Protestors Rally Downtown in Support of CDR

rochesterhomepage.net

Reported by: Tina Shively

Four days after Monroe County stopped funding the Center for Disability Rights, a protest is underway.
For 2 hours on Monday night a crowd of both aides and clients of the Center for Disability Rights stood up and voiced their opinion at the Central Library downtown.

Then they took to the streets to bring those opinions right to the county’s doorstep.

Jim Buscemi made his way to the county building on Main street with 100 other clients, family members and employees of the center for disability rights.

Although he’s only been a CDR client for 15 months following a car accident, he already feels a bond with the aides who care for him at home.

He said “We develop relationships with the people around us. Those relationships help us stay as healthy as we can mentally, physically and emotionally.”

Aide Patricia Brown spoke up because she values the 8 year relationship with her one and only client, Michael.

He and CDR’s other clients were informed about the change in a letter sent to their home.

She said “My thing is, what’s gonna happen to him? Not me, I can get another job. But what’s gonna happen to him? That’s my main concern with this.”

Monroe County has decided to end it’s contract with CDR after more than a decade following a thorough investigation they say turned up cases of quote “widespread lapses in client care.”

Brown added “You punish the one person you don’t punish the program. If that’s the case, I know a lot of places that need to be shut down.”

CDR’s CEO Chris Hildebrand says the county’s contract makes up half of their budget, but he’s not concerned.

“We’re continuing to fight and I think its a bad decision that’s being made and I hope the county will reconsider…I think the people here will push until they do.”

The crowd says they plan to stay outside the building until county executive Maggie Brooks agrees to meet with them to hear their plea.

However, that won’t likely happen according to county spokesman Noah Lebowitz.

He sent a statement to News8 tonight saying quote;

“The County Executive had no choice but to remove CDR as a vendor after an investigation uncovered widespread lapses in client care and safety under their watch. This decision is final and non-negotiable, making any meeting with CDR unnecessary.”

The county does have contracts with five other vendors, and says clients will see no interruption in service during the transition.