Buffalo
YNN
Kaitlyn Lionti
http://buffalo.ynn.com/content/top_stories/550607/-restore-the-american-promise–caravan/
Concerned citizens launched a statewide effort Wednesday to preserve programs like Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Part of the “Restore the American Promise” caravan started here in Western New York. YNN’s Kaitlyn Lionti tells us more about the initiative and the goals of those involved.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — They’re rolling through the state with a message for Congress.
Dozens of people gathered at Kleinhan’s Music Hall in Buffalo Wednesday for a rally to kick off part of the “Restore the American Promise” caravan.
“We need to take Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security off the chopping block and have a real, creative jobs program. And it’s really just an excuse to fix the budget that way. This is the American safety net, our security and it strengthens the middle class,” said Natalie Luczkowiak of Citizen Action of NY.
The group from Western New York plans to meet up with another caravan leaving from Long Island, Thursday in Hyde Park – the home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
So, the rally included professional actors portraying F.D.R and Eleanor Roosevelt who echoed the group’s concern. And to help attract attention, a vintage Studebaker is part of the caravan.
“With the caravan going from Buffalo to Rochester to Syracuse to Utica to the Roosevelt’s hometown of Hyde Park, we’re hoping to generate publicity and interest and awareness and get people involved,” said Ana Luce of Citizen Action of NY.
During the rally, Luce spoke of an experience that raised her awareness to medicaid issues – finding care for her mother with Alzheimer’s.
“A lot of trials and tribulations with some situations involving neglect, including one of the nursing homes being shut down by the state of New York, trying to find a new place for my mother since she’s indigent and on Medicaid.”
So as the August 2nd deadline to raise the national debt ceiling approaches, the group hopes their effort will grab the attention of elected officials.
Luce said, “I hope they don’t neglect or abandon our most vulnerable group – our senior citizens – the greatest generation. I hope they are not turned into a generation that experiences the greatest betrayal.”
