INCITEMENT INCITEMENT INCITEMENT

Volume 20 No. 3

A Publication of ADAPT

Summer 2004

[Headline] NGA = No Gimps Allowed?

Thou Shalt Honor was the theme of the National Governor's Association "Public Forum" on long term care at their conference July 16 - 20, 2004. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. The "public" included a select handful of puppets invited for their dog and pony show. For the rest of us, there were:

• Police barricades of buses to keep people out,

• Metal detectors and confiscation of personal belongings,

• Instructions for members not to speak with ADAPT,

• NGA barricading themselves inside the twin towers of the Westin Hotel,

• A media advisory not to bother the NGA or to speak with any protestors,

• Stonewalling on ADAPT's request to meet and to have our issues addressed.

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[image caption] Line of police outside the NGA meeting. Photo by Mike McCarty.

1.6 million people languish in nursing homes waiting for their civil right to receive services in the most integrated setting. The Federal government even acknowledges at least 276,333 of them want OUT. Meanwhile the Governors' and their entourages snuck off in boats across the sound to party with Bill and Melinda Gates, and shut down the Amgen Business Campus outside of town for part of a week so they could be entertained by the Temptations.

However, like David and Goliath for some like Frodo and Sauron for others - ADAPT would not be silenced by their strong-arm tactics. And indeed we began to see cracks in their walls.

Though Seattle is a beautiful city, folks with disabilities beware: they have hills there that rival San Francisco! It is a welcoming city though, and despite concerns about being tear gassed and corralled into pens, the local folks showed strong support for ADAPT as we took our issue to the Governors of the nation.

In Seattle, we moved our issue to a new level in one of the most unusual actions in a long time. After almost a decade of pushing the National Governor's Association (NGA) to support our issues, we put our concerns in a resolution and blocked their convention as they tried to stonewall us. And surprise, surprise, their walls began to crack!

[Subheading] Remembering the Dead

Day one, after an excellent series of trainings, we gathered and marched through Pike's Market (thanks to local hospitality!) and on to Victor Steinbrueck Park. We gathered overlooking the Puget Sound, Olympic National Park, and Mount Rainier; totem poles, folk art, homeless folks and tourists from many nations surrounded us Local and National organizers spoke of the struggles to liberate ourselves and others from nursing homes and other institutions, and our vision of freedom for folks still trapped inside. Disability singers and songwriters serenaded the crowd with our anthems. Frank Lozano lead us in a celebration ceremony memorializing and drawing strength from the many brothers and sisters we have lost recently. Seven people who were on the march with us a year ago are gone today, and others too are gone. Yet, at the same time, at least one ADAPTer-to-be was quickening in the womb with us that day as well.

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[image caption] ADAPT in front of the Governors' hotel. Photo by Jerry Costly.

[Subheading] NGA = No Good Answers

Day two, we took the bull by the horns, so to speak, and went to deliver our resolution to the Governors themselves. Many of our colleagues from across the US had tried to get the message in to their Governors through their offices at home.

But when ADAPT sent a delegation of 50 individuals to the Westin Hotel to present one resolution to each State's Governor, they were turned away at the door. (The Westin, ironically, is composed of 2 towers that loom in the background of the downtown Seattle skyline.) When the 50 turned around the police had pulled barricades between their little group and the front doors!

While the 50 were heading out, the rest of us met with Mr. Salo, the Health Policy person for the NGA. His Secret Service/ Police escort accompanied Salo to the front of the meeting room, where ADAPT leader Barb Toomer asked him if he would bring the resolution to the proper people within the NGA, but Salo just kept saying he could not introduce the resolution nor could he pass it. We already knew this and that is why we had only asked him to deliver it. Such non-responsive answers grew old quickly and typified the NGA's failure to listen or care what was being said. So we escorted Salo and his guards out of the room.

[Subheading] Buses Blocking Us?

Some 450 strong we soon came to support the original 50 over at the Westin Hotel, only to find city buses blocking the intersections mound the hotel. ''If at first you don't succeed ..." being a motto of ADAPT, we set up groups outside and started chanting, just to be sure our message was not missed. soon the more artistic and agile among us were writing giant messages in chalk on the streets, just in case the Governors couldn't understand the chants. Our inside moles told us you could hear us far up inside their hotel and the messages were easy reading from the 10th floor even without glasses' The day wore on. Threats were made. Nasty rumors spread. But ADAPTers did not wear out For five hours we held our ground.

[Subheading] The Crack in the Walls

About 2 pm it seemed we were on the brink of arrests. Suddenly Governor Ed-ward Rendell of Pennsylvania defied the NGA party line of stonewalling us and came out to talk. He committed publicly to get the resolution introduced and voted on at the February NGA meeting, and spoke about it at length at the meeting inside. Having achieved our goal of the action, we left for the day.

But Rendell was not completely alone in his courage to break ranks and speak with the ADAPT l'untouchables." Two ADAPTers from Mississippi called their Governor Haley Barbour in the Westin Hotel and were connected right up to his room, his wife answered and the Governor agreed to meet later that day. Kansas

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[image caption] Governor Rendell promises to introduce ADAPT's Resolution. Photo by Tim Wheat.

[text continues] Governor Kathleen Sibelius called during the protest and asked to have the resolution faxed to her; she even sent Kansas ADAPTers a fruit basket. Montana Governor Judy Martz had key staff meet with Montana ADAPT members.

[Subheading] 10 Worst States Revealed: Two in NGA Academy!

Day three was Thou Shalt Honor day for the NGA. In honor of that, ADAPT held a press conference at which we announced the 10 worst states in the nation for providing community long-term services and supports. (See list in this issue.) At an excellent event, held in front of the Westin while the NGA held their 1' Thou Shalt Honor" dog and pony show, ADAPT representatives of the 10 Worst States spoke eloquently of why change was so important.

Just before their conference, the NGA announced the formation of the Academy, a group of 8 states which will be working on designing best practices to balance Long Term Care systems. Ironically, 2 of the 8 states picked for the Academy (Georgia and Louisiana) are among the 10 Worst states, and 2 others (Iowa and Virginia) are in the next 10 worst. One can only wonder at what such an Academy will develop! Best Practices? Best for who? What are these people thinking?

After the press conference ADAPT lined up, as only ADAPT can, and marched through the hills and streets of Seattle to support another important campaign: stopping the cuts to Section 8 es the rental assistance program. Surround-ing the front of the federal building where the regional HUD office is located, ADAPT-ers were set for another long afternoon with street theater, chants, and more. But seeing the crowd, the Regional Director rushed down immediately and agreed to fax the message to the National HUD Office!

[Subheading] What's Next? NGA = Need Governors' Action! Now we have work to do at home!

We must each get our Governor in our state to support the resolution. In some cases this will mean making sure our Governor has a better understanding of the issues. This is important work not just for getting the National Governors Association to support the resolution. This work will help to make sure that states don't destroy community-based services as they trim their budgets.

Visit with your Governor. Show him/ her how many people from your state are stuck inside, wanting to get out! If you need the numbers contact us (adapt@adapt.org or 512/442-0252.)

And start knitting your winter cap, scarf and gloves because we have a date in February to join the NGA for the vote on our resolution!

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Tuesday 23 July 2013

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Friday 4 December 2020

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