Group Meets with Governor to Protest Disability Cuts

By: Veronica R. Chiesi, YNN Rochester

Some members of the Center for Disability Rights went to Albany to meet with Governor David Paterson Monday.

The governor agreed to the meeting when CDR members caught him during a protest in Rochester last week. They’re against the governor’s proposed budget, which cuts funding for services and puts a cap on personal aide care.

Those who went to Albany said they proposed alternatives, but the governor and his staff did not make any commitments.

“He’s willing to admit that they maybe don’t understand the full impact of what they’ve proposed,” said Chris Hildebrandt of CDR. “A lot of the proposals that we’ve made that would enhance services and save money we gave to them months ago – and no one really paid attention until 80 of us greeted the governor on his arrival here in Rochester.”

CDR leaders in Rochester said they and their counterparts in Albany plan to talk more with the governor’s office next week, through conference calls.