"This is a real issue now, I don't want to kick it down the road"

 

Kudos to Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell. She gets why Laura's Law is crucial. And she is the only Supervisor who came across as genuine.

Speaking of two individuals in her community, Supervisor Bushnell mentioned the impact of those two have on many people.

After CAO, DHHS and some Supervisors realized they couldn't bully others, the Supervisors passed an unanimous motion "to direct DHHS and the CAO's office to come up with a supplemental budget and implementation of Laura's Law or a similar program as well as ask the state for an extension to the option to opt out."

"This is a real issue now, I don't want to kick it down the road,"said Supervisor Bushnell. "We have spent a lot of time working on this and why it won't work or work for a few people."

Supervisor Bushnell was consistent about her support for Laura's Law from the beginning. She told staff find the $600,000 from DHHS budget or alternate funding. Supervisor asked DHHS Director Connie Beck valid questions.

CAO Amy Nilsen  read the room and public sentiment as the afternoon progressed. While it was clear that she was not thrilled the staff recommendation didn't get rubber stamped, she wasn't as openly defiant as Director Beck. 

Fourth District Supervisor Virginia Bass and Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson were doing everything to delay, put off the decision, hoping they could buy time and then make the decision Director Beck wants.  They did manage to punt the decision.

Ms. Nilsen said, "This has to come back to your board." The reason she gave is bs. If staff prepared reasons to opt out, why didn't staff, you and Director Beck prepare the fiscal information that the Board needs and you are now asking at least two weeks to prep.

Third District Supervisor Mike Wilson is even worse than Mark Lovelace in making statements that are a bunch of words that mean nothing. He couldn't take a stand. He wanted to hear from the public. After the public spoke, Supervisor Wilson then hemmed and hawed. Easy to do from his privileged position where he does not have to deal with the consequences of his votes. Eventually voted yes on a motion made by Supervisor Bushnell and seconded by First District Supervisor Rex Bohn. Got to be able to tell his clueless base and funders later how he voted to help those with mental health issues.

Supervisor Bohn had some good quotes. I don't know what to think. I would like to think his support was as genuine as Supervisor Bushnell; some of it was because he is out in the community and he talks to people. Supervisor Bohn, like most politicians knows how to say the right things. All these Supervisors, except for Supervisor Bushnell who is new to the BOS, could have passed Laura's Law before today. So, just words don't impress me.

"When someone gets knifed in the middle of a parking lot, we have a problem,"said Supervisor Bohn. He asked DHHS director Beck about a statement she made. He said if there was redundacy and duplication, why couldn't those efforts couldn't be streamlined. "We are going to do what we do which is study this to death," said Supervisor Bohn.

Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone said a couple of nice sounding sentiments. I don't know if I believe Supervisor Madrone. After some vague  insipid utterings, he sat back while Supervisor Wilson, Supervisor Bass and DHHS Director Beck made excuses and tried to steer the decision towards a delay or convincing others towards opting out. Eventually, Supervisor Madrone said he does not want to opt out and move forward with Laura's Law.

Director Beck was the most obnoxious. She didn't expect pushback. DHHS had to be sued by the state. DHHS makes excuses for lack of follow up from CWS, Mental Health. It isn't the frontline workers. It is the overpaid management and the countless useless meetings DHHS employees attend. That time would be better spent working on what your job is, to serve the people. DHHS gets a lot of money. DHHS Director Beck's department heads include many of the DHHS and CWS Supervisors  and social workers I used to work with and so my knowledge comes from the inside and first hand knowledge.

Cut back the salaries of DHHS and County management and those Supervisors that had to be coaxed into supporting Laura's Law to come up with funding.

The Supervisors have wasted taxpayer dollars  on poor decisions such as David Marcus, being sued by former County Counsel and a Deputy Public Defender, on litigation they could have avoided and a useless search for a new Public Defender. They have the nerve to whine about a law that is needed for public safety and to help a vulnerable population.

No other media has covered the issues and public opinion on Laura's Law recently and prior to today's meeting  except for me. No other media has covered Laura's Law and the impact locally as regularly as me. I know from personal feedback and various sources and private conversations who reads my blog and who is informed of what I write.

I will point keep pointing out the effectiveness of my blog and the impact because there is a very vocal, vindictive, petty community that is a part of the status quo threatened by anyone trying to change what has benefitted them. The same people who deny me credit and they have harangued me for having integrity and speaking up.

Dr. Jennifer Wilson, NAMI, the people who called today were provided a voice. Not by your woke and other local media but on this blog. Today's vote wouldn't have happened without the courage of  Dr. Wilson, NAMI and Supervisor Bushnell.

4/7: No local coverage of Laura's Law prior to the BOS meeting and 9 .a.m. checked local media. Sub standard, selective coverage funded and supported by the same entrenched locals and establishment. TS had an article online posted today at 3:06 p.m. and updated at 3:29 p.m. The Board meetings can be watched online so was this article late or an afterthought?

Recent posts:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/04/dr-wilson-calls-for-audit-of-dhhs-and.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/04/while-im-sure-it-is-uncomfortable-to.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/04/just-in-last-year-we-have-had-several.html?m=1