Needed:A Permanent Recurring Source of Revenue.....

[Guest guest]

Desperately needed: a permanent, recurring, dedicated source of revenue to fund all individuals entitled to services, including those already receiving services who live in terror of funding cuts year after year, and those deemed eligible but receiving $0 of funding while they languish on a waitlist year after year with no movement in sight.

Thank you !

OPEN LETTER TO THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE: DO NOT BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED

From: Goldstein

Dear Florida Legislators:

In this depressed economy, you are to be commended for eliminating your member projects for the upcoming legislative session. Clearly, there are critical human needs that take priority over community projects. An area of urgency, where lives have been lost because of past cuts, is providing adequate care for those who cannot care for themselves. Over the past two years, the budget for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities has been drastically cut. Many of these cuts have resulted in life saving appeals, costing the state even more. The developmentally disabled citizens of Florida cannot sustain additional budget cuts without compromising their safety.

There are a number of areas where additional cuts can be made that would not bring about life threatening consequences. For example, the mandatory and contractual planting of trees along our roadways can and should be postponed before services to our most deprived are terminated. The frequent and regular resurfacing of roads can also be delayed without affecting the lives of our most vulnerable people. Grants to cities for the purchase and improvement of parks should not take precedence over basic life services required by those who did not choose to be born with special needs. The legislature should place these priorities in the proper order.

Ironically, transportation expenditures for roads and trees have the ‘protection’ of recurring revenue sources such as tolls. Unfortunately, that same protection is not afforded to our most disadvantaged and innocent people, the developmentally disabled.

Current proposals for new sources of revenue are being discussed, such a cigarette tax, and restructuring of the gambling compact by the legislature. These are potential opportunities to provide lasting protection and allocate a permanent funding stream. Recurring allocations would relieve the constant fear and stressful burden facing those in dire need of assistance, and those on the waiting list.

The developmentally disabled people of Florida are sweet, wonderful, good human beings who cannot survive without assistance. They are easily and often victimized. Essentially, they are children for their entire lives, and they deserve the same protection our children receive. Most come from families that are broken or in crisis. Many are alone in this world and have no families, other than those who care for them in group homes and community facilities.

Please do not balance this budget on the backs of those who need the most help. It’s time to do the right thing.

Goldstein

Floridians for the Future of the Developmentally Disabled

Date: November 25, 2008

Copyright © 2008 . All rights reserved. A Privacy Statement is applicable to this site.

cloudspace.com

[unable to display image]

Home | Contact Us | About Us Life should be easier. So should your homepage. Try the NEW AOL.com.