disabled

Albany Gives Budget Bill Rare Unanimous "O.K.!"

Dave Lucas — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:34:55 +0000

The elimination of $90 million in funding for disabled programs from the budget in March has been reversed by rare unanimous action in a divided Albany.

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved restoring the funds. A day earlier, the Assembly unanimously passed the measure. For the first time ever in the Legislature, every Assembly member signed as co-sponsors.

Democratic Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg of Long Island, who has a disabled son, joined with Republican Sen. Martin Golden of Brooklyn to celebrate after final legislative passage.

PVTA Fare Hikes Rejected By Governing Board

Paul Tuthill — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 22:20:00 +0000

Riders of the largest public transit system in western Massachusetts no longer have a possible fare hike looming. But, the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority will need more revenue next year to avoid a budget deficit and possible service cuts. WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.

Governor Cuomo Plans to Propose New Agency

Ian Pickus — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:16:00 +0000

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo plans to propose creating a new agency to oversee care of the disabled.

The New York Times reports that Cuomo will announce the proposal this week in response to the state’s history of overlooking abuse of the disabled living in publicly financed housing, a group numbering nearly one million.

The paper says the new law enforcement and oversight agency will monitor the care of several types of at-risk patients. It would also be granted subpoena power.

Report: Cuomo Official Sought to Bar Whistleblower

Dave Lucas — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:37:28 +0000

A published report says the Cuomo administration tried to keep a whistleblower from a Senate hearing on the state's care for the disabled. WAMC’s Dave Lucas reports…

The New York Times named the whistleblower: state worker Jeffrey Monsour, an outspoken critic of the system that provides care to thousands of people.

It says his invitation to the Monday hearing was pulled at the administration's request. But Monsour is now expected to attend the panel discussion after the administration relented.