Tell Gov Cuomo : We Want Justice For ALL New Yorkers! Stop The Attacks!

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo's 75 million dollars in proposed cuts to the popular and much needed medicaid program CDPA isn't just misguided, it's also a dangerous attack on many oppressed communities.

The following are 10 reasons why it is urgent and vital that all New York Senators and Representatives speak out against the cuts.

1.) Attack on freedom and independence. Cuomo's plan to charge CDPA agencies (aka: FI's or Fiscal Intermediaries) a monthly fee per client, will force agencies to give the boot to many New Yorkers already using the program, and reject new applicants, as the CDPA agencies won't be able to afford the monthly fees to stay in business otherwise. Shouldn't all New Yorkers have the same access to this medicaid program instead of a chosen few? As a result, people will be forced to use Traditional Services, which means a higher number of disabled and elderly people being shipped off against their will into nursing homes and institutions, where care is a dehumanizing assembly line and there is a higher risk of abuse. As it is, traditional agencies often have problems covering the approved hours and meeting the needs of disabled and/or elderly New Yorkers, and now there will be an even greater demand.

2.) Attack on workers. Why is Cuomo so bent on destroying jobs? He gave billionaire Elon Musk of Tesla 750 million dollars to create 750 jobs, and yet if he gets his way, he could destroy the CDPA program which creates over 100,000 jobs for the state of New York.

3.) Attack on privacy. Shouldn't all New Yorkers have a say in who comes into their homes? One of the many unique benefits of the CDPA is that disabled and elderly New Yorkers are empowered to do the hiring, so they can choose who comes into their homes, who assists them with personal and intimate things like bathing, getting dressed and eating. Shouldn't New Yorkers be the ones who decides who touches their body? Who they rely on for meals?

4.) Attack on immigrants & employment opportunities. One of the major demographics working in the healthcare industry as a PCA (or Personal Care Attendant) are immigrants. In some cases, such as NYC, a worker has the opportunity to make more money with CDPA than traditional services up to 17 dollars an hour. There has been cases where some traditional agencies will take advantage of immigrant workers and tell them that they can't make a better wage than what the agency is paying them, which is not always the case. Furthermore, with CDPA, the worker and client can meet up and decide if they are compatible, whereas with traditional services, an agency will send a worker out for a job, even if they do not speak the same language as the client, which puts both parties in harm's way. Lastly, by attacking the CDPA program, Cuomo is going after job opportunities for people who are just starting out in this country, and want to support themselves and their families with proper and gainful employment.

5.) Attack on the poor, disabled and the elderly. While Cuomo's justice agenda is making some much needed social justice changes for New York, we can not ignore that his budget cuts are nothing more than attacks on the poor, disabled and elderly communities. He claims there isn't enough money to fund certain programs, meanwhile miraculously finding money for corporations. And now he's going after medicaid programs such as the CDPA, which empowers people to stay in their homes and their chosen community. We are New Yorkers too. Where is our justice?

6.) Attack on safety. A disabled person with autism, a survivor of a stroke, a person with multiple sclerosis, a person with cancer, all have very different needs to keep them safe and in an environment where they can thrive and lead a full life at home. In many cases, disabled and/or elderly people also rely on home services, so they can go to work. With CDPA, New Yorkers are empowered to hire people who can give them the individualized care that they need, not just a PCA who is a total stranger that happens to be available for the shift, but has no experience caring for someone with said needs, which can result in injury and further demise of health.

7.) Attack on New York families. With CDPA a person can hire a friend/family member which not only gives them the care they need with someone they are comfortable with, but won't be a financial strain as the family member or friend will be getting compensated for their work. And let's not forget that if a elderly and/or disabled person is unable to do their own hiring, a family member can be made a representative, thus giving the family more say in their loved one's care.

8.) Attacks on LGBTQ+ people (and other oppressed demographics who may face social discrimination) When you're gay, disabled and in need of home services (as an example), having the option to hire (and fire) someone, means not having to deal with homophobia from your PCAs. Being in a situation where you are reliant on the...