Legislative Bulletin: New Advocacy Alerts for Members
Advocacy Alert! ACF/AL Members – Take Action Now!
Two new bills were introduced this week that are of significance for Adult Care Facilities (ACF) and Assisted Living (AL) members. Please take a look at the advocacy action items below and email your lawmakers now, urging them to support and pass these important pieces of legislation. As always, feel free to modify or personalize the letter as you desire.
- Increase the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) rates for low-income seniors in ACFs: This legislation is part of an ongoing effort to get an increase in the State portion of the SSI rate for ACFs, along with a built in future cost of living adjustment to prevent the rate from getting so far away from the cost of providing care. Please email your lawmakers now, urging them to co-sponsor and pass A.7393 (Brindisi)-S.5151 (Little).
- Amend EQUAL language to enable the expenditure of funds retrospectively, within the fiscal year: This initiative is part of LeadingAge NY's ongoing advocacy efforts to resolve an issue in the recently enacted budget, which disallowed EQUAL funds to be used for expenses incurred prior to the release of the application and funding. This legislation would resolve the issue so that, consistent with past practice, EQUAL funds can be used for expenses incurred within the fiscal year, even if they are retrospective, as long as they are consistent with the EQUAL program objectives and approved by the organization's resident council. Please email your lawmakers now, urging them to co-sponsor and pass A.7502 (Gottfried)-S 5346 (Hannon).
Attention Housing Members: Please fill out the PRAC Capital Needs Survey
LeadingAge NY is part of the Section 202 PRAC preservation workgroup that was established by LeadingAge to research the current and future physical needs of Section 202 PRAC inventory, develop a comprehensive preservation strategy for these properties, prepare a legislative proposal for members of Congress and engage in an education and advocacy campaign to secure support. To support our work, LeadingAge has developed a survey to collect crucial data from members to help quantify the issues that cannot be funded under the PRAC projects' current reserve plan and funding. In a recent workgroup meeting we learned that based on recent REAC results, HUD does not think there is a significant capital need. Help us tell your capital needs story by filling out this short survey. The survey will only take you a few minutes to fill out but will provide us with valuable information for our advocacy on PRAC preservation. You can access the survey here: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2073113/Section-202-PRAC-Preservation-Needs-Survey.
Nurses Host Lobby Day for Staffing Ratios in Hospitals and Nursing Homes
The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) held a multi-union lobby day in Albany on Tuesday, asking lawmakers to pass the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act, which would create specific staffing ratios for nurses and other direct-care staff in hospitals and nursing homes. A Capital New York article reported today that “the New York City Hospital Alliance will offer members of the state's largest nurses union a 10 percent raise over four years and no reduction in benefits, but is refusing to agree to new mandatory staffing ratios, according to a source familiar with the hospitals' negotiating position.” LeadingAge NY opposes the legislation, which if enacted, would cost an estimated $1.06 billion to implement in nursing homes and would require more than an hour of additional staff time per resident per day when compared to current staffing. Please email your lawmakers now, urging them to oppose this legislation.
Long Island Senator, John Flanagan, Named Senate Majority Leader
Senator Dean Skelos resigned his seat as Senate Majority Leader on Monday after being arrested last week on corruption charges. Senate Republicans then voted for Long Island Senator, John Flanagan, to replace Sen. Skelos as the new Senate Majority Leader. Sen. Flanagan represents the entire Town of Smithtown and portions of the Town of Brookhaven and the Town of Huntington. Read more about Sen. Flanagan here.
Coalition Launches Effort to Change NYC Affordable Housing Program
A coalition of labor unions and contractors called Up4NYC has launched an effort to reform a New York City affordable housing program that will expire in June unless the Governor and Legislature can reach agreement on extending it.
New York City’s 421-a tax abatement program was created in 1971 to provide an incentive for private sector developers to build new residential apartments in New York City. A 421-a tax abatement is available to new housing developments with three or more units, located on sites that were vacant, underutilized, or had a “nonconforming” zoning use. Under the program, owners are exempt from paying the increase in property taxes resulting from the new construction. The tax abatement begins at either 100% or 95%, and decreases over 10 to 25 years (depending on the building’s location), until the full rate of property taxes is due.
The coalition argues that the program should be modified to require living wages for construction workers and more affordable housing. The group’s first ad can be viewed here. -Hinman Straub
New York City Mayor Launches Progressive Agenda to Combat Income Inequality
On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and group of national progressive leaders announced a 13-point platform called The Progressive Agenda to Combat Income Inequality. Their goal is to build a national movement to influence the 2016 elections, especially the race for President.
The Progressive Agenda includes raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, and indexing it to inflation; making pre-kindergarten universal; paid family and sick leave, and a series of ideas on closing tax loopholes that favor the wealthy.
Read the transcript of Mayor de Blasio’s comments here. -Hinman Straub
Richardson Elected to Vacant Assembly Seat
Diana Richardson, running on the Working Families Party (WFP) line, won just over 50% of the vote in the special election, defeating three other candidates. She replaces Democrat Karim Camara, who resigned the seat in January to join Gov. Cuomo’s administration.
The 43rd Assembly District includes parts of Crown Heights and Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. WFP officials say Ms. Richardson will become the first member of the State Assembly backed exclusively by the Working Families Party. There was no candidate on the Democratic Party line.
A first generation Brooklyn native of West Indian descent, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration at Medgar Evers College, and later obtained her Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in Policy Analysis and Evaluation from the School of Public Affairs at CUNY Baruch College. She served on Senator Kevin Parker’s staff as his Director of Constituent Affairs in the 21st Senatorial District. Most recently, she was employed as Strategic Partnerships & Education Director at Boys Town New York. -Hinman Straub
Donovan Wins Special Election for Vacant Congressional Seat
Staten Island DA Dan Donovan, a Republican, won the special election to fill the seat of former Rep. Michael Grimm in Staten Island and Brooklyn. Donovan had 60 percent of the vote to Democratic Councilman Vincent Gentile’s 40 percent.
Contact: Alyssa Lovelace, alovelace@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8844