Health Department meeting today

I was invited to the Pima County Health Department meeting this afternoon. Apparently, they were asked to make a recommendation for the Supervisors concerning the report, now complete and well over due, from Pima Health System about the Attendant Care Program Proposal. This is the information they should have had ready for the Supervisors back in December, when this issue originally started. So the PHS representative, Robin Gwortz, presented the information in the big pretty binder. It sounded well organized and well studied, and convinced too many members of the board today that the county knows what is best and should be supported in all its endeavors. When Carolyn Trowbridge was given time to present the other side, she was basically dismissed because she was delayed in presenting her paperwork. Even though she mentioned all the deceptions, lies, missing information, cover ups and general disregard shown to the supervisors and all affected by the prospective changes, most of the members seemed bored. Basically, because she didn't have a big pretty binder available for the membership to read in the last week, they implied everything she stated was hearsay and general misinformation. Really, it was disgusting how they treated her and our concerns. And she also pointed out none of them made any appearances at any of the meetings when one of them had the nerve to criticize the public meetings and what he felt was the low number of client turnout. It really never occurred to him that clients were disadvantaged in many ways in regard to the meetings: we were only minimally informed of the meetings and some clients are going to have trouble getting to said meetings. But he saw it as only a lack of concern and problems, again confirming that those of us against the change are overreacting and general trouble makers.

Those who voted for it made their decisions solely on the PHS report. In the end, they voted 3 against and 4 for to recommend the report and its findings to the Supervisors as acceptable.

Now, they only thing we are waiting for is the supervisors' vote. As far as we know at this time, from the meetings with Pima County Interfaith Council and Carolyn Trowbridge, the Supervisors have relayed they are generally against the PHS proposition and most have stated they are planning to vote against it. Which would mean they would have to replace and reestablish what has been dismantled. Chairman Elias was unable to attend the meeting today due to family issues, but his assistant was there and he spoke to confirm that at least Chairman Elias is still very unhappy with the proposal. It didn't seem to make much different today, but at least we have some hope for the near future.

We shall see.

I am not sure of the date when the Supervisors meeting and vote at this time, but I will let you know when I do.

I would love to see the county forced to reestablish everything they have taken apart in the last few months;, the last year, really. I want to know that they are stopped in their tracks. I want to see them have to explain why they still think its okay to walk over the interests of so many for so little. I want to see consequences.