Buffalo, NY – On Wednesday evening, members rallied in support of Governor Cuomo outside the WNED studios in Buffalo before attending the only Gubernatorial Debate to be held this election season either in person or through a live Debate Watch Party with elected officials, local union leaders, and community activists.



The Gubernatorial debate sparked a healthy conversation amongst the members who work in Western New York Hospitals and Nursing Homes about the impact of current policies and legislation on our daily lives. “As a young worker, it was a great experience to get involved in politics on a local level and to meet the people who make decisions,” said Emmanuel White, Maintenance Technician at Weinberg Campus. “It was interesting to hear so many different opinions from people who support Governor Cuomo and Kathy Hochul.”





Political Activist and 1199SEIU Union Delegate Kim Utech, Nurse Practitioner at Kaleida Health, was especially interested to hear Governor Cuomo speak about the Billion Dollar promise to Buffalo, the emerging Medical Campus, and new jobs across our state. “It was good to be part of the debate process and to see how politics affect our jobs and our community,” she said.



For several of members this debate was their first time participating in a political event. Overall, this experience was truly a wonderful and memorable once-in-a-lifetime experience. 1199SEIU members in Upstate NY will gather this weekend to participated in a Harvest the Vote political member action day to canvass in support of our endorsed candidates who stand for quality care and good jobs for all, including Governor Andrew Cuomo!