Slater calls for investigation into Docgo

Representative Matt Slater is leading the charge to launch an investigation into DocGo, a mobile medical services and transportation company hired by the New York City government to help address the ongoing refugee crisis in the five boroughs.

DocGo was awarded a $432 million contract, which led to a problematic handling of the refugee crisis and public funds, as the company did not have the necessary experience in dealing with a group of people such as illegal immigrants. The deal also raised questions about the quality of services provided by subcontractors, such as those providing food and security. Despite reports that the New York City government would no longer work with DocGo, the city has just awarded them a new no-bid $41 million contract to manage an aid facility in Queens. Slater has said the whole affair was “unacceptable.”

“It is simply unacceptable that a no-bid contract would be offered without a follow-up investigation. New Yorkers have a right to transparency and accountability from organizations that spend and are paid by public money, period,” Slater said. “I was grateful that my colleague, Assemblyman Ed Ra, agreed and joined me in writing a letter to State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli calling for a formal audit of all $4.3 billion in state funds allocated to address the ongoing refugee crisis, because enough is enough.”

Rep. Ed Ra said, “The DocGo contracting scandal appears to be one of the largest public spending debacles we have seen in this state. A no-bid contract with an organization ill-prepared to handle a problem that could have been avoided if New York had simply agreed to reduce the flow of migrants was bound to cause problems for both the government and taxpayers. But now we have a real crisis where public money is being spent frivolously and without accountability. This cannot continue.”

“24 MPs signed this letter to the Auditor General. They all recognize that this state continues to spend outrageous amounts of money without accountability. After a scandal where public money is so blatantly wasted on incompetent contractors, this government has an obligation to look within and make corrections. Anything less is a slap in the face to every taxpayer in this state,” Slater concluded.

Representative Matt Slater represents the 94th district, which includes parts of Putnam

and Westchester County, including the cities of Kent, Patterson, Putnam Valley, Carmel,

Southeast, Somers and Yorktown and the village of Brewster.