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* As I told you yesterday, next week’s special sessions will not address the recent budget cuts…
Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero said the governor does not intend for lawmakers to take up the $1.4 billion in state budget cuts he made last month during this session.
“Unless they find the funding, there’s nothing much more to do with the budget,” Guerrero said.
* Perhaps the most controversial of all the governor’s budget vetoes was his slashing of funding for alcohol and drug treatment centers. Today’s SouthtownStar has a wonderful guest column by Hope Larkin Barzowski, a former resident and then employee of A Safe Haven, which is being forced to eject residents because of the cuts…
I came to A Safe Haven on July 28, 2005. I walked in the door of its Damen facility on Chicago’s North Side beat up and broken down. I had only the clothes on my back and nothing more. I was desperate for help with my alcohol and drugs addictions. I had been addicted to crack cocaine for eight years. I had been incarcerated several times on drug-related charges. I had been homeless - literally on the street - for more than seven months. A Safe Haven was the only facility in Chicago willing to take me in without any money in return.
Because of the government-funded program, I was able to stay for six months. I learned how to live without the use of drugs and alcohol. A Safe Haven put a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in my stomach. It taught me stability, structure and self-discipline. […]
I worked there until August 2007, when I was offered a management position, at a much higher salary, at another company. This company was not in the recovery field, and it was very scary for me to leave A Safe Haven. However, I had the solid foundation I needed to go out into the world and make a new life for myself. […]
Because of A Safe Haven, I am now an upstanding, law-abiding, employed contributor to the community. I pay taxes, I pay rent, I pay bills, I have checking and savings accounts, I pay for everything I take out of the store, I own a car, furniture, clothes, electronics, appliances, etc., all of which stimulate our economy. I vote in every election. I am a trusted and loyal employee, wife, daughter, sister and aunt. People are proud of my accomplishments, and so am I. I still live in the south suburbs because my experience with the Alsip facility was so positive I didn’t want to leave the community.
* A Safe Haven is running a full-court press to try and convince people to pay attention to this issue. If you have any heart whatsoever, you should watch this video produced by the organization. I’d like to see Gov. Rod Blagojevich tell this woman and her children who are being forced into a homeless shelter why he cut that funding…
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 10:14 am
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I’m sorry, but I’m not just blaming Blago. We live in a state where both Chicago and the state of Illinois are thoroughly corrupt and where most of the population apparently acquiesces in this corruption. Where is the outrage about Blago’s failure to sign ethics legilsation. It simply isn’t there. If it were, he would have signed it already. As an ordinary citizen, I can write letters and call my (feckless) legislators but, as Obama has famously pointed out, ordinary citizens don’t have a seat at the table.
About the only advice I could give Safe Haven and any nonprofit functioning in Illinois is: don’t depend on state funds, put all of your energy into private fundraising. In Illinois, if you depend on state funding for anything, you will always be at the mercy of a highly corrupt political sysem, and of Illinois citizens’ very high tolerance for it.
Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 10:30 am
It’s truly appalling that drug treatment rehabilitation programs are being gutted as a result of the never-ending clash of egos and political agendas among the three top Democrats. It’s bad politics and bad government.
One can only hope that Representative Feigenholts and Senator Schoenberg succeed with their targeted funds sweep initiative.
Comment by Captain America Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 10:31 am
When your organization is dependant on governments to exist, you have lost your freedom to exist. You become a political expendancy and beholden to elected officials who will use your organization to blackmail their opponents. You lose your ability to debate the issues your organization is committed to addressing, or suffer political consequences. You become a political puppet for sale to whatever politician willing to buy you. They give you signs to hold as they bus you to City Hall to play politics.
When your organization is fully dependant on governments, those you serve can be victimized and tossed out into reality in a moment’s notice. Instead of raising people up from dependancy, you double-down their future on dependancy.
Whether it is drug dependancy, fiscal dependancy to an abusive spouce, or dependancy to a government subsidy, you lose.
Restore the cuts and tell these noble organizations to start fund raising efforts as soon as possible. Educate them to learn how to do this. Get them off their dependancy.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 11:17 am
VanillaMan,
I agree with your statement about funding dependency of these agencies. That must change. However, private fund raising is not as easy, or lucrative, as you might think. Significant donations to agencies like Safe Haven are harder to obtain because it isn’t seen as important as, say, March of Dimes or St. Jude, etc. Unfortunately, government funding will always be important to agencies like these…
Comment by Erickson Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 11:30 am
I believe that this is exactly the type of program that my tax dollars should be funding. There are plenty of people out there with addictions that are not seeking help. Resources should be available to those who do want help. If our taxes don’t fund these programs, who will? Private funds are limited. People will only give what they are willing to give, and when you add to the programs seeking handouts, everyone is left with a smaller slice of the same old pie.
Comment by Beancounter Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 11:41 am
I would say how unfortunate. I saw the head of one of these affected treatment center or in fact that one from Alsip and he was really sounding the alarm. Even then I was thinking he really got used to that government money. He does need to learn some fundraising. Of course, Erickson might be right, it might be difficult for someone to donate to a drug rehab organization.
Comment by Levois Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 11:48 am
Of course funding should be restored, and probably increased for this purpose. Who do think is going to pay (lots more) when these kids have to go into foster care, or mom starts using again and goes to prison??? A very short sighted move on the Gov’s part to destroy these programs.
Comment by Former State Employee Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 12:30 pm
Rich, while you would love to see the gov tell this woman why he cut this funding, i would love to see mjm tell her children that he doesnt feel that they deserve health insurance. I would also like mjm to answer the same question that you would like to see the gov answer.
Comment by anonomyous Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 1:12 pm
anonomyous, this woman is now in a homeless shelter. she and her kids most certainly qualify for Medicaid.
I was wondering how long it would take before I saw that argument. I must admit, it’s longer than I expected.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 1:17 pm
Thank you Rich for providing a look at this video - now everyone should get up - and go find a candidate running for Illinois General Assembly that is not a part of taking anyone’s side other then the side of “The People.” We sit here talking when we ought to be out walking……..
Comment by a new low Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 1:27 pm
VM, as you know, one of the reasons we here in Illinois have a very low number of state employees per capita is that the state contracts out for most services rather than providing them directly. Or, are you saying drug treatment programs are not a proper role for governmnet.
Comment by steve schnorf Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 1:37 pm
This program is in Senate President Emil Jones district. All legislators approached point to the other legislative body. They avoid the issue by finger pointing and by asking where the revenue is like this is new money not baseline funding that has been in place for a decade or more. Where did the money go? Was it applied to funding that has a federal match? I doubt it as there is no rational explanation to throw away matching funding that helps save the state money.
They should all be embarrased and made accountable next election.
Comment by avoid the issue Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 1:37 pm
As usual, Schnorf hits the nail right on the head.
These are not feel-good grants. These are state contracts to provide government services through non-profit organizations. And they are, by and large, cuts to existing funding for existing programs that relied on existing revenue streams.
Why are we spending money on drug and alcohol treatment, as a state?
Because every dollar we spend on drug and alcohol treatment saves taxpayers $7 down the road. In prison costs, court costs, unemployment costs, health care costs, homeless shelters, child and family services, HIV/AIDS treatment.
Not to mention we’re fighting a war against rising violence that is fueled by the drug trade.
Or we’re tired of burying our kids because of drunk drivers or drug overdoses.
Rod Blagojevich cut funding by $110 million, when you figure in federal funding. That means we can all expect to spend $770 million more on the aforementioned items every year. That’s not balancing the budget, that’s unbalancing the budget even further.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 2:00 pm
“It’s only a few feet from Park Place to the park bench” as Monsignor McDermott used to say, so for all of us who are thinking that these cuts don’t affect us, I would counsel against arrogance.
It could be you, a friend or family member who needs the services of one of these fine organizations and their expertise and compassion save countless family’s untold grief.
It is appalling that these not-for-profits regularly have to beg for funding and are used as political footballs. As “Governor Pay Day Loan” reaps in hundreds of thousands of dollars from those who create poverty, he cuts services that help the poor he has created.
It would be better if these organizations were funded privately because there will always be unscrupulous public officials exploiting them for their own goals.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 2:10 pm
This cut is an embarrassment. I don’t know who the substance abuse treatment people ticked off to deserve this because the only way this cut is understandable is as part of a gubernatorial vendetta.
The money cut had been supporting the treatment field for years, even though some dim bulbs on the top floor of the Thompson Center are trying to peddle the notion that these were new dollars.
A detox program in Champaign has already closed. The hospitals and police in C-U will bear the brunt and that organization is only the tip of the iceberg. Governor Jobs for Illinois will preside over the loss of hundreds, or maybe thousands of jobs as staff cuts are made by these agencies that are doing the work that the state doesn’t want to do itself.
And then the poorest of the poor, who don’t have Medicaid and want to get their lives together, will be told to just get over it. Shameful.
Comment by ilrino Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 2:21 pm
Did the guv cut all of the state funding for this facility or only an increase in funding. If only an increase in funding was vetoed, and the state will continue to provide previous funding, then drastic cuts or closing should not have been necessary. The guv’s
decision should be open to review, but so should the facility’s books and it’s board’s decision making. They should not be serving additional clients ahead of confirmed funding.
Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 2:22 pm
Cassandra, with the veto, the state will spend 25% less on drug treatment than it did in fiscal 08. This wasn’t a cut to new dollars, it was a cut to funding that has existed for years.
Comment by ilrino Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 2:29 pm
I thought the governor was “for the kids”. Is he for the kids, just not these kids?
Comment by ChampaignDweller Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 2:36 pm
And he’s for health care, just not this health care.
Comment by ilrino Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 3:13 pm
Rich, thanks for posting this letter from Hope and the Video of the Mom, Great to know that people dedicate their lives and advocate to helping people that most people have given up on…and the great success they are having. I want to help. Who do I have to call to fix this funding problem? We need to help people get better like Hope instead of being a drain she is a benefit to our economy…Where are our priorities people?
Comment by Makes Sense to Me... Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 10:22 pm
Rich: Thank you for keeping attention on this issue for as long as it takes to fix it.
Makes Sense to Me: Please call both your state rep and your state senator. We need the Senate to budge a bit to fund treatment, and we need the House to budge a bit in agreeing to find new revenue. Whatever it takes, we need our elected officials to understand that their current inaction will hurt families and taxpayers (increased hospital, jail, & prison costs) for years to come. And all this at a time when they’re voting themselves a pay raise. This is beyond comprehension.
Comment by bmjd Wednesday, Aug 6, 08 @ 10:52 pm
Instead of voting themselves raises, perhaps our lawmakers need to give a little bit of thought about someone other than themselves and look at the bigger picture for a change. Since this funding cut the matching federal dollars, it actually cut twice the $. Legislators, please rethink your actions!
Comment by Concerned Il worker Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 8:49 am
Rick: I, too, appreciate the attention you are giving on this issue. It makes me wonder what happen to “Working for the People” These cuts are devasting to those who really want a way out of their addiction. It seem to me that the government is looking at restoring the budget, in a backward manner. Not only are we hurting people, we are adding more cost to the state. How is that helping anyone??? I commend people like Vinta, Hope, and Dora…They show us that change is possible with help and by giving help. I think the government needs to restore what has helped millions over the span of time. Through funds for Treatment… we need to help those who may not have the resources to help theirselves at least until they are able.
Comment by Recovery Works Miracles Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 10:49 am
Copied from Illinois Department of Corrections website, under “IDOC News”:
‘CHICAGO - May 19, 2008 - Joined by law enforcement officials, community leaders, faith-based leaders and state officials, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that statewide reforms have led to historic reductions in crimes by former offenders and significant savings for taxpayers. An intensive effort launched by the Governor in fiscal year 2004 to provide incarcerated offenders and parolees with access to education, job training, substance abuse treatment and counseling has led to the lowest conviction rate among parolees in state history, a 23% reduction in arrests among the general parolee population, and a 40% reduction in repeat incarceration among parolees with substance abuse histories who graduated from the Sheridan Drug and Reentry Program. The drop in recidivism has saved the State an estimated $64 million in incarceration costs since 2004.’
A Safe Haven has been a large part of the success in the drop in the rate of recidivisim by providing aftercare to paroling inmates in the form of structured sober housing and recovery support services that help stabilize the parolee during reintegration back into the communities, preparing them for living in the “real” world again.
So Governor Blagojevich and our legislators were aware of the success of treatment and recovery services and how it saves the taxpayers so much money in the long run. Why then did they not remember this when it came to making sure the funding was there for these life-saving programs?
As a result I was a sad witness at the A Safe Haven in Alsip last week to over 60 women with children losing their hard-earned right to safe, structured sober housing where the women were able to show their children that mommy sure could be a loving, responsible and sober parent. I also would like to see the Governor explain to all the men, women and children he and the legislature have left homeless across the state how that was allowed to happen. Not to mention the scores of treatment and recovery agency staff lay-offs that have also occured. Like Hope Larkin-Barzowski, I owe a lot to A Safe Haven for giving me a chance 8 years ago when I was an unemployed and homeless former nurse, for showing me I was not alone, giving me a place to stay and teaching me how to stay abstinent. As part of my job at A Safe Haven it has been heartbreaking for me in the past few weeks to have to tell people who are looking for help “sorry, but due to how severely the state budget cuts have affected our programs we do not have bed availability at the present time.” The lawmakers helped decide where previous funding would go for programs with specific populations in need and agencies like A Safe Haven stepped up to provide those programs and work with the state in the best interests of the clients. It’s a shame the lawmakers can pull those rugs right out from under everyone and the citizens have to suffer the consequences.
Comment by Jackie Wiksten Thursday, Aug 7, 08 @ 12:57 pm