Editorial: Fully restore the cuts; A sad loss

The state legislature recently voted to restore funds to disabled programs, but the battle isn’t over.

Hundreds of organizations tailored toward developmentally disabled individuals could be subject to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget amendments resulting in a $240 million cut in funding, effective April 1, if an accord between the executive and legislative branch is not reached.

The current Assembly budget proposal would restore $120 million to not-for-profit organizations that work with developmentally disabled individuals, and an additional $20 million to maintain state-operated mental health services. The Senate proposal also would restore $120 million.

We say budget cuts should have never been considered.

Cuts to services for these consumers have a real, human toll.

Legislators must look at what effect a lack of funding will have on PEOPLE.

A main issue for these organizations is losing members of the “family” they have created in their programs.

What’s worse is that many programs might have to shut down, and potential layoffs mean that consumers would not receive the individualized care they need and deserve.

“The original intent of New York State was to move into home care,” said Ed Matthews, CEO of United Cerebral Palsy. “Now we are being criticized for doing for 50,000 people what no one else ever did.”

Let us not harken back to the days of the Willowbrook State School, when so many were neglected.

As Ernest Walker, president of the Self Advocacy Association of UCP/NYC, said, “I do not want to go backwards. That is a life that no one should ever live again. We can and should do better in New York State.”

A SAD LOSS

The staff of The Home Reporter and Brooklyn Spectator would like to extend our deepest condolences to Co-Publisher Victoria Schneps-Yunis and the entire Yunis family on the loss of Dr. Stuart L. Yunis.

A pioneer in the field of nephrology, Yunis was a well-respected physician – and a beloved family man.

As his grandson Sam noted, “He really listened and always asked insightful questions, even until the end.”

Considered “heroic” by his family and all who knew him, Yunis was laid to rest at Beth David Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Dr. Stuart Yunis’ memory to Life’s WORC, the Lara Rebecca Schneps Fund (www.lifesworc.org); and Amani Global Works (amaniglobalworks.org).