We have spoken. And due to your tremendous help and support, we have been heard! Unfortunately this is not the end of the process.

We must act now!

What has happened:

The Senate and Assembly one-house budget bills recommend restoration of the $120 million (state share) cut in funding proposed in the Governor’s 30-day budget amendments (a massive $240 million hit on persons with developmental disabilities and the voluntary agencies providing supports and services to these individuals.) But, the Governor is not there yet. He sees this as mere belt tightening and not the devastation for individuals with disabilities and their families.

What needs to happen:

We need to continue to gather support from our state senators and legislators and apply pressure on the Governor.

What you can do(Contact information and talking points below.):

1. CONTACT THE GOVERNOR

2. CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR AND LEGISLATOR

3. CONTACT THE GOVERNOR’S REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

CONTACT THE GOVERNOR

The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo

Governor of New York State

NYS Capitol

Albany NY 12224

518-474-8390

· These moneys need to be restored and alternative resources should be used to close the budget gap.

· Ask him to agree to close the budget gap using alternative resources available and not reduce spending for people with developmental disabilities

· Over the past several years, reductions in supports and services of more than $350 million have already been made.

· This cut will have a devastating impact on these individuals, their families and the 12,500 employees of Western New York and Finger Lake agencies who provide direct support and assistance and ensure their health and safety.

CONTACT YOUR STATE SENATOR AND LEGISLATOR

Assembly Switchboard is 518-455-4100

Senate Switchboard is 518-455-2800

Assembly Switchboard is 518-455-4100

Senate Switchboard is 518-455-2800

 

Don’t know who your senator or legislator are? Use these websites:

http://www.nysenate.gov/senators

http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?sh=search

· Thank the member for their efforts to fully restore the proposed $120 million cut. Tell them how much you appreciate that each one-house budget bill includes the full restoration. 

· Ask them to continue to support the restoration during the budget deliberation process and to contact their colleagues on the Health and Mental Health budget subcommittee and the General Budget Conference committee and stress to them the importance of including this restoration in the final budget.

· Ask the member to sign a letter to the Governor seeking his support for full restoration of the $120(stateshare) cut using resources already identified (the $200 million in additional revenues from the Consensus Revenue Forecast process) as well as other resources which will be identified in the ongoing budget deliberations.

· Explain what these cuts will mean in terms of loss of services and jobs in the community.  Make it clear the level of these cuts is simply not manageable and for OPWDD to suggest otherwise is foolish and misinformed.

CONTACT THE GOVERNOR’S REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE

Sam Hoyt

Regional President

Empire State Development Corporation

95 Perry Street - Suite 500

Buffalo, New York 114203-3030

716-846-8200

shoyt@esd.ny.gov

· Ask Mr. Hoyt to work with the governor to close the budget gap using alternative resources available and not reduce spending for people with developmental disabilities.

· Over the past several years, reductions in supports and services of more than $350 million have already been made.

· This cut will have a devastating impact in Western New York - on these individuals, their families and the 12,500 employees of Western New York and Finger Lake agencies who provide direct support and assistance and ensure their health and safety.

This is critically important and TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

If you have any questions or would like more information, please call or email Kevin Horrigan, Director of Public Affairs at 716.817.7475.