Greenwich News - March 29, 2010
Jews prepare for Passover (NewsTimesLive)
Jane Aronson, 7th grade teacher and past director of education at the Greenwich Reformed Synagogue Hebrew School, plays the pharoh, fighting with Rabbi Andrew Sklarz as Moses, in the reenactment of the Jews' exodus from Egypt, on Sunday, March 28, 2010.
Jane Aronson, 7th grade teacher and past director of education at the Greenwich Reformed Synagogue Hebrew School, plays the pharoh, fighting with Rabbi Andrew Sklarz as Moses, in the reenactment of the Jews' exodus from Egypt, on Sunday, March 28, 2010.
Cold Hearted BET Wants To Cut The Weakest Members Of Greenwich Society
The Greenwich Department Of Social Services Is A Helping Hand To Many In Town
The Greenwich Department Of Social Services Is A Helping Hand To Many In Town
Dear Editor,
The recent severe storms have caused loss of conveniences and even disastrous events in most of our lives over the past several days. Loss of a life and extensive property damage, injuries, blocked roads, loss of electricity and heat, cold showers, shortages in some basic needs and general overall discomfort.
Now consider this and worse as a way of living for yourself. Many of our fellow Greenwich Citizens live in the wake of a true disaster each and every day of the year!
Among us are the homeless, the hungry, the unemployed, the mentally ill, the financially stressed seniors, disabled and low income people. They make up more than 16% or well over 10,000 of our fellow citizens. The recent storm was only an inconvenience to most of us. The ongoing devastation is what our least fortunate citizens experience throughout the year.
Recently The BET Budget Committee reviewed and ratified next year’s town budget. Our Social Services Department budget was decreased
2 ½ times more than any other department’s. Can you visualize the additional devastation this will have on the lives of our less fortunate.
• More than 3,900 Greenwich residents are officially unemployed (more are not recorded)
• The local homeless shelter has experienced a 21% increase in demand and is either at or beyond capacity
• The local food pantry has seen an increase of 50% in demand for food
• The average non-profit in Greenwich has seen a 20% drop in their fundraising
The recent severe storms have caused loss of conveniences and even disastrous events in most of our lives over the past several days. Loss of a life and extensive property damage, injuries, blocked roads, loss of electricity and heat, cold showers, shortages in some basic needs and general overall discomfort.
Now consider this and worse as a way of living for yourself. Many of our fellow Greenwich Citizens live in the wake of a true disaster each and every day of the year!
Among us are the homeless, the hungry, the unemployed, the mentally ill, the financially stressed seniors, disabled and low income people. They make up more than 16% or well over 10,000 of our fellow citizens. The recent storm was only an inconvenience to most of us. The ongoing devastation is what our least fortunate citizens experience throughout the year.
Recently The BET Budget Committee reviewed and ratified next year’s town budget. Our Social Services Department budget was decreased
2 ½ times more than any other department’s. Can you visualize the additional devastation this will have on the lives of our less fortunate.
• More than 3,900 Greenwich residents are officially unemployed (more are not recorded)
• The local homeless shelter has experienced a 21% increase in demand and is either at or beyond capacity
• The local food pantry has seen an increase of 50% in demand for food
• The average non-profit in Greenwich has seen a 20% drop in their fundraising
Social Services is the Department that addresses the most urgent needs of this suffering population. It seems counterintuitive to slash their budget by 5.78% from last year’s funding, but that is exactly what has happened. (Note: Social Service makes up less than 1% of the Town’s overall Operating Budget.)
If that isn’t enough reason to fully fund Social Services, please consider the fact Social Services has seen a 21% increase in caseloads is forced to radically triage incoming clients and the new budget calls for a further 11% reduction in permanent staff. The Social Service Staff has already decreased by 25% over the past few years. As staff size has decreased — so has service and help for those most needing it.
The hardworking, dedicated Social Service Workers can truly be life savers. I know from personal experience. A few years ago, I went from being a well-paid corporate communications designer to an indigent alcoholic bipolar after neurosurgery to remove a brain tumor. I cycled between emergency rooms, psych wards or jail for suicidal thoughts, severe depression, trespassing, disturbing the peace/drunkenness and back due child support.
A Greenwich Social Services Caseworker helped me find psychiatric services, addiction services, temporary shelter, permanent shelter, moral support and gave me wise counsel. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t believe I would be alive today.
Now I am able to pay back to society instead of just being a burden. I volunteer for Hurricane Relief Work, Habitat for Humanity, City Harvest, Neighbor to Neighbor (Food Pantry) and am actively involved in the many community service projects through my church.
Now is not the time to further weaken the safety net for our most vulnerable brothers and sisters. Greenwich Social Services Staff and its budget needs your advocacy. Our less fortunate and our vulnerable citizens can ill afford a further cut in services.
Please find the time to contact the Greenwich BET and ask them to reinstate the Social Services Funding and Staff to the full requested amount by the First Selectman and Social Services Department. Let’s make this a livable community for all our citizen including the less fortunate who suffer from a devastation you never want to experience.
Sincerely
Tim Bassford
Greenwich Citizen and Community Volunteer
Corcerned Greenwich Residents Can Call Thier BET Members At The Following Phone Numbers:
Nancy E. Barton - 203-637-2343
James S. Campbell - 203-561-1184
William R. Finger - 203-629-9170
Randall Huffman - 203-869-6356
William G. Kelly - 203-698-2046
Michael S. Mason - 203-869-8052
Arthur D. Norton - 203-532-0513
Joseph L. Pellegrino - 203-661-1889
Jeffrey S. Ramer - 203-637-1666
Laurence B. Simon - 203-661-0633
Leslie L. Tarkington - 203-661-0535
Stephen G. Walko - 203-912-9699
Comment?
Residents speak to Himes on flood concerns (Darien News-Review)
Anthony Macleod, chairman of the Greenwich Flood and Erosion Control Board , told the audience at the Darien Public Library Saturday that his town has identified 41 flood-prone areas.
Anthony Macleod, chairman of the Greenwich Flood and Erosion Control Board , told the audience at the Darien Public Library Saturday that his town has identified 41 flood-prone areas.
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