Thanks to all of you who took time to advocate for an 8.5% COLA in the state budget. Unfortunately, it has ended up at 4% — an increase, but not an adequate one given inflation and the years that we were starved by the previous governor. This is disappointing, to say the least. In the end, I guess 4% is better than 0%. But we could have done so much more with the full COLA that we were entitled to. I’m a little riled up right now, so I’ll leave the rest of my thoughts unspoken and point instead to the statement below from New York Disability Advocates, whose board I serve on.
But I assure you we will continue to fight the good fight. We don’t give up.
— CEO and President Jeff Paterson
