Dear Friends and Colleagues:
As you know, Governor Cuomo has announced his proposal for a Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. This unprecedented legislation would establish the strongest standards and practices in the nation for protecting more than one million people with disabilities or special needs served by the state’s human service agencies.
Since the governor’s announcement, more than 130 organizations have joined a broad coalition in support of this plan; and tens of thousands more have visited this initiative’s dedicated website to gather information, hear stories, or get involved.
We thought you would be interested in seeing what others are saying:
· “The Justice Center could provide the expertise needed to investigate complex abuse cases in which the victim—and witnesses—could have limited ability to communicate,” the Journal News writes in a strong endorsement of the legislation. Click here to read the full editorial.
· “It’s beyond argument that one of [government’s] core responsibilities is the protection of the most vulnerable,” Newsday writes, calling the governor’s plan, “a sweeping and smart new way to get this vital job done.” Click here to read the full editorial.
· “The [governor’s] legislation offers a practical, reasonable response to an unacceptable situation,” the Syracuse Post-Standard writes. Simply put, the paper says, “Our most vulnerable citizens deserve no less.” Click here to read the full editorial.
· The New York Times calls the governor’s legislative package “a sensible, straightforward proposal that legislators and unions should support.” Click here to read the full editorial.
Thank you to the thousands of individuals, family members, employees, and advocates who have already engaged in this initiative. To learn more, please visit www.justice4specialneeds.com.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Burke
P.S. Communication is critical to our collective success, and OPWDD’s Facebook page is a great place for individuals, family members, employees, advocates, and other stakeholders to exchange thoughts and ideas. Please feel free to join the conversation.