The Roving Activist’s Blog

I am proud to announce that Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) will visit the Center for Disability Rights, where I work as a Systems Advocate, on Monday, April 21, 2008, at 4:00 pm. Rep. Slaughter recently signed on to the Community Choice Act.

Bruce and I will give her a tour of the building, then, we will gather in the large conference room, where Rochester ADAPT will present her with an orange Community Choice Act Now! T-shirt, and take some pictures and videos. I will post these on Monday evening.

We are really exited and honored by her visit!

Another member of the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has signed on to the Community Choice Act!

Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23] - 4/10/2008

I remember her being present and speaking at the hearing back in January.

RA’s Note: Please excuse the sloppiness of my page today. I am experimenting with new code, and can’t figure out how I got things to work without the blank images and all.

It has been a REALLY busy time for me lately. We have been working hard on getting funding from the state for Independent Living. Our CIL, Center for Disability Rights, is the second largest CIL in New York State, yet we get NO state funding, and very little federal funding. We have tried the usual stuff–mass e-mails, faxes, and calls, to no avail. We have considered protesting, and occupying the offices of the main players in Albany, but we decided to go in a new direction with our advocacy for IL funding and with pointing a finger at the people to blame. So we made a viral video to spread on YouTube. Check it out and send it to everyone you know!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=domQixfPYq4

A HUGE thank you to our script writers, directors, puppet makers, producers and our vocal talents:

Anita Cameron, Bruce Darling, Chris Hilderbrant, Zung Ho, Melinda Johnson, Terrie Lincoln, April Oakes and Chris Wood!

Additional concept contributions credits to: Sadie Gilbride and Marsha Sweet.

(The text and description is copied below)

Joe Bruno – Chris H                             Shelly Silver – Anita C

Gov. Paterson – Chris W                      Mike Nozzolio – Zung H

1199 - April O

Scene opens…

Sign says… “How NY Budget process REALLY works…”

Three men, smoke filled room…

*mumbling and muttering*

Bruno: “Dave, I’m so happy you’ve been such a team player…. It’s
really great that we are able to have everyone that matters here at the
table…

Silver: “Yup, just like the good ole days…

Paterson: “Is it smokey in here? Or is it just me?”

Bruno: “So, we all agree to borrow $250 million and build a new Racino?

Silver, Paterson (in redneck unison): “Yup”

Bruno: “It’s practically pennies. It’ll pay for itself.”

(Enter Senator Mike Nozzolio riding a white horse)

Mike: “We need funding to help people with disabilities in Ontario
County… only 300,000 dollars… practically nothing…

Silver, Bruno, Paterson: *grumble* “Sounds expensive”

Silver: “We could tax the super wealthy…

Bruno: “Shelly, ya know why that idea reminds me of your momma?
Because it’s sooooo stupid!”

Mike: “It’s less costly to serve them at home than in a nursing
facility…”

Paterson: “Ok, let’s do it…”

Mike: *bows* “Thank you, sirs. Thank you Thank you thank you.”

(Exits)

*three men mumbling, grumbling*

(Enter 1199 on a dark horse, purple shirt, yellow 1199)

Union Manager says: “We need more money in our nursing homes and
hospitals…”

Paterson: “But we need to reform healthcare… get away from
facilities”

Union Manager: “But we make political contributions…” (*cha-ching*)

Bruno: “He’s got a point there, Dave…”

Paterson: “Ok, but we need to cut back our budget…

Silver: “Let’s nix that Ontario funding…

Bruno: “Yes, that will take care of it…

Silver, Bruno, Paterson: (triumphantly) “And we’ll raise the tax on
cigarettes!”

*grumbling, mumbling*

*fade to black*

I hope that you like it. We all had fun making this little skit/movie/clip/video, or whatever you choose to call it! If you want to see some funny clips on the making of the movie, go to http://www.youtube.com/user/adaptanita They are right on the front of the page. Enjoy!

WooHoo!!!! A few days after our meeting, Louise made good on her promise to sign on to the Community Choice Act. See?

Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-28] - 4/1/2008

That brings the total to 11 NY representatives who have signed on!

ADAPT is having its 25th birthday! This April will mark the 25th anniversary of the first national ADAPT action. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of my first national ADAPT action. I’d been hanging around ADAPT since 1986, always on the fringes — a shy, quiet young thing, totally unremarkable, except that I was Dennis Schreiber’s attendant and interpreter. Almost anybody around back then remembers Dennis, but probably doesn’t remember the mousy little Black girl with unruly hair who was his attendant. That was me.

What is ADAPT, you ask? Well, ADAPT is a national, grassroots disability rights organization that began in Denver, Colorado. It was started by 19 people with disabilities who wanted access to public transportation and public places in their community. Many of them had been incarcerated in a nursing home for most of their lives, and had only been out a relatively short time. One of their first big battles was with the Regional Transportation District (RTD), Denver’s transportation authority. After countless meetings and negotiations that went nowhere, the group had had enough, and staged a two-day protest where they blocked the intersection of Colfax and Broadway, the busiest streets downtown, blocking buses, and getting out of their wheelchairs and lying in the street. That was the “shot heard ‘round the world”, if you will, and people with disabilities in other cities wanted to learn how to do direct action to bring about change.

You can’t even begin to talk about ADAPT without talking about Wade Blank. Wade was once an activities director in a nursing home called Heritage House This was the place where the original group that started ADAPT was incarcerated. Wade’s history of working for social justice and social change began long before then, but while at Heritage House, he listened to the dreams of the young folks trapped there, and ultimately helped them to free themselves, and move into the community. They founded Atlantis Community, the second oldest independent living center in the nation.

Once the Gang of 19 was out in the community, they realized that there were many barriers—inaccessible public transportation, restaurants, stores, and other places. Wade imparted his knowledge of community organizing and activism to the budding activists, and they began the daunting task of fighting for the right to go where everyone else could go.

Today, ADAPT has grown from the “Gang of 19” to a grassroots network of thousands of people with disabilities and our allies, with at least 500 people from over 30 states, and sometimes other countries, continually showing up at each action. We are a diverse group…by disability, by politics, by gender and orientation, by race, by ethnicity, by age (literally cradle to grave, and even having had people die at actions), by geography, by ability to communicate and/or use assistive communication, by income (though most of us are at or below poverty level), by marital status or arrangement, by work experience or former occupation, or inability to work, by institutional history, and so much more! We are a real community, even family, that celebrates births, and the lives of those who have passed on, and celebrates the achievements of each of us, be it personal or systemic. Though we have no bylaws, elected officials, or directors, we have managed to realize many significant achievements.

We have gone from being considered rag-tag “militants”, “radicals”, and “hippies” to being a powerful force to be reckoned with. We represent the cutting edge of disability rights and activism, and have gained the respect of many elected officials and other powerful people. Some may not like ADAPT, but they do respect us, and it is much easier to get to the table to help shape policy.

I, too, have grown. I started out as a shy, mousy 21-year-old, who rarely spoke, and when I did, it was barely above a whisper. I desperately wanted to work for social justice and social change. Having been born only three years before the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I felt guilty for not being able to fight for the civil rights of African Americans. I had been involved in several peace and justice movements, but I never felt at home, and never felt as if I were a real part of things. Also, I often was the only African American taking part in the activities.

I joined ADAPT near the end of 1986. At the time, I was living in Chicago, IL, my home town. A friend of my godmother, a Sister in the order of the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND), called her to see if there was anyone that she knew who would be interested in working as an attendant for a man who had a disability. The man, Dennis Schreiber, belonged to a disability rights organization and travelled, and needed someone as a back-up staff. My godmother immediately thought of me, and suggested that I apply for the job. I did, and the rest is history. For the first year, I just hung out, quietly participating in local actions. I was so amazed at the work that ADAPT was doing locally with transportation issues. I also felt at home because here were people who either looked like me, or had similar experiences. Then, in March of 1988, I was finally able to go on my first national action—DC Siege/DOT! I was forever hooked, and from then on, I went with Dennis on ALL of the actions.

Shortly after I joined ADAPT, I met Wade Blank, and we hit it off immediately. In December, 1988, I moved to Colorado Springs, CO, to work with Atlantis/ADAPT. They had recently opened a new office in Colorado Springs. We often went to Denver to participate in actions or meetings, so I saw a lot of Wade, and was able to learn more about organizing and activism. In 1991, I moved to Denver to work in the main office as a community organizer, working directly with Wade, who became my mentor. Though Wade passed away only two years later, I felt enriched and blessed by being able to work with him. The pearls of wisdom that he sent my way were countless!

Over time, I grew from the aforementioned mousy chick, to a fiery activist. I have become a ham, of sorts, in ADAPT, singing, chanting, and helping to keep up our troops’ spirits. I have also become a leader, sometimes helping with negotiations, and stuff, but mostly helping to keep people informed, safe, and pumped up during the actions. I now live in Rochester, NY, and usually help to plan our local actions.

ADAPT has changed my life. I learned how to be an activist, and catalyst for change. I have learned (and am still learning) the political process, and policymaking. Through ADAPT, I have done some really cool and amazing things like help to plan a successful two-week vigil in Colorado to protest budget cuts that could have sent hundreds of people with disabilities back into institutions. I participated in the Free Our People March, where 210 people wheeled and walked from Philadelphia, PA, to Washington, DC, to bring awareness of, and to call for the passage of MiCASSA (Medicaid Community-based Attendant Services and Supports Act), now the Community Choice Act (CCA). I was one of 50 ADAPT members who met with President Bill Clinton in the East Room of the White House. I wouldn’t have been able to do these things had I not been with ADAPT.

That is why I am so excited about ADAPT’s 25 anniversary! We will be in Washington, DC from April 26-May 2, 2008. There will be some amazing stuff happening for this celebration:

April 27

National Fun*Run

ADAPT will hold its 2nd Fun Run/Roll, with the incomparable Marca Bristo as the Honorary National Runner/Roller. For more information visit:

http://www.adaptfunrun.org

April 30

When You Remember Me

Showing of the movie, “When You Remember Me”, a made-for-TV film starring Jeff Savage, Kevin Spacey, and Ellen Burstyn that chronicles Wade Blank’s work freeing youth from a Denver nursing home…work that morphed into the creation of both Atlantis, and ADAPT, will be shown in the evening. Here is the link the synopsis of the movie:

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/129908/When-You-Remember-Me/overview

May 1

The entire day will be given over to the celebration! Here is just some of the amazing things that will be taking place:

StoryCorps—if you listen to NPR, then, you are familiar with StoryCorps, where people record their stories for the Library of Congress, and some of these are aired on NPR. StoryCorps will be at our hotel recording stories from ADAPT folks. I am so excited! Here is the link to StoryCorps:

http://www.storycorps.net/

ADAPT Museum–There will be two huge rooms of multimedia ADAPT historical displays, including blow-ups of 50 of Tom Olin’s incredible photos, every T-shirt from every ADAPT action over the past 25 years, artifacts, memorabilia, first person accounts of every action, videos, slides, music. The folks from Denver are bringing most of the items, news clippings, etc.

ADAPT Jeopardy—this is Jeopardy! ADAPT style!

Tales Around The Campfire—with Mark Johnson

The Show

The Barbeque

Several dignitaries have been invited. Representative Pat Shroeder, who came to the first Denver action back in 1975 will be there!

This is only a partial list of what is happening, so come join us for this magnificent celebration of 25 years of activism. I’ll see you there!

This afternoon, Gene and I had a meeting with Rep. Louise Slaughter in her Rochester office. For the better part of a year, ADAPT has been trying to get her to become a co-sponsor of the Community Choice Act. She had sign on the CCA’s previous incarnation, the Bill Formerly Known as MiCASSA, but she balked at signing on to CCA stating that the bill cost too much. We provided her with the new study by the University of California at San Francisco, but her staff never found time to read it, or bring her up to speed. When ADAPT met with her in January, right after the hearing on CCA before the House Energy and Commerce Committe, she gave us the same tired old speech about the bill costing too much, and us being in a war, and under a deficit.

On Friday, March 14th, Bruce was sitting next to Rep. Slaughter on a flight back to Rochester, and took the opportunity to speak with her about meeting in Rochester to discuss the Community Choice Act. She told Bruce that she was very busy, travelling back and forth to Albany, meeting with Gov. Paterson, and “playing Grandma”, but suggested that Bruce call her staffperson, Bobbi, and see if she could squeeze some time into her schedule. Bruce immediately called me, and asked that I do the deed, which I did. Bobbi wasn’t there, but I left her a message, then, called her again on Monday. Bobbi was able to squeeze in time for the 25th (today), but she made the meeting for Bruce alone. I didn’t like that, but felt that we needed to get that meeting.

As it turned out, Bruce was in Albany today, so Gene and I went in his stead. We brought copies of the study from U of C. Gene took the lead in this meeting and started out by discussing the new study, and some of the highlights. Rep. Slaughter asked about the waivers, and we explained that the waivers are capped at the number of people that they serve. I also told her that CCA would actually cost less than the waivers, which are optional. Gene also said that the states would get 10% more in federal matching funds under CCA.

Towards the end of the meeting, Rep. Slaughter said three words that ADAPT has been waiting for a year to hear — “We’ll Sign on”. She spoke about the horrors of the medicare prescription program, and how, Under Bush, people with disabilities are really being devastated by program cuts. After some more conversation, and a reiteration that she would be signing on, we left.

I am very happy that Louise Slaughter will sign on to CCA. I’m curious about why she signed on after all this time, but I won’t speculate about that. I’ll be even happier when I go to Thomas, and see her name on the list. of course, even if she called Rep. Danny Davis’s office as soon as we left, it won’t appear on the website for several days. Rest assured, I will let you know the moment her name is on the CCA co-sponsor list!

…and the next two contestants on The Pri–oops, I mean, the next co-sponsors of the Community Choice Act are…

Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 3/14/2008
Rep Jefferson, William J. [LA-2] - 3/14/2008

And another New Yorker, to boot! That brings us to ten NY co-sponsors!

Here are two stories from the Democrat and Chronicle. One is a Speak Out piece by Chris Hilderbrant, and the other is about reactions to Gov. Paterson, with a quote from me.

****************************

Judge Paterson only on his abilities

David Paterson will be the first African-American governor of our state and the first blind governor in our nation’s history.

Some people already are questioning his ability to be governor simply because he has a disability. Paterson has lived a life of challenge and achievement. He has demonstrated that he can handle a demanding schedule, and we can expect that he will continue to do so. Whether or not he will be a good governor has nothing to do with his ability to see.

Some in the disability community have assumed that disability issues now will be addressed at the highest levels of state government. While Paterson as a state lawmaker was a strong advocate for the voting rights of people with disabilities, he never led on other crucial disability issues.

In the days ahead, he will have an incredibly challenging job. When he does well, he deserves our support. When his ideas are not the best, he should be held accountable. This is what we should expect of all our leaders, whether or not they have a disability.

Advocates for people with disabilities hope to work closely with Paterson to address critical disability issues. People with disabilities face barriers in housing, transportation, voting and employment. Seniors and people with disabilities are forced into nursing facilities and other institutions because they can’t get community-based services. We hope Paterson will work with the disability community to address these issues and make New York a state where people with disabilities have equal opportunity, for success or failure, based not on their disability, but on their abilities and accomplishments.

Paterson’s rise to the highest position in New York’s government demonstrates what can be achieved by a person with a disability, given the needed supports and accommodations. We hope his leadership will create a New York where having elected officials who have significant disabilities is the norm and no longer newsworthy.

While Paterson’s disability will make his transition to the governorship unique and historic, he will have to perform. He will be lauded or criticized depending on his actions. That’s all any of us can ask for.

Hilderbrant is director of advocacy, Center for Disability Rights.

*********************

Paterson to take the lead

Republicans in the state Senate expressed reservations Wednesday about the next governor, David Paterson, saying he is far more liberal than Eliot Spitzer and might not be as attuned to the needs of upstate as his predecessor.

But Democrats defended Paterson as someone uniquely qualified to heal the wounds of a state government that has been bitterly divided along partisan lines.

“I like him as a person, but on most issues he is way to the left of Eliot Spitzer,” said Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, Seneca County.

Paterson, 53, is to assume the governor’s office when Spitzer’s resignation takes effect on Monday. Spitzer said he is delaying surrendering his office at the request of Paterson, who will use the intervening time to prepare for his new position.

Paterson was a state senator from Harlem for more than 20 years, following in the footsteps of his father, Basil Paterson, who also served as secretary of state.

David Paterson ousted Martin Connor of Brooklyn to become the Senate minority leader in 2003. He was elected lieutenant governor in 2006, becoming the highest-ranking black elected official in the state.

Republicans and Democrats both said he is a far more agreeable figure than Spitzer. And Sen. Dale Volker, R-Depew, Erie County, who has known Paterson for more than 30 years, called him “one of the brightest people I have ever met.”

“All that aside, he is a very liberal person,” Volker said, adding that he disagrees with Paterson on most criminal justice issues and considers him fiscally liberal. “You have to remember, he was born and brought up in Manhattan, and you don’t expect those kind of people to love western New York — except as it benefits the rest of the state.”

On Monday, Paterson will become the first black governor of New York, the fourth in the nation, and the first legally blind governor in the history of the United States. In that, his ascension to the governor’s office has a significance beyond the political arena.

Anita Cameron of Rochester, an African American who is legally blind, said she was “proud and hopeful” about the prospect of Paterson’s governorship.

“Personally, it’s kind of unfortunate he had to get in this way,” said Cameron, a systems advocate at the Center for Disability Rights. “I’m excited that a person with a disability is now our governor. I certainly don’t think it will keep him from doing his job.”

A collaborative style

Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy said he expects that Paterson will succeed in minimizing the partisan divisions in Albany. As for upstate, he said, Paterson called him Tuesday and promised to visit Rochester as soon as possible. “When you speak with him once, you get a sense of the depth of the man,” Duffy said, calling Paterson a “quiet leader.” “He could truly become the perfect person to step in at this time.”

Nozzolio, however, is concerned about Paterson’s focus. “He has represented New York City. He is focused on New York City,” he said.

The lieutenant governor was not available for comment. He issued a statement saying he was saddened by Spitzer’s problems and said he would pray for the governor and his family. He is scheduled to speak to the media today.

The Rev. Marlowe Washington, pastor of Baber A.M.E. Church in Rochester, knows Paterson from the 10 years Washington spent in Harlem during the late 1980s and 1990s.

Washington said he lived near Paterson, who was then a state senator, and was friends with Paterson’s chief of staff.

“He’s a reconciler,” Washington said. “He can bring people to the table. He loves to crack jokes.”

Paterson had a cordial relationship with Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, even when he was minority leader and working to replace Bruno by defeating enough Republicans to take away their majority in the chamber.

Planning for November

That fits with the person known to Michael Keane, Duffy’s deputy communications director, who previously worked for Connor.

“(Paterson) was universally respected by staff,” said Keane, who spent 20 years in Albany. “He had a unique way of treating staff with respect. That’s the way he operates. He treats people with the respect they deserve.”

Democrats hope Paterson’s affable personality connects with New Yorkers, many of whom are just learning about him. They also hope that the party will not be hurt by the downfall of Spitzer, who had symbolized reform and integrity in state politics and had become one of their chief fundraisers.

The November election is expected to be pivotal for Democrats, who are seeking control of the state Senate and need two seats to capture the majority. They picked up three while Paterson was the minority leader.

Nozzolio, who is facing a challenge from Democrat Paloma Capanna, said he was not concerned with partisan political matters right now.

“I’m too busy working on a state budget,” Nozzolio said. “I’m too busy to consider political situations at this point.”

Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit, who is also the chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Committee, said he doubts that the scandal will affect the fall elections.

“It may have a positive impact,” Morelle said, “because David will begin to shine as governor.”

JGALLAGH@Gannett.com

BDSHARP@DemocratandChronicle.com

JTERRERI@DemocratandChronicle.com

**************************************
Here is a link to a piece by WHAM-Ch. 13 about Gov. Patterson, including thoughts from Chris Hilderbrant and me. Scrool down and click on the link that says About Lt. Governor David Paterson.

http://www.13wham.com/mediacenter/local.aspx

Bruce gave me permission to post this. While it is geared towards New Yorkers, anyone can do this, especially if you have senators and congressfolks who have signed on to MiCASSA, but not the Community Choice Act.

This excellant information piece on the Community Choice Act (H.R.1621, and S. 799) comes from Bruce Darling He says:

 
It was pointed out that people might like some talking points for calling their Representative.

Below, I’ve written a piece about how the Community Choice Act would be beneficial for New Yorkers and the state itself.  Some people might think that we don’t “need” the Community Choice Act because we are in New York State.  Indeed, you might even get asked that question.  Well here’s the (not so short) answer.

 
I think the impact on actual people is really important.  Let me list those first.

 
The Community Choice Act levels the playing field and assures choice in the long term “care” system.  Right now, institutional “care” is mandated by the federal government.  States MUST pay for nursing facility care.  The Community Choice Act doesn’t create a new mandate, but it expands the existing mandate so that people who would be eligible for placement in a facility could have the CHOICE to live in the community with supports.  The Community Choice Act would require that states have a community-based option for people who would otherwise be placed in an institutional setting.  Until we get the Community Choice Act passed, institutional “care” will remain the standard/norm.  As other states have run into financial problems, they have cut community based services in order to maintain funding for nursing facilities because the institutions are REQUIRED under federal Medicaid law and community services are not. 
 

Even look at the language that is used.  Home and Community Based Services are often provided through WAIVERS where the state is asking if it can use money that is designated for institutional placement to pay for community based services.  These waiver programs are capped and may run out of slots, meaning that people would need to go into a facility until a slot becomes available.  We haven’t had much of this in New York, but it could easily become a problem here as the state expands the use of waivers. 

 
The Community Choice Act includes assistance with the instrumental activities of daily living.  New York does have an extensive long term care system, but it hasn’t effectively served individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.  Although at one time these individuals were served under the personal care program, that changed with a court case and the personal care program (including the consumer directed personal assistance program) don’t assist with instrumental activities of daily living and supports like “safety monitoring”.  Even now, this group of people (who desperately need services) have EXTREMELY LIMITED options in New York.  Consequently families get burnt out meeting the individual’s needs and the person ends up in a nursing facility.
 

The Community Choice Act includes a maintenance-of-effort requirement.  This means that states can not diminish more enriched programs already being provided in the state.  Again, as we face uncertain economic times, this would be particularly important in a state like New York which has a wide range of programs.
 

And the Community Choice Act will also benefit our state.

 
The Community Choice Act provides an enhanced Federal match for the five years before the services become permanent.  With this enhanced match states which begin planning activities for changing their long term care systems and include Community-based Attendant Services and Supports in their State Plan would receive an additional 10% in federal matching funds.  That means New York would get 60 cents on the dollar rather than just 50 cents.  A dime doesn’t sound like much but on the scale we are talking, it’s good money.  And its NEW money!  We could definitely use that to balance our budget.
 

The Community Choice Act also provides an enhanced match (up to 90% Federal funding) for individuals whose costs exceed 150% of average nursing facility costs.  Okay, that one sounds too much like blah blah blah, but it’s really cool.  It helps both the state AND our community.  The cost of serving some people is just really expensive.  We were concerned that this group of people might get “left behind” in nursing facilities because there would be a financial incentive to keep them there.  This provision of the Community Choice Act means that the federal government would pay a higher Medicaid match (up to 90% of the cost) to support these individuals in the community.  A state like New York, which provides a significant personal care benefit (up to 24 hours per day), would get extra federal dollars to serve these people.  More federal Medicaid matching funds… the state likes that.  Back to us and the people we represent.  We like this aspect of the legislation because it takes the heat off of people with more extensive support needs (who for years have been under fire for costing too much) and it because it helps level the financial playing field, it FREES OUR PEOPLE!
 

A word about cost.  Your representative may express concern about a Congressional Budget Office “score” or cost estimate of MiCASSA, the previous version of this legislation.  That score was WRONG! 

 
Use this line and you sound like a policy wonk on Sunday morning television:

“The CBO score included too many people, including people with less significant disabilities who wouldn’t have been eligible for institutional care and people who wouldn’t be income eligible for Medicaid.  The CBO score also included a bunch of other services costs that were NOT in the legislation.  The actual cost would be much smaller than what the CBO estimated.  There’s a study I can send you that discusses this issue in detail.” 
 

Then call CDR, and we’ll send you the study so you can send it out.

 
If they persist with cost, or talk about the “woodwork effect”, I think its okay to be annoyed with them.  When confronted with this I ask, “What’s the appropriate price tag for my mother’s freedom to live at home?”  And by the way, the “woodwork effect” is actually “unmet need” and represents people who NEED these services and don’t have them.  They have just argued why we need the Community Choice Act.  We are NOT cockroaches. 

 
Remember that March 17th through 28th is the Spring District Work Period. 

 
Our representatives will be in our home districts.  So you can call them locally or even meet with them to talk about CCA.  Although the action alert focused on six representatives who were previous cosponsors who aren’t currently on the legislation, we wanted to make it easy.  The real goal is to get ALL of our representatives signed on.  If you are curious where other NYS Representatives stand on the Community Choice Act, I’ve listed them below. 

 
Ackerman, Gary L.; New York, 5th ……………….. Never signed on to any version

Arcuri, Michael A.; New York, 24th ……………….. Never signed on to any version

Bishop, Timothy H.; New York, 1st ……………….. Never signed on to any version

Clarke, Yvette D.; New York, 11th ………………… Never signed on to any version

Crowley, Joseph; New York, 7th …………………… Never signed on to any version

Engel, Eliot L.; New York, 17th ……………………. Previous cosponsor, not signed on

Fossella, Vito; New York, 13th …………………….. Never signed on to any version

Gillibrand, Kirsten E.; New York, 20th ……………. Never signed on to any version

Hall, John J.; New York, 19th ………………………. Never signed on to any version

Higgins, Brian; New York, 27th …………………….. Never signed on to any version

Hinchey, Maurice D.; New York, 22nd ……………. Signed on 9/6/2007

Israel, Steve; New York, 2nd ……………………….. Never signed on to any version

King, Peter T.; New York, 3rd ………………………. Never signed on to any version

Kuhl, John R. “Randy”; New York, 29th ………….. Signed on 3/3/2008

Lowey, Nita M.; New York, 18th …………………… Signed on 11/15/2007

Maloney, Carolyn B.; New York, 14th ……………. Signed on 2/25/2008

McCarthy, Carolyn; New York, 4th ………………… Signed on 10/9/2007

McHugh, John M.; New York, 23rd ……………….. Previous cosponsor, not signed on

McNulty, Michael R.; New York, 21st ……………. Previous cosponsor, not signed on

Meeks, Gregory W.; New York, 6th ………………. Never signed on to any version

Nadler, Jerrold; New York, 8th ……………………… Signed on 10/15/2007

Rangel, Charles B.; New York, 15th ………………. Signed on 10/25/2007

Reynolds, Thomas M.; New York, 26th ………….. Never signed on to any version

Serrano, Jose E.; New York, 16th …………………. Previous cosponsor, not signed on

Slaughter, Louise McIntosh; New York, 28th …… Previous cosponsor, not signed on

Towns, Edolphus; New York, 10th ………………… Signed on 1/15/2008

Velazquez, Nydia M.; New York, 12th ……………. Previous cosponsor, not signed on

Walsh, James T.; New York, 25th…………………. Signed on 5/14/2007

Weiner, Anthony D.; New York, 9th ………………. Never signed on to any version

 
In case you are wondering… both of our state’s Senators are cosponsors of the Senate version.

Senator Schumer was EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE at the Senate Finance Committee Hearing and really deserves our gratitude.
Good luck with those calls and visits!
Bruce Darling

NYS ADAPT

 You can also have people contact their representatives and send them a message about the Community Choice Act by using CDR’s CapWiz system.  http://capwiz.com/rochestercdr/issues/alert/?alertid=10155901&type=CO&show_alert=1

Another member of the House has signed on to the Community Choice Act!

Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] - 3/10/2008

If the House co-sponsors keep coming in at the rate that they are, we’ll have a majority vote by the end of the year! Oh, well, I can dream, can’t I? Now, if we can just get the Senate to follow suit…