its Board of Directors and staff, or of the CP of NYS Affiliates.

Click on the link below to see the complete schedule of Governor Cuomo’s State of the State speeches planned for six sites around the state next week.

READ MORE HERE

The articles linked to this page are provided as a public service by CP of NYS, and do not necessarily reflect the views of CP of NYS, its Board of Directors and staff, or of the CP of NYS Affiliates.