We are inching ever-closer to the February 8th ballot when YOU will decide whether or not Proposition 1 passes or fails, whether or not we retain our public transit services or slash them. 

This is a time to take a hard look at the real issues and costs we are facing, beyond all of the political and campaign rhetoric. In the end, it is inevitable that if Prop 1 fails, a significant number of bus riders who depend on this system will not be able to get to where they need to go.

Why then is there opposition? The Tacoma and Bonney Lake City Councils represent the two opposing sides of division over this issue. 

There is validity in the other side’s argument. The inherent problem with tax-funded activities is that it is the PEOPLE who fund them. Regardless of your viewpoint on taxes, everyone must admit that if you pay money, you have some right to speak your mind regarding HOW that money is used.

So how has Pierce Transit used that money?

Someone once said, “In my mind, the greatest waste of money year after year is the top-heavy and swollen bureaucracy in the public school system,” where “top-heavy” referred to the proliferation of complicated red tape and too many overly inflated salaries. In other words, money for nothing.

Are we seeing that today in our transportation sector? 

The greatest overhead cost to any business is almost always labor. Sure enough, payroll at Pierce Transit grew over 18% from 2005-2009.  While this was lower than some neighboring government agencies, analysis showed that this was larger than private sector counterparts.

This means a larger piece of the tax pie is going to fund wages and benefits for government-employed workers.

Critics complain that Pierce Transit’s drivers and other Amalgamated Transit Union members received a 4 percent cost-of-living increase last summer, even as the agency struggled to balance its budget.

Of course, Pierce Transit has been “honor-bound” to its contracts with unions. Now we start to see the big picture. Union activities are highly susceptible to changes in tax-funding. They are also highly mobilized and effective ingetting things done.

This is not an argument against unions. Unions are critical to the preservation of labor rights. There are an important facet of American society and our economy. However, we must face reality. If the choice comes between preserving wages and benefits, or preserving essential services for those in need, the decision must unequivocally be the latter.

As a health-care provider, 60% or MORE of our clients will not be able to attend adult day health services that provide them necessary social, physical and occupational therapies if their mode of transportation is taken away. Many other providers will have to deal with the same situation. We have to look beyond our bottom-lines and honestly ask “what will this do those people who are in need…”

Taxing people who are unemployed and underemployed to fund six-figure salaries for bus drivers and other transit employees is not a desirable nor effective use of our tax money. But we need to recognize that Prop 1 is not simply about governmental tax increases. It’s about preserving essential services. There is no reason that we should not work towards preserving these services while ALSO reducing the tax burden on our more vulnerable populations.

How do we do that? Pierce Transit must take the unpopular step of taking a stronger hand in its negotiation with the unions. And the unions must realize that, just like everybody else in the private sector, their wages are subject to the reality of the times. No one wants to see a pay cut or pay freeze, and no one wants to give up their benefits or their position. But in the government money doesn’t appear out of thin air. Pierce Transit has a choice to make between its ridership and clients, or the unions and employees. Pierce Transit’s priority should be to its ridership and clients.

So when we say to support Prop 1, make no mistake, we are not in support of ineffective use of taxpayer money. But we realize that the core issue at stake in the battle over Prop 1 is first and foremost to maintain critical services for people in need. Pass Prop 1, AND THEN let’s make a concerted effort to reduce public sector wages/benefits, reduce union influence and control, and increase oversight and monitoring of our tax funds so that services remain in place while also helping alleviate that economic burden on those in economic need.

Cascade Park Vista, our 115-bed assisted living community located in the heart of Tacoma’s Stadium Historical District, is seeking an experienced Maintenance & Housekeeping Director to join our multidisciplinary care team. The preferred candidate for this position will have had prior experience in a licensed Boarding Home, or similar healthcare setting.

For more information contact Lincoln Strand at 253-627-3833.

On January 25, the City of Tacoma passed resolution to support PROP 1 “Save our Buses” by a unanimous vote of 8-0. Several members of our city spoke out to councilmen, including one gentlemen who had blindness and another with a severe crippling disease who used the shuttle to attend the meeting (who would have been severely limited from traveling there without our essential bus services). In his words: “…should Proposition 1 fail, it would be like taking my car keys away from me.

On February 1, at 3pm, County Councilmen Dick Muri will present a resolution to REJECT the proposition. He commented that “Pierce Transit has not done enough to shave costs”…and therefore urges voters to REJECT Prop 1 In light of Pierce Transit’s progress toward reducing expenses/costs by 90 million through 2012. His resolution follows:

Proposal No. R2011-15, A Resolution of the Pierce County Council Urging Voters to Vote “Rejected” on “Pierce Transit – Proposition No. 1 – Sales and Use Tax Increase” at the February 8, 2011, Special Election; the Full Title of the Ballot Proposition is as follows:

“The Board of Commissioners of the Pierce County Public Transportation Benefit Area (commonly known as Pierce Transit) adopted Resolution No. 10-013 concerning a proposition to increase the sales and use tax. This proposition would authorize Pierce Transit to impose an additional three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) sales and use tax, for a total sales and use tax of nine-tenths of one percent (0.9%), to provide funds to preserve transit service levels, implement local and express bus services and provide SHUTTLE services for people with disabilities, vanpools and associated capital improvements, all as authorized by Resolution No. 10-013.”

Sponsored by: Councilmember Dick Muri Council; contact person: Susan Long, (253) 798-6068. For Final Consideration.

Our community members who rely on the shuttle and buses as a lifeline for health, social and economic reasons need to ATTEND the Pierce County Council on Tuesday February 1, 2011 at 3pm and SPEAK UP for Prop 1.

Cascade Park Active Day is putting together a team of speakers from Adult Family Homes and their client base who can share their need for our transportation system to continue with services as they are today. The future impact of eliminating more busing services in our county is only compounded further by the cuts already implemented by DSHS to eliminate broker transportation services to Medicaid clients.

AGAIN WE NEED YOUR HELP! The most vulnerable in our community need ALL OF US to help SAVE OUR BUSES!

 

NEXT Tuesday we need YOUR HELP to prevent the loss of one of our most critical services. 

On February 1st, at the Tacoma city council meeting, Councilmen Dick Muri will put to vote a resolution to STOP Prop 1. This will eliminate transportation for a majority of our clients; We need ALL OF YOU to attend and advocate for your clients. We need PROP 1 to pass.

Justin Leighton is leading the campaign for Prop 1. He also needs phone bank operators to make calls to constituents, which makes a huge difference in voter turn out. Put your thinking caps on and let’s talk about how to get involved with our clients and residents also.

Read more about Proposition 1.

In February 2011, Pierce County voters will be asked to protect critical, existing transit service from a devastating 35% cut. At stake are services that get thousands of kids safely to and from school and activities; provide access to seniors and people with disabilities to health care, shopping and church; and deliver commuters efficiently to jobs across the region.

These cuts are unacceptable… and they are unavoidable WITHOUT YOUR HELP.

Without these services, the many seniors and adults with disabilities who rely on public transportation will not be able to make it to adult day health and rehabilitation programs. This cuts off CRUCIAL SERVICES to those who are MOST VULNERABLE.

Pierce Transit has worked hard to avoid this request: while every other transit provider in the region has already asked for voter assistance, Pierce Transit has focused on cost cutting, streamlining and efficiency improvements. The agency has experienced 5% layoffs, delayed or eliminated capital projects, 6% service reductions, and twice increased regular adult fares. Those actions, combined with employee-identified operational efficiencies, have saved over $89 million dollars.

Despite significant cuts in staff and service, Pierce Transit will be forced to cut service by an additional 35% without approval of Proposition 1.

Proposition 1 is a small investment that will SAVE BUS SERVICE in Pierce County. Prop 1 will cost only 3 pennies on every 10 dollars spent— protecting mobility for those who need it most, and removing thousands of cars from our already crowded streets and freeways.

What’s At Stake If Proposition 1 Does Not Pass Next February?

• Express and commuter services in the system will be reduced from 15 to 30-45 minute wait times, overloading busses and making it difficult for many people to catch the bus to work.
• Weekend service will be slashed with minimum of 60 minute waits across most of the County; this will severely hinder transportation access for our elderly and low-income residents.
• Service in many outlying areas of the County will be eliminated as will SHUTTLE service for people with disabilities, leaving thousands of residents stranded without any alternatives.

A 35 percent cut to service is simply too damaging to our community. Please Vote Yes on Proposition 1 to help protect our buses for seniors, adults with disabilities, and ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.

It is time to make that call, time to stand up and make your voice heard. Seniors and adults with disabilities are facing a grave future in Washington State with the shadow of health-care cuts coming up. 

ACTIONS to be taken NOW

1) Ask all day center staff, volunteers and stakeholders to call the Legislative Hotline to send a message to your Legislators:

LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE 1-800-562-6000

• Please DO NOT force adults with Developmental Disabilities to choose between receiving adult day health care and receiving all other service funded through the DD system.
• Please DO continue Senior Citizen Services Act (SCSA) funding that leverages Family Caregiving and helps families care for each other.

2) Notify your DD families that the legislature is seriously considering a move that will eliminate ADH for those on the DD waiver. As them to also call the Legislative Hotline with the same message above: Please DO NOT force adults with Developmental Disabilities to choose between receiving adult day health care and receiving all other service funded through the DDD system.

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Please spread the word AND call today to begin getting the messages out to your center’s Developmental Disabilities community.

Cascade Park welcomes you to our new blog! We hope that you will find this a powerful resource for news, information, and events.

We also are proud to announce our new administrator at Cascade Park Gardens, Tom Gallucci, M.A. 

Mr. Gallucci has spent the last nineteen (19) years working for the State of Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). The majority of this time was spent at the local agency level within Home and Community Services and Residential Care Services. During his tenure with the State, Tom served in a number of important roles, such as Long Term Care Case Manager, Social Worker, Residential Unit Supervisor/Administrative Law Hearings Coordinator, Boarding Home Licensor/ Complaint Investigator, and most recently, Joint Requirement Planner/Administrative Law Hearings Coordinator.

Mr. Gallucci is scheduled to obtain his A+ Administrator Certification from the Washington Health Care Association this coming April. He will also be receiving his certification to teach the state mandated “Dementia Specialty Training” course for caregivers early next week.  We are confident that Tom’s background of practical experience, along with the aforementioned formal Boarding Home training will serve him well as he transitions to his new position at Cascade Park Gardens. We are very excited to have Tom on our team, and look forward to utilizing his wealth of knowledge and experience to further enhance our Memory Care program. We encourage you to give him your full support!