By William E. Kelly<\/p>\n
Senior crisis, budget and health access key issues<\/strong><\/p>\n Five candidates seek to replace outgoing San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts, who represents District 4: Bonnie Dumanis; Nathan Fletcher; Ken Malbrough; Omar Passons; and Lori Salda\u00f1a.<\/p>\n County Board of Supervisor Dianne Jacob warned that the county\u2019s elderly population would surge by more than 30 percent by 2025 and admitted the county is \u201cill-equipped to handle this rapid growth.\u201d She also stated that as the population ages, the problems related to it will \u201cturn more grave.\u201d<\/p>\n Further, Stephen Russell, executive director of the San Diego Housing Federation, calls this phenomenon \u201ca catastrophe.\u201d The Center on Policy Initiatives\u2019 2015 report \u201cEconomic Cost of SD County Ongoing Safety Net Failure,\u201d found the county\u2019s programs inadequate and examined the costs to families and the local economy.\u00a0The findings were not favorable. (See bit.ly\/2B1LbDP.<\/a>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Candidate Lori <\/strong>Salda<\/strong>norte<\/strong>a<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe largest portion of the county budget \u2014 $1.9 billion \u2014 is dedicated for health care and\u00a0human services,\u201d Salda\u00f1a said. \u201cMy priority concern is to use these funds effectively and efficiently, to provide housing, health care, and restorative care for people who are currently sick, homeless, or in temporary shelters \u2014 or at risk of entering one of those categories.\u201d<\/p>\n Salda\u00f1a proposes that San Diego County emulate a plan similar to one under development in Los\u00a0Angeles County that creates a \u201cRestorative Care Village\u201d managed by\u00a0Health and Human Services.\u00a0(See bit.ly\/2HPMji6<\/a>.)<\/p>\n \u201cThe aim is to support\u00a0people as they recover their health and to provide career counseling, jobs training and supportive housing during medical recovery and other\u00a0assistance to integrate people back into our communities,\u201d Salda\u00f1a said.<\/p>\n \u201cMy objective is to keep all people safe and healthy by reducing homelessness in the short term and eliminating it in the long term,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cI favor using Prop 63 to fund supportive housing and health care for those with long-term\u00a0disabilities, mental illness, addictions and support a bond measure to provide a permanent source of local funding for housing and health care services. (Learn more about Prop 63 bit.ly\/2BUxRVU<\/a>.)<\/p>\n \u201cOn a personal level, I was a caregiver for older adults in my family: my mother and grandmother,\u201d Salda\u00f1a said. \u201cI lived with them for one year as they recovered from surgeries and arranged for in-home care as I did research at UC San Diego.<\/p>\n \u201cBased on this experience, when I served in the California Assembly, I developed a slate of caregiving bills and established a \u2018Caregivers Caucus\u2019 to work with other legislators to promote good public policy to protect funding for caregiving services; support family caregivers; and hold people accountable for embezzling or stealing funds from older adults in their care,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cAs chair of Housing and Community Development, I increased funding for affordable and supportive housing; worked on updating Regional Housing Needs Assessments; and established new standards for transit-oriented development, so that people lived near the transportation they needed to maintain their independence.\u201d<\/p>\n Among Salda\u00f1a\u2019s key accomplishments, she lists serving in leadership roles during six years in the California Assembly; co-authoring the first marriage equality legislation in the nation (2005); and chairing the Legislative Women\u2019s Caucus. She also served as Assistant Majority Whip; Speaker Pro Tempore; and as a committee member on the Judiciary; Taxation and Revenue; Water, Parks and Wildlife; Natural Resources; and the Elections and Redistricting committees.<\/p>\n In addition, Salda\u00f1a was appointed to the Assembly Ethics Committee to investigate sexual harassment and other complaints;\u00a0co-authored AB 32 requiring California reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020; developed\u00a0new standards for promoting energy efficiency in commercial buildings; and proposed zero-net energy residential standards.<\/p>\n Her volunteer work included serving as a founding board member of the first \u201cEarth Fair\u201d celebration in Balboa Park (1990); chairing the San Diego\/Imperial Counties Sierra Club (1995-97); and being appointed by President Clinton to the Border Environment Cooperation Commission, tasked with improving water quality in San Diego and along the U.S.\/Mexico border.<\/p>\n \u201cAs County Supervisor, I will apply research-based solutions to county policies, based on my work as an Environmental Policy Research Fellow at the UCSD Center for US\/Mexican Studies, and a professor of Information Technology for the San Diego Community College District,\u201d Salda\u00f1a said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Candidate Omar Passons <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIn addition to my focus on children and seniors, my priorities include the homeless crisis, lack of affordable housing, making our economy more inclusive, protecting our environment, responsible regulated cannabis access, reforming our criminal justice system to focus more on prevention, and enhancing our disaster preparedness systems,\u201d Passons said.<\/p>\n \u201cMy highest priorities relate directly to the impact these challenges have on those with the most potential and those who are our future, children, and those who have given the most to our community, seniors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Passons grew up in the county foster care system with 100-plus foster siblings.<\/p>\n \u201cI know what strong support from regional government can mean and what happens when it is lacking,\u201d he said of that experience.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether children live with their biological or adoptive parents, or in foster care, our entire society will improve if they are better armed with early childhood development and support.\u201d<\/p>\n With regard to his unique professional qualifications, Passons addressed his education and career history.<\/p>\n \u201cNearly 40 percent of the county\u2019s budget is in health and human services and I am the only candidate with a master\u2019s degree in Public Health who evaluated the proper use of funds and implementation of these programs working with officials in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition, 84 percent of the land area of the county and over 500,000 people are under the county\u2019s land-use control and I am the only candidate with a professional background of more than a decade as a land-use and construction attorney focusing on these issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Passons worked in public health and social service evaluation at the federal level before going into law.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the lessons those experiences taught me was that we must be thoughtful about having information before making claims about what can be accomplished by when,\u201d he said. \u201cYour question about goals and objectives requires experience in long-range planning and action. Goals point us in a direction while objectives measure our progress towards those goals. Our county ought to have a goal of making sure that the more than 60,000 people with dementia in our region have access to appropriate care and their families have access to support within their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy foster\/adoptive 84-years-young mother gave of herself throughout life in San Diego but could not afford to live out her years here. I saw up close how challenging the system is when she broke her hip several years ago. We struggled to piece together the care and support needed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cOur society\u2019s collective failure to adequately support our seniors is a massive crisis that we must address. Over 240,000 senior citizens in San Diego County can\u2019t pay their basic bills \u2014 food, housing, health care and transportation. That number will more than double over the next decade if we do not act \u2014 and it is my view that we must shift our thinking and our priorities.\u201d<\/p>\n Fundamentally, Passons believes it is crucial to protect our seniors\u2019 ability to age in place, foster social participation, ease the safety and availability of transportation access, and make homes more affordable. These must all be a part of the strategy. He referenced the eight domains of livability that AARP has identified and views them as core to a foundation of dignified living.\u00a0(See bit.ly\/2lZSnMh<\/a>.)<\/p>\n \u201cOur \u2018Housing4All\u2019 plan calls for specific incentives for the construction of senior living residences to increase supply while bringing down the costs,\u201d Passons said. \u201cI am working with public and private sector leaders and service providers to propose actions supportive of ongoing essential work, e.g. increasing affordable housing funding to augment state and federal resources; improving aging-in-place support with more resources for retrofitting seniors\u2019 homes; increasing transportation safety and efficiency to protect the safety of all citizens; encouraging senior homes\/apartments be built closer to pharmacy\/medical needs; and requiring \u2018Complete Streets\u2019 design for walker\/wheelchair ease of use.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe retrofitting issue is acute in District 4, where seniors from Clairemont and La Jolla to North Park, City Heights and southeastern San Diego have lived in their homes for decades but lack the resources to upgrade with things like ramps, voice-assisted devices, wireless technology upgrades, and so forth.\u201d<\/p>\n In closing, Passons stressed that the position of county supervisor is \u201cnot a ceremonial one,\u201d and that it is \u201ctoo important\u201d for voters to simply choose a \u201ccareer politician\u201d for the role.<\/p>\n \u201cInstead, it requires substantive knowledge and relevant experience about the many issues we face,\u201d Passons continued. \u201cI have negotiated multi-party settlements with multiple attorneys as a litigation attorney and have worked with local, state and federal officials, both in public health and as an attorney and community leader. I am a Democrat who has worked with all political persuasions to improve my community and to fight for what I believe in and I bring these skills to my candidacy as well.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Candidate Ken Malbrough <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe county has $2 billion in reserve tax dollars just floating in a cloud of unknown use by county supervisors,\u201d Malbrough said.<\/p>\n He said he pledges to \u201cseek community input\u201d on how these reserve tax dollars can best be utilized and would like to see them invested in \u201cchronically neglected or underfunded areas,\u201d such as housing and public safety in underserved communities.<\/p>\n \u201cMy priority is reducing our homelessness epidemic and addressing this issue region-wide,\u201d he said. \u201cProviding access to health and human services is the primary and more affordable method to avoid the pathway to homelessness and incarceration.\u201d<\/p>\n Malbrough said the lack of affordable housing for low- and middle-income families in the workforce, the homeless, the disabled, seniors, as well as veterans, also needs to be expanded.<\/p>\n \u201cBut first we must convince our citizens that this is a challenge and opportunity to better the lives of human beings, not just an issue that presents a bad optic for the region,\u201d he said. \u201cI would identify the population and predicted growth of homelessness in the region, convene stakeholders to determine roles, responsibilities and funding sources for a county-wide plan to address these goals.\u201d<\/p>\n Malbrough has served as a Deputy Fire Chief, something he feels makes him uniquely qualified to be a county supervisor.<\/p>\n \u201cNo other candidate has the relevant applicable leadership experience I have leading an organization with such a large number of personnel and a budget in the hundreds of millions,\u201d he said. \u201cHeading up any large state or city agency, including a fire or police department with the many labor, political, fiscal and bureaucratic challenges provide the actual, practical and directly relevant experience I have had for 31 years at every level.\u201d<\/p>\n He included his 12 years of engaging the community while serving on various planning groups, working with developers, elected officials and other area leaders, often with opposing views of his own.<\/p>\n \u201cI will not have to learn on the job,\u201d he said. \u201cI will not be taken by surprise by any unexpected disasters, fires or outbreaks and epidemics. As a Deputy Fire Chief and community leader, I have worked in virtually every part of the county that I propose to lead as county supervisor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCitizens need good access to health and human services,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is the primary and more affordable method to avoid the pathway to homelessness and incarceration.\u201d<\/p>\n Malbrough stressed that the county must \u201clead the way\u201d in providing the wraparound assistance to health services.<\/p>\n \u201cI would push the board to approve financing to update its website with state-of-the art, user-friendly technology to work with mobile and desktop applications; increase staffing and training and provide outreach to the community to inform them of the services HHS provides. This includes utilization of social media tools, like Facebook and others.\u201d<\/p>\n Malbrough said his plans would also include neighborhood cleanups conducted with an \u201caggressive environmental health mobilization\u201d and \u201ccommunity benefit agreements\u201d which would address the areas impacted by the homeless population. He also stated there should be a phased timeline on these efforts that is strictly enforced, with community updates and progress reports provided by his own staff.<\/p>\n With regard to the housing crisis, Malbrough believes that having more housing \u201cstock\u201d in the San Diego region would be the \u201cbest way to reduce and stabilize\u201d increasing housing costs.<\/p>\n \u201cThis can be accomplished by identifying vacant land owned by the County of San Diego; updating all current county community plans and applicable zoning with community input; consider the funding of programmatic environmental impact reviews \u2014 a huge developer cost and construction delay issue; synchronizing agency development services and department procedures region-wide; identifying commercial and private lending sources willing to provide reasonable financing in underserved communities for development; and ending the current practice of allowing developers to opt out of providing affordable housing by simply paying a fee.\u201d<\/p>\n You can follow Ken Malbrough\u2019s campaign at kenmalbrough.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Candidate Bonnie Dumanis <\/strong><\/p>\n Former San Diego District Attorney and candidate for County Supervisor Bonnie Dumanis stated that elder abuse remains a serious problem in our county.<\/p>\n \u201cScams from strangers and undue influence from family and \u2018friends\u2019 result in devastating financial losses,\u201d Dumanis said. \u201cFamilies worry about the potential for abuse of their loved ones in assisted living, skilled nursing or those living in their own homes with or without hired help having their needs neglected because of cognitive problems, depression, hoarding behavior or other concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n Dumanis said she views older adults as a \u201cvaluable resource\u201d and emphasized that they should be treated with both dignity and respect.<\/p>\n \u201cI recognize the \u2018gray tsunami\u2019 upon us and have witnessed the devastation of elder abuse, neglect and financial scams,\u201d she said. \u201cAs the primary caregiver for my aging parents, I have seen older adults treated differently and understand they have fewer options. The attention paid to their specific needs and the quality of those options depends on the funds available.\u201d<\/p>\n Dumanis pointed out that as district attorney, she partnered for many years with supervisors Dianne Jacob, Greg Cox and Ron Roberts to put seniors first.<\/p>\n \u201cThose efforts significantly beefed up the DA\u2019s elder abuse unit, adding two deputy district attorneys, five investigators, two paralegals and expanding our mission to elder residential facilities to make sure every branch in the county has a dedicated elder abuse attorney,\u201d Dumanis said. \u201cI support the monitoring of those facilities and holding accountable those accused of physical or financial abuse or neglect.<\/p>\n \u201cLiving and working in District 4 [Hillcrest, Talmadge, Mid-City, North Park, Golden Hills and Downtown] for 40 years has given me great insight into the needs of the district enabling me to develop relationships with residents and leaders of all ages and backgrounds, law enforcement, businesses and groups that serve our seniors,\u201d Dumanis said, further addressing her experience. \u201cThose and other countywide relationships are resources for the ideas and feedback that gets things done!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy priorities for addressing senior challenges include creating greater awareness about elder abuse and increasing penalties for abusers,\u201d she said. \u201cMonitoring the care provided by assisted and skilled nursing facilities and paid caregivers and funding the DA\u2019s elder abuse team at needed levels is part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n Dumanis said she intends to continue to work with and \u201cencourage\u201d not only the DA\u2019s office but the Sheriff\u2019s Department to \u201cmaintain vigilance of crimes impacting older adults\u201d and wants the County to fund the County\u2019s Aging and Independence Services \u201cto expand education of older adults and their families about all forms of elder abuse, signs of self-neglect and how to alert officials.\u201d<\/p>\n She said she supports \u201cproactive, preventive measures,\u201d like the \u201cTake Me Home Registry,\u201d which helps reunite those with dementia who become lost back with their families, and strengthening Project CARE (Community Action to Reach the Elderly), an all-volunteer program that focuses on supporting older adults who live alone, offering them daily phone calls, which also trains service industry personnel \u2014 postal employees, utility workers, bank tellers, as well as clergy \u2014 to recognize signs of a problem.<\/p>\n \u201cI want the incidences of self-neglect and isolation reduced,\u201d Dumanis said. \u201cI support more neighborhood intergenerational programs and believe they need to be developed and incentivized to encourage community partners to participate, and community centers, where all ages can interact, need to be promoted.\u201d<\/p>\n As an example, Dumanis suggested a program which would involve youth sharing their technical knowledge with seniors to help them \u201cstay connected\u201d to not only their community, but the resources available to them.<\/p>\n \u201cMany county library branches promote intergenerational programs,\u201d she said. \u201cPerhaps school libraries could also provide a setting for that healthy interaction. Another example is Broadway Heights, where adults and youth work together on civic projects to benefit their area.\u201d<\/p>\n Dumanis said the limited number of affordable housing available impacts everyone, and listed this as one of her top priorities.<\/p>\n \u201cBuilding affordable housing and providing placement assistance is crucial,\u201d she said, adding that bureaucratic delays increasing time and cost, and that the streamlining of the approval process is needed.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a regional issue and the County must take a leading role in identifying available development sites in all five districts that considers accessibility to libraries, community centers, fire stations, hospitals, etc.,\u201d she said. \u201cWe must strive for more walkable and self-contained neighborhoods with easier access to grocery stores, transportation, restaurants and businesses. The same is true for any community. \u2026 The LBGTQ-affirming housing for older adults in our community needing services and care is an example and funding for such efforts need to be leveraged.\u201d<\/p>\n Finally, Dumanis offered positions on other relative topics, such as access to reliable transportation for seniors, stating that Uber\/Lyft are often not an option since seniors may not use smart phones, and that 211sandiego.org<\/a> could be a source; and regarding food and nutrition, she stressed a need to create awareness and encourage enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Candidate Nathan Fletcher<\/strong><\/p>\n Candidate Nathan Fletcher, a US Marine veteran and former state assembly member, started out by saying that there is a \u201cdesperate need\u201d of more year-round mental health facilities, nurses, social workers and childcare providers throughout the county.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must also take real action to tackle the homeless and public health crises,\u201d he said. \u201cI have called on the County to put the $150 million they offered for a Chargers Stadium into an Emergency Action Fund.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have much to accomplish in our region, we need to support public safety, protect the environment, create smart growth opportunities in areas that can support it, and ensure that our most vulnerable populations that include children, the elderly and homeless populations are getting quality service that provide them a better quality of life.<\/p>\n Fletcher identified a number of areas he sees as needing attention, including more transit opportunities; housing that includes \u201cwrap-around services\u201d; better support to caregivers; targeted mental health care; more adult protective services; expanding career training; and establishing a partnership between the city and the county regarding senior centers.<\/p>\n \u201cMaximizing County services and programs can work to support a safe, healthy San Diego,\u201d he said<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve dedicated my life to taking on the status quo and making a real difference in people\u2019s lives,\u201d Fletcher said. \u201cI served in the Marines. In the legislature, I passed over 30 laws to reduce carbon emissions, invest in renewable energy, expand healthcare coverage, close corporate tax loopholes, protect homeowners and advocate for kids.\u201d<\/p>\n Nathan says, \u201cI have been a staunch supporter of stronger environmental protection and conservation measures to conserve water, preserve sensitive habitats and expand California\u2019s renewable energy portfolio. I\u2019ve remained active fighting for what I believe in and I: joined the environmental movement in advocating for the statewide plastic bag ban; stood with union janitors in their fight to win a fair contract and decent wages; worked hand in hand with labor to help pass the local minimum wage increase; founded a Veterans Foundation to help our returning heroes get the services and support they need and worked to advance progressive causes and elect progressive Democratic candidates.\u201d Fletcher declared, I\u2019m more ready than ever to put my proven experience to work delivering real results to build a brighter future for all of San Diego.\u201d<\/p>\n One of his biggest concerns are the status quo approaches that are \u201cleaving our most vulnerable neighbors\u201d \u2014 the sick, elderly and children \u2014 at risk.<\/p>\n \u201cFor too long, the County has stood by letting people go without vital health resources, stepping up to protect our environment, and not fighting for better services for our children and seniors.\u201d Fletcher said. \u201cI will be a critical voice for those who need it most when I come into office.\u201d<\/p>\n Fletcher said the county needs to provide \u201chigh quality programing\u201d for its senior residents, \u201cso they can age with dignity and a high quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n He also addressed the homeless issue, promising to use best practices found in other urban communities around the country, including creative approaches and the \u201cHousing First\u201d initiative; his support of the First 5 program for children; and his commitment to enforcing a strong Climate Action Plan.<\/p>\n \u201cI will ensure that the County leads our region with a comprehensive creative approach to problem solving,\u201d Fletcher said. \u201cWe can accomplish this by creating coalitions with our local partners, academia and nonprofits who work to support San Diegans. Additionally, my office will have robust constituent services that will support community requests in an expedited matter. I want voters to know that they have an advocate in me and that I will work tirelessly to address their ideas and concerns and lead San Diego in a progressive direction.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014Bill Kelly is a longtime local activist who currently focuses on LGBT senior issues and moderates the Caring for our LGBT Seniors in San Diego Facebook page. Access to the group is free to all seniors, their advocates, families, friends and caregivers. Reach Bill at wekbill@yahoo.com.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By William E. 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