10 Reasons Why Cuomo's Attacks On Marginalized New Yorkers Must Be Opposed
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, Representatives and Legislators 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.
[image description: a graphic with a black background and features a woman of color wearing a beret and slightly looking to the right. her face has a blue-purple tint to it. Behind her red is a red rectangle, and to the left of her is a large white exclamation mark. The text (above her head) reads "activist. mother. new yorker." Under her chin reads "Cuomo! Hands off our jobs! Workers of the CDPA!"] 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?
[image description: Graphic with pink background, has an 80's vibe. To the right is a woman making a gasping / oh my god expression. The text reads "OMG! Governor Cuomo gave Elon Musk 750 million to create 750 jobs, but wants to cut 75 million from CDPA (a medicaid program that serves poor, elderly & disabled new yorkers) & creates over 100,000 jobs for the state." In the upper right hand corner "that is not 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 very person who is discriminating against you, is a horrible place to be, but with traditional services, you just don't get a choice in who they send. Even if it's a temporary situation, it's distressing to be discriminated against in your home, and no one should be forced to be closeted just to get proper and safe care.
9.) Attack on the future of CDPA. If Cuomo succeeds in destroying the program, it could very well be the beginning of the end for CDPA in other states who will follow suit. “New York got away with it, so why can't we?”
[image description: graphic has a black background. the top and bottom are frost & icicles. to the left is a photo of new york state governor andrew cuomo in a suit, in mid speech. to the right is the following text "Is Cuomo The New Polar Vortex? 'Cus the way he's treating disabled people is cold. Next to the word cold is the blue & white wheelchair symbol. On the bottom reads "Don't disabled new yorkers deserve justice too?] 10.) Attacks on people who use medical marijuana. Drug tests unfairly group hard drugs like heroin, meth and cocaine with medicinal drugs like marijuana in the same category, and failing a drug test can mean the loss of employment opportunities, for many New Yorkers, including disabled people who can work, but require the use of marijuana, as they have not found proper pain relief through pharmaceutical means. With CDPA, the client can hire someone who (as an example) uses marijuana for medicinal reasons, long as the client writes a letter saying you are aware of the results and are okay with it. That same person who “fails” their drug tests, would not be able to get a job with traditional agencies.
Disabled people are one of many marginalized communities in their own right. In fact, within every oppressed demographic, disabled people exist. It is time (and especially in this political climate) that we make it politically and socially unacceptable to throw disabled people under the bus. Disabled people deserve justice too, and that is why I ask you to oppose/speak out against these proposed cuts.
Follow #SaveCDPA on social media. Call Cuomo at 518-474-8390 and tell him Hands Off the CDPA. Don’t attack a program that creates over 100,000 jobs for New York State and gives the freedom of choice to over 70,000 New Yorkers.
[an image of a disabled woman in her hospital bed, holding up a “I Voted” sticker]