“During budget negotiations, I’ve been fighting for a raise for the direct-care professionals who provide critically important healthcare and deliver quality-of-life programming to New Yorkers with developmental disabilities. I was proud to rally with them yesterday in the Capitol, and I was thrilled when one of the top administration officials announced that the governor won’t pass a budget without a pay hike for these dedicated direct-support professionals.”

“As is always the case in Albany, the details are important. Other proposals floating around the Capitol would push a pay increase back to January of 2020. I believe these hardworking, compassionate professionals deserve a raise immediately. We can’t let their compensation fall behind minimum wage jobs that are far less difficult and emotionally taxing. We need to get this done, and we need to get this done right,” said Ra.