Over the weekend, the Governor vetoed a bill to re-establish the Office of the Advocate for People with Disabilities. The Legislature has passed this bill multiple times over the years. It is frustrating to have a Governor continually refuse to re-establish an office created by a previous Governor – his own father – that would address the concerns of all New Yorkers with disabilities. That the cost was not contemplated in the budget is a poor excuse when the Governor exercises so much control over the State budget. Governor Cuomo has had multiple opportunities and requests to include the office in his budget and has failed the Disability Community every time. 

While we welcome the appointment of a Chief Disability Officer; the Governor must ensure that the appointment is someone with lived experience as a disabled person to advise him on disability policy.