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As New York’s group home workers increasingly balked at last-minute assignments at COVID-19-infected facilities with lax health standards, a senior manager ordered staff to “work now and grieve later” or face punishment, an internal email obtained by the
Washington Examiner shows.
Similar to its nursing homes, New York had a policy of co-mingling healthy and infected residents in its developmentally disabled group home system, resulting in the deaths of 36 workers and infections of 11,639 as of May 5. Numerous employees told the
Washington Examiner that they lived with babies or elderly people and were terrified of working in such conditions.
Families angry that relatives in NY group homes remain isolated
NY group homes
Many families who have loved ones living in group homes are so frustrated that New York officials haven t revised COVID guidelines to be in line with the CDC s recommendations.
NEW YORK - Laura Tobia s brother, Billy, has severe cerebral palsy and lives in a group home.
COVID-19 restrictions are continuing to prevent him from participating in any outside programs and services he critically needs. I m scratching my head trying to figure out why there are theaters opening, Tobia said. There are fairs that are about to happen and festivals and sporting events and music events and my brother has been sitting at home.
NYS Comptroller: Total cost of overtime at state agencies reached all-time high in 2020
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and last updated 2021-05-04 12:01:29-04
ALBANY, N.Y. (WKBW) â According to a report released by the Office of the New York State Comptroller Tuesday, the total cost of overtime at state agencies reached an all-time high in 2020.
Officials say more than $850 million was paid out in overtime at state agencies covering about 19.1 million overtime hours worked. From 2019, total overtime earnings increased 5.5% and total overtime hours increased 3.9%. Overtime earnings made up 4.8% of total payroll spending in 2020.
âState agency overtime reached a record level last year,â New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said. âThe COVID-19 pandemic required state workers across New York to work long, grueling hours to deal with a crisis never before seen during our lifetime. The pandemic touched nearly every aspect of our lives and the men and women in public employ
NY state budget could cut services for the developmentally disabled fox5ny.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from fox5ny.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Cuomo s coronavirus policies for disabled group homes face scrutiny
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Dr. Dennis P. McKenna, president and CEO of Albany Medical Center, answers questions during a vaccination clinic at the Center for Disability Services on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Albany, N.Y. Albany County and Albany Medical Center, with the approval of the New York State Health Department, allocated 450 dosages of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be administered to people who live in groups homes for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as the workers who care for them. (Will Waldron/Times Union)Will Waldron/Albany Times Union
ALBANY At the urging of his Republican colleagues, state Sen. James Skoufis who chairs the chamber s investigations committee said he is interested in examining Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo s COVID-19 policies at group home facilities for people with developmental disabilities, which have mirrored those of nursing homes.