July, 2004
As a kid I loved going to the circus. The animal acts were ok and the clowns were entertaining, but nothing compared with the aerial artists. It didn't matter whether it was the high wire walker or the trapeze artist, I always marveled at their skill and courage. Most of the time these performers worked over a net just in case something went wrong. After all they were not paid to deliberately get hurt. But every once in awhile a really courageous (or really stupid one) would do their act without a net, making it even more dangerous, and sometimes a catastrophe would occur.
Most of us will never perform in such an act, but as we work our way through our rather busy lives there are always times we feel like we are like a trapeze artist working without a net. Some of us live from paycheck to paycheck. Those of us with no health insurance hope we don't get sick and have to go to the hospital. This is even more pronounced if we happen to be living on a low or fixed income. When we do find ourselves in such circumstances we are comforted with the belief that our society has created a "safety net" of services and assistance that will help save us from crashing completely until we have time to climb back on the trapeze of life; but just how secure is that safety net? Will it be strong enough to break our fall?
When governmental budgets are full of money and employment is high it seems like the net is the strongest. Three years ago when a person called our offices for help with housing we could usually help them get a voucher within a few months. Today, with federal cutbacks to the program and all the county's vouchers' being in use the waiting time is over 6 years. Three years ago ADA Para-transit services were available in a large portion of the County. Today those services are only available within 3/4 mile of the fixed route bus corridors (within the letter of the law, if not the spirit) and many seniors and people with disabilities have lost their access to ADA Para-transit transportation services.
Yearly, when school districts look at the upcoming budget, one of the first areas reviewed for reduction is Special Education. As budget reductions hit community service organizations many are forced to reduce hours, staff or services. Thus, people find themselves needing a net that may be a whole lot smaller or, at a minimum, full of holes. Bottom line is that the "safety net" may not be there when you need it.If you need any proof, all you need to do is look at the affects of recent cuts on Community Connections and the Mountain Resource Center. In each case budget reductions may cause them to significantly reduce services for people with psychiatric disabilities and to people living in the San Lorenzo Mountain communities, respectively. These reductions will leave a hole in the "safety net" that other organizations may not be able to fill. Add to this the impending reductions in In Home Support Services (IHSS) as a result of the Governor's budget cuts and reductions in staff at the Health Services Agency and Human Resources Agency as a result of County cuts, and you can begin to see the magnitude of the problem.
My granddaddy always told me that the "Squeaky Wheel Gets The Grease" and it's past the time that our wheels started squeaking - they should be screaming. More people that use these services need to begin showing up at commission meetings, city council meetings, school board meetings, METRO board meetings, etc. and let their voices be heard. The days of showing up at an unmet needs hearing and seeing only the 3 METRO representatives and one community advocate should be over. If this doesn't work then come November, get to the polls and vote into office those people who will respond to the social needs of the community.
- Michael Bradshaw, Central Coast Center for Independent Living