#bFair2DirectCare “300 Days to Better Pay” Campaign

GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY ALERT
September 7, 2016

TO: Employees, Families, Program Participants, Self-Advocates, Members, and Friends of ALIA, CP, DDAWNY, IAC, NYSACRA, NYSARC, and NYSRA Member Organizations

SUBJECT: YOUR VOTE COUNTS

On Tuesday, November 8th, every seat in the NYS Legislature is up for election. It is vital that
each of us vote and consider the position of candidates on the issues that are important to us.

Do the candidates in your community support increasing state budget funding to provide a living wage for Direct Support Professionals and other direct support employees? Will they fight for the funding to be included in the next state budget on April 1, 2017?

To assist you with determining the position of candidates, the #bFair2DirectCare Coalition and NYSARC have sent a questionnaire on increased state funding for our workforce to every candidate for State Legislature. We will send you the findings to help guide you on Election Day, but today you need to make sure that you, your families and friends are registered to vote on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8th.

The legislative survey was created as part of the #bFair2DirectCare Coalition’s “300 Days to
Better Pay” campaign to convince the Governor and State Legislature to provide a meaningful rate increase to increase the pay of direct care workers so that a full-time employee can earn a living wage helping support the right of all New Yorker to live full and independent lives in our communities.

We are now one-third of the way through our campaign – which demands more funding in the 2017 state budget for our agencies. Because of the “300 Days to Better Pay” campaign, our elected officials know what we want; now we have to show them our supporters will show up to vote on Election Day and vote for candidates who support paying a living wage to our direct care workers.

Every vote counts and we need you to vote on November 8. The last day to register to vote for this Election is Friday, October 14. If you, or the people that you love and support are not registered to vote, please contact your county Board of Elections and get registered to join us in voting for candidates who support people with disabilities on November 8. You can follow the link below to find local election information.

http://www.elections.ny.gov/CountyBoards.html

As someone who cares deeply about people with developmental disabilities, you are part of a community of more than 200,000 New Yorkers. It is no secret that we are disappointed in the actions of New York State government in providing the resources we need to support the people who we love and care for. We must mobilize our community. As this recent Albany Times Union article points out: For disabled voters, strength in numbers brings political clout.

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/For-disabled-voters-strength-in-numbers-brings-9204295.php

Thank You.