Jamaal Bowman shows up for senior citizens

To the editor:

You can tell a lot about political candidates by what community events they show up for.

On Memorial Day morning, a group of longtime Jewish Riverdale residents held a small vigil outside the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, and lit yahrzeit candles to honor the memory of the many nursing home patients and workers who have been killed by the coronavirus in our town, our state, and our country.

We also spoke out for safer conditions in nursing homes, which are sadly among the worst epicenters of the COVID-19 disease, and against Gov. Cuomo’s proposed slashes in the Medicaid budget, because a big share of those cuts target nursing homes, where many of us have relatives, and some of us — including myself — may well end our days.

We are members of a Caring Majority coalition of senior citizens and disabled people, family caregivers, and home care workers across the state who push for long-term care and supports to be affordable and available to all New Yorkers who need them.

Our demands for nursing homes in the COVID-19 pandemic include testing and treatment for all, personal protective equipment, and paid sick leave for workers, freedom of choice for residents (including the right to leave for safer quarters), and full transparency about cases and deaths.

We also stand for state investment in home care, which is less expensive, and a universal public health program, such as the New York Health Act, currently before the state legislature.

Only one political hopeful showed up to support us and speak out for the seniors, disabled and workers in our nursing homes. Only one candidate for Congress showed how deeply he cares — Jamaal Bowman.

Our current congressman, Eliot Engel, couldn’t be bothered. Come to think of it, where has he been while we have all been locked down at home, away from our loved ones? The Atlantic magazine tracked him down to his home in Potomac, Maryland — far away from the Bronx. And apparently he has been there since late March. Shouldn’t he be here where his constituents are suffering, grieving and dying?

I think we need a new voice in Congress. One who showed us on Memorial Day that he cares about the sick and elderly of our families, and will truly represent all the diverse communities in our district: Jamaal Bowman.

Bill Schleicher

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