Gov. Andrew Cuomo has agreed to increase the pay for those who work with the developmentally disabled. He announced yesterday that the final state budget will include a 6.5 percent increase in pay for direct care workers, allowing non-profit agencies to pay them more than the minimum wage. This is a victory for the #befair2directcare movement, a grassroots campaign by agencies and non-profits that included online petitions, letter writing, and rallies. These government-funded agencies, like the Racker Centers, have found it difficult to hire and retain workers without being able to offer a competitive salary. The increase will be funded with an extra $10 million in the budget. Cuomo’s announcement was applauded by both parties, including local Republican representatives Fred Akshar and Chris Friend.
