If you’re on my facebook friends list, chances are you’ve probably already gotten at least a few requests from me to sign a petition these past weeks.
Since I’m the one always lamenting the silly (read: stupid as hell) causes and petitions on facebook (no, I will not sign a petition urging the president to make a national holiday in memory of your late family dog, Chuck), I’m sure at least some of you are wondering what it is about this petition that has me pushing it on an almost daily basis.
Welp, it’s easy folks, King County is in dire straits when it comes to the budget. Significant cuts are going to be made (as they have over the past 3 years) to offset a ginormous deficit. For whatever sad and sorry reason, it’s those services which help people the MOST that wind up on the chopping block first.
Such is the case with Human Services funding.
Meal support, food banks, senior services, domestic violence shelters, youth shelters, prevention programs, emergency/crisis lines- you name it- it’s on the block.
And this isn’t the first time. Over the past 3 years Human Services funding by the County has been cut by 50%- simply a staggering amount. It’s hard to believe that there is anything left.
While providers are struggling with increased need (hello economic downturn), their ability to provide services is dwindling. If the cuts proposed for the 2010 budget are approved, the impact will be catastrophic.
I recognize that you may not be in need of human services support yet. You may have never had to feed your family via food bank, or flee a domestic violence situation in the middle of the night with frightened children and nothing but the clothes on your back…but your neighbors have. The need for services isn’t going away. Trust me, you want your neighbors to be able to access these resources (and yes, you want your taxes to go towards paying for them). Just think of it- do you want your neighbor, who is going hungry and unable to feed their children to go to a food bank, or to break into your house and take your food- because that is precisely what happens when people are in need and desperate. Maybe they won’t break into your house, maybe they’ll just go to the corner store and shoplift a few items. It’s cheaper to feed them than it is to prosecute them for a crime they’d otherwise never dream of committing.
Are you getting the picture? We, as a county, cannot lose these services.
The county must at least maintain current funding levels through 2010. If county officials don’t hear from all of us en mass, the axe will surely fall. County council is working on the budget as we speak so, no time like the present to make your voice heard on the issue.
And doing so has never been easier.
A local organization, Solid Ground, has teamed with the King County Alliance for Human Services to sponsor a petition on Facebook for residents within King County to sign. The petition will be printed with all signatures and presented to the County Council before they make their final budget decisions for next year.
I guess what I’m saying is, sign the damn petition! If you have already signed, use the petition tools to get your friends to sign. The goal is 2k signatures and there are nearly 1500 to date- this is a goal that can be met- heck, surpassed even.
“We the undersigned, petition King County to at least maintain 2009 levels of Community Health and Human Services funding in 2010. In tough economic times, the Human Services system is often the last resort for our neighbors who are in crisis. Now is not the time to eliminate even more funding – INVEST IN PEOPLE FIRST.”
Peace-
SV
Given the state ofthe KC Exec race (Hutchisonm may win), this petition is important.
It will be a sqeaker but Dow can win this race. I am working overtime getting his voters to turn in their ballots. Here I go again, back to email until they just do it.