A Repeat Request

The recent events of the pandemic, the political Primary contests and the focus on social justice have motivated me to repeat a request to all voters in New York State.

The subject of the request is the salaries of the people who provide direct-hands-on personal and intimate care to very dependent people in long-term non-medical congregate living facilities. I base my request on my 42-plus years with many non-government not-for-profit service providers of care to our mentally ill and intellectually/developmentally brother and sisters.

I am not referring to our licensed professionals/management/or folks not involved with direct-hands-on personal and intimate care. The folks I am advocating for are those who wake-up the care receivers, some of whom need to be toileted, bathed, dressed, fed, reassured, etc.

In most cases they are people of color, many women, many single mothers, many working two jobs because the wages are not living wages.

And the minimum wages the State government mandated do not equate to a living wage or reflect the importance that these folks play in the health care world. It’s a social injustice.

Ergo, I am again asking everyone to ask their political candidates for the NYS Legislature to commit to correcting this injustice.

John Allen Murphy