The GNYHA/1199 SEIU Healthcare Education Project continued its statewide advertising and grassroots advocacy campaign to urge Albany lawmakers to reject the nearly $2 billion in Medicaid cuts, provider taxes, and other revenue reductions proposed in the State Budget with a massive direct mail initiative to 2 million New Yorkers' homes. The various direct mail pieces—which warn that the proposed cuts will mean fewer nurses, longer lines, reduced services, disrupted emergency preparedness activities, and possibly even hospital and nursing home closures—follow a series of television and radio ads that began airing on March 5, 2003. The direct mail pieces also assert that there is a better choice for lawmakers to consider: closing corporate loopholes and increasing taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. They include postcards addressed to Governor Pataki and members of the State Legislature urging them not to cut health care funding. The mail pieces also encourage New Yorkers to attend a massive health care rally in Albany on April 1, 2003 (see below).

The direct mail campaign complements a second round of television and radio ads currently in production, a statewide telephone-calling initiative, and numerous community forums and other grassroots initiatives throughout the State.

April 1 Rally: On April 1, thousands of concerned citizens will join the Healthcare Education Project in a massive rally to protest the devastating health care cuts proposed in the NYS budget. The Healthcare Education Project has rented out the Pepsi Arena, where numerous elected officials and health care leaders are scheduled to address the crowd. After that event, there will be a march to the State Capitol, where an overflow crowd from the statewide health care community will hold a rally on the Capitol steps. All employees of the hospitals and nursing homes in GNYHA's membership are invited to attend, including 1199/SEIU members, members of other unions, and all exempt employees. Members of community boards, auxiliary boards, and retirees are also welcome. For more information, call David Rich or Lloyd Bishop at GNYHA.