PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Bakari Savo, Personal Assistant, on CDPAP Program Changes
1:51:20
ยท
163 sec
Bakari Savo, a personal assistant for Jose Hernandez, testifies in support of Resolution 642 regarding the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). He expresses concerns about the transition to Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) as the single fiscal intermediary and its potential negative impacts on care workers and recipients.
- Savo warns that transitioning to PPL would result in a pay cut, potentially forcing him to leave his job and the industry.
- He highlights concerns about PPL's unreliable payment history and the risks it poses to workers' ability to meet basic needs.
- Savo urges the council to pause the transition and support Resolution 642 to preserve current care arrangements and protect workers and consumers.
Bakari Savo
1:51:20
Hello, everyone.
1:51:21
My name is Bakari Savo.
1:51:23
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to testify today.
1:51:27
I'm the personal assistant for Jose Hernandez, and I started working for him during the pandemic.
1:51:35
I am here to support the resolution six forty two.
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This will help preserve the care that consumers are currently receiving and allow me to continue providing the care Jose needs to live healthily and independently in the community.
1:51:55
My name my current physical intermediary pays me enough cover my rent and provide food for my family.
1:52:03
However, if I were to transition to PPL, I would lose income on the date of enrollment.
1:52:12
I enjoy my job, and I care about my consumer.
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We have worked together for the past four and a half weeks, but PPL is making it difficult for me to continue providing care for Jose.
1:52:28
If I have to take a pay cut, I will have to decide whether to stay in this industry or seek other employment to and so I can continue paying my rent bills, provide providing food for my family.
1:52:47
Although I want to continue working for HOSI, I also have a family to support.
1:52:53
PPL does not have a reliable history of paying their workers on time.
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If this were to happen to me, I will risk not being able to feed my family or possibly become homeless.
1:53:10
My landlord will not allow me to stay without paying rent, and the supermarket will not let me purchase food on the promise that PPL will eventually pay me.
1:53:23
Thousands of PAs like myself will have to decide between staying with their consumers or protecting their families, and PPL will be deciding factor.
1:53:37
Please pause transition and please pause the transition and support the resolution six four two so that companies like the one I currently work for can allow me to continue caring for my consumer while also providing a home and food for my family.
1:54:02
Thank you for