BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — "Save Weinberg" was the message that rang out during a picket in Downtown Buffalo, outside the Ellicott Square Building.
The last ditch effort was to convince the state to reconsider the approved closure plan . I spoke with those who were rallying to keep the Weinberg Campus facility alive, in front of the state's regional health department. "It's been hard on us," Weinberg Campus Employee, Shakia Jones explained.
"I do what I can for them and they depend on us and it's all being snatched away from all of us." Those were heartbroken words from Jones who has worked at Weinberg for more than six years. "We have no health insurance right now.
He just had major surgery. I don't have thousands of dollars to pay for the coverage that we lost in August. We found out on Saturday, we had no health insurance," Christina Tonge shared.
That was a harsh reality for Christina Tonge and her family, whose husband has worked at Weinberg Campus for more than 30 years. Weinberg Campus Employee LaCearne Toni Banks said, "When I first started working there, it was a beautiful place and we can bring it back to that." A sorrow, but still a glimmer of hope from folks like 14-year Weinberg Campus employee Banks, whom we have heard from for weeks.
They all hope the New York State Department of Health will champion the more than 300 dedicated employees and the more than 100 residents and their families. Carol Czarniak said, "I would like to know, Governor Hochul, why you can't .