A Column from the Desk of Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C-Deerpark)
Many of you are tired of reading about the migrant crisis, and I’m certainly tired of writing about it. Yet, the problem persists and demands our attention each week. This week, members of the Assembly and Senate held a press conference urging the state government to further investigate DocGo, Inc., the organization contracted by New York City to manage the migrant crisis. This organization’s costs have burdened New York taxpayers, as reflected in our latest state budget. We still have many questions about DocGo and the expectations set by city and state officials. The contract this for-profit organization signed remains undisclosed. Attempts to access details are met with instructions to file Freedom of Information Law requests, which rarely yield the complete document. Adding to the concerns, DocGo’s former CEO was found to have lied about his experience and education, raising further alarms. The misuse of funds by DocGo, Inc. is a matter of grave concern. New York taxpayers have contributed a staggering $2.4 billion to cover the failings of this questionable organization. This is an unacceptable situation where taxes are being spent to fix problems created by the state’s own decisions. It’s high time we consider alternative solutions: revoke sanctuary status, resume partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or conduct better research when selecting companies to manage the migrant crisis. The next step must be a departure from the current approach to ensure better financial management and accountability.
Assemblyman Brabenec represents the 98th District, which includes the city of Port Jervis, the towns of Deerpark, Greenville, Mount Hope, Wawayanda, Minisink, Warwick, Tuxedo and portions of the towns of Goshen, Monroe and Ramapo. For more information, please visit his Official Website at www.yourfavoriteassemblyman.com.
