| Are Palin’s interviews with Couric helping her?

Are Palin’s interviews with Couric helping her?

Here we go again. This lady is not ready.

The Capitalist Pig: Jonathan Hoenig - On the Economy

WLS, 890 AM - Chicago's Talk Station

Check out the Capitalist Pig, Jonathan Hoenig

House defeats $700B financial markets bailout

House defeats $700B financial markets bailout - Yahoo! News

This Congress is absurd, and their dialogue is ludicrous. We know where the blame lies. It lies with those that profit from this fiasco. The citizens of the United States should not pay for the errors of those who lied and cheated for a profit. Let the chips fall where they may. We need to root out the criminal thinking and behaving of our Congress and the Stock Market.

What do you think?

Stocks tumble as bailout plan fails in House

Stocks tumble as bailout plan fails in House - Yahoo! News

| Is Palin qualified to be President?

Is Palin qualified to be President?

Absolutely not!!! Palin sounds stupid on any issue she asked. She never answers the questions asked of her. Why? Because she does not know the question or answer. Everyone should be scared as hell of her becoming President, let alone Vice President.

WaMu is largest U.S. bank failure

WaMu is largest U.S. bank failure - Yahoo! News

Are you surprised? What's next to go? As long as we allow individuals to manipulate and deceive the markets, we will have tyranny, which will lead to destruction.

Democrats unveil economic stimulus plans

Democrats unveil economic stimulus plans - Yahoo! News

Where is the Republicans plan?

Dems, some in GOP question McCain's intervention

Dems, some in GOP question McCain's intervention - Yahoo! News

What is McCain up too? McCain should not be playing politics with the lives of our society.

Lawmakers: Financial bailout agreement reached

Lawmakers: Financial bailout agreement reached - Yahoo! News

We still have a way to go. Obama and McCain still have to agree on the plan. Obama says there has to be something for "Mainstreet" as well as Wall Street. Is McCain trying to make a political football out of this economic mess?

Illinois Budget Cuts: Senate passes Bill 790 & 1103

Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association
937 South Second Street • Springfield, IL 62704
Phone: 217.528.7335 • FAX: 217.528.7340
www.iadda.org

For Immediate Release
September 23, 2008
David Ormsby

Contact: Sara Moscato Howe

IL Senate Votes to Restore $55 Million for Drug Treatment; Governor Urged to Approve Money
Money Would Halt Elimination of Care to 42,000

(Chicago, IL) – The Illinois Senate today voted to restore $55 million to the state’s alcohol and drug treatment budget which had been originally vetoed by Governor Rod Blagojevich.

The Senate voted, 55-0, to restore the $55 million to state addiction treatment services and to halt the elimination of care for 42,000 across Illinois as part of $219 million supplement budget bill (SB 1103) to restore other state programs and services also vetoed by the Governor.

The House voted, 113-3, last week to restore the money.

“The General Assembly’s action will restore drug treatment services to more than 42,000 people across the state,” said Sara Moscato Howe, CEO of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association. “Now, we urge the Governor to act swiftly to approve the legislature’s action.”

On July 9, Blagojevich cut $55 million from addiction treatment services and also line-item vetoed money from specific programs: victims of domestic violence, women returning from incarceration, youth treatment, youth in the court system, and women receiving federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families who require treatment to be employed.

Since the Governor’s budget veto was announced in July, treatment programs across the state have begun to eliminate services.

In suburban East Hazel Crest, Governor Blagojevich’s Administration eliminated $879,911 of a $4,273,054 grant to local treatment provider, South Suburban Council, which provides substance abuse treatment to more than 3,000 people each year.

“We will turn away approximately 600 South Suburban residents during the next year and 20,000 will soon be turned away across Cook County unless the Governor signs the bill,” said Allen Sandusky, President of the South Suburban Council and Chairman of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association.

The legislation now goes to the Governor’s desk for approval.

Illinois Budget Cuts: Representative Tom Cross Responds

Update: September 24, 2008

I received this letter from the Honorable Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross. See: "Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois Legislature Opens the Door to its Constituents to suffer Substance Abuse and Crime in their Communities", posted September 7, 2008 on this blog.

TOM CROSS
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
ILLINOIS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SPRINGFIELD OFFICE:
316 STATE HOUSE
SPRINGFIELD, IL 62706
(217) 782-1331

DISTRICT OFFICE:
24047 W. LOCKPORT, SUITE 213
PLAINFIELD, IL 60544
(815) 254-0000

September 17, 2008

Fred Nance Jr.
C.L.I.C.K. Services, NFP

Dear Mr. Nance:

Thank you for your recent correspondence concerning the FY09 Budget and funding reductions for alcohol and substance abuse treatment. Your personal history highlights the life changing impact that treatment services can have for individuals struggling with alcohol and substance abuse.

The FY09 Budget passed to the governor contained appropriation authority for the expansion of many worthwhile state programs, including an expansion of alcohol and substance abuse treatment. Unfortunately, the budget framework overspent expected revenue by an estimated $2 billion. At the time the budget passed, the Democrat leadership in the House admitted that the budget was out of balance and would require action by the governor to bring spending in line with revenue. Accordingly, the governor acted to reduce appropriations by $1.4 billion. There is no doubt that the governor’s vetoes targeted certain budget lines, particularly addiction treatment, in a heavy handed manner. Nonetheless, the root of this problem lies in the unconstitutional budget pushed through by the Democrat House and Senate.

House Republicans initiated legislation. in the form of HB 6881 (Rose). to reprioritize spending throughout state government to restore DASA funding for the 2008 calendar year. Additionally, the House of Representatives recently took action to restore DASA funding with the passage of SB 1103, which provides supplemental appropriation authority for the remainder of the FY09 Budget year. These provisions received my support in the House, passing by a vote of 113-0-0. It is my hope that the Senate will meet in a timely fashion to give consideration to these provisions. Failure to enact the provisions promptly endangers treatment services in all regions of the state and places additional pressures on an already overburdened criminal justice system. Once again, thank you for your correspondence and your work to help those in need of alcohol and substance abuse treatment.

Like Hillary said: No Way, No how, NO McCain, No PALIN

Like Hillary said: No Way, No how, NO McCain, No PALIN

Biggest Political Rally in Alaska's History - Against Palin; Music to Pictures, Yet no Coverage

Ask yourself, why was this not in our news?

Bush team, Congress haggle over $700B bailout

Bush team, Congress haggle over $700B bailout - Yahoo! News

Is this bailout appropriate? Who is responsible? Where is the accountability? Who is to blame? If these questions are not answered, why are we bailing the "rich" out of their greed?

Poll: White Democrats may pose problem for Obama

Poll: White Democrats may pose problem for Obama (OneNewsNow.com)

Racial divisions are a prominent determinant to justice and equality in America. Racism flourishes in America and in your backyard. Racism is alive and well in America. This presidential campaign has proven to be a battleground for those who believe there is a racism in America.

Why is it so hard to understand that African Americans do not speak, walk or think like others. Every ethnicity has its own culture, diversity and commonalities.

You cannot put Obama or any other African American in your ethnic or culture "box". Obama has his own "box". Enjoy the "box" he lives and aspires. You may find he is the best thing for America today.

Palin's husband refuses to testify in probe

Palin's husband refuses to testify in probe - Yahoo! News

Sara Palin's husband is being subpoenaed by the Alaskan government. Sara Palin's husband is refusing to honor the subpoena. Senator McCain's campaign is using an Alaskan law, which states that a person cannot be subpoenaed who is running for office. Sara Palin's husband is not running for office. Therefore, he cannot utilize this law.

Nevertheless, the McCain campaign will use the law knowing that it will not survive the legislative body of Alaska, but guess what. The legislative body of Alaska will not convene again until January 2009. Guess what. If McCain wins the presidency, Sara Palin and her husband will already be the Vice President of the United States. Our we stupid enough to vote for the Palin's. This is outrageous.

If people vote for the McCain ticket, it will only be because of "white" privlege. If a black person told any government they were not going to honor a subpoena, they would be in jail.

White priviledge

This is Your Nation on White Privilege
By Tim Wise
9/13/08

For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege,
or who are looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps
this list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like
Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that
of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to
judge you or your parents, because "every family has challenges," even
as black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly
typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin'
redneck," like Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if
anyone messes with you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk
about how you like to "shoot shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a
responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather
than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in
six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out
of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community
college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to
achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as
unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first
place because of affirmative action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town
smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state
with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island
of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people
don't all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S.
Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means
you're "untested."

White privilege is being able to say that you support the words
"under God" in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough
for the founding fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be
immediately disqualified from holding office–since, after all, the
pledge was written in the late 1800s and the "under God" part wasn't
added until the 1950s–while if you're black and believe in reading
accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because the
Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school,
requires it), you are a dangerous and mushy liberal who isn't fit to
safeguard American institutions.

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make
people immediately scared of you.

White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member
of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from
the Union, and whose motto is "Alaska first," and no one questions
your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and your
spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with
her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she's
being disrespectful.

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers
and the work they do–like, among other things, fight for the right of
women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end
to child labor–and people think you're being pithy and tough, but if
you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month
governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in
college and the fact that she lives close to Russia–you're somehow
being mean, or even sexist.

White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't
even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your
running mate anyway, because suddenly your presence on the ticket has
inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your
party a "second look."

White privilege is being able to fire people who didn't support
your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or
being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being
black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political
machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.

White privilege is when you can take nearly twenty-four hours to
get to a hospital after beginning to leak amniotic fluid, and still be
viewed as a great mom whose commitment to her children is
unquestionable, and whose "next door neighbor" qualities make her
ready to be VP, while if you're a black candidate for president and
you let your children be interviewed for a few seconds on TV, you're
irresponsibly exploiting them.

White privilege is being able to give a 36 minute speech in which
you talk about lipstick and make fun of your opponent, while laying
out no substantive policy positions on any issue at all, and still
manage to be considered a legitimate candidate, while a black person
who gives an hour speech the week before, in which he lays out
specific policy proposals on several issues, is still criticized for
being too vague about what he would do if elected.

White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years
whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely
criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an
explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring
Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in
speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God's punishment
on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you're just
a good church-going Christian, but if you're black and friends with a
black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S.
Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of
U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its
effect on black people, you're an extremist who probably hates
America.

White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when
asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for
asking you such a "trick question," while being black and merely
refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly
means you're dodging the question, or trying to seem overly
intellectual and nuanced.

White privilege is being able to go to a prestigious prep school,
then to Yale and then Harvard Business school, and yet, still be seen
as just an average guy (George W. Bush) while being black, going to a
prestigious prep school, then Occidental College, then Columbia, and
then to Harvard Law, makes you "uppity," and a snob who probably looks
down on regular folks.

White privilege is being able to graduate near the bottom of your
college class (McCain), or graduate with a C average from Yale (W.)
and that's OK, and you're cut out to be president, but if you're black
and you graduate near the top of your class from Harvard Law, you
can't be trusted to make good decisions in office.

White privilege is being able to dump your first wife after she's
disfigured in a car crash so you can take up with a multi-millionaire
beauty queen (who you go on to call the c-word in public) and still be
thought of as a man of strong family values, while if you're black and
married for nearly twenty years to the same woman, your family is
viewed as un-American and your gestures of affection for each other
are called "terrorist fist bumps."

White privilege is when you can develop a pain-killer addiction,
having obtained your drug of choice illegally like Cindy McCain, go on
to beat that addiction, and everyone praises you for being so strong,
while being a black guy who smoked pot a few times in college and
never became an addict means people will wonder if perhaps you still
get high, and even ask whether or not you ever sold drugs.

White privilege is being able to sing a song about bombing Iran
and still be viewed as a sober and rational statesman, with the
maturity to be president, while being black and suggesting that the
U.S. should speak with other nations, even when we have disagreements
with them, makes you "dangerously naive and immature."

White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW
has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being
black and experiencing racism and an absent father is apparently among
the "lesser adversities" faced by other politicians, as Sarah Palin
explained in her convention speech.

And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could
possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with
George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is
skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and
the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because a
lot of white voters aren't sure about that whole "change" thing. Ya
know, it's just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more
years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.

Fred L. Nance Jr., President & CEO

Obama Says Regulation Must `Catch Up' With Markets

Obama Says Regulation Must `Catch Up' With Markets - Yahoo! News

Criminal thinking and behaving in the White House and the Republican party. This is what happens when you take "regulation" away as President Bush did. Greed and advantage for the "friends" of the Stock Market. We cannot afford to have 4 more years of "crooks" in the White House and the financial markets. McCain is part of this fiasco. McCain has voted 90% of the time with President Bush. McCain attempts to have us believe he has changed his course since taking on the Palin fiasco. Palin and her clan our under criminal and ethical investigation. How can anyone vote for a Presidential ticket with Palin attached to it?

I believe there is sexism involved in this campaign, and it is not coming from the Democrats. The sexism is coming from the female supporters of Palin and the Republicans. For some "strange" reason, which we of "color" understand, the Republican party and its band of women rights activist believe it is time for a female to be Vice President no matter the consequences or background. For example, these people believe they can force a person like Oprah Winfrey to have Palin on her show. Are they crazy? or maybe they think we are crazy. I know what its called, "White" privilege. Do you think for a moment that if this were a "black" female under criminal and ethical investigation she would have a chance of being supported by "white" America for Vice President? I don't think so. Racism continues flourishes in America and show its ugly head.

There is not a "liberal" and "conservative" America. There is the United States of America. We should start acting like it.

Melinda Gubbels & Kyra Peters: False Charges of Sexual Harrassment and Hostile Workplace

Update: January 11, 2009

Due to the nature of these offenses, the issues presented here are combined in the charges I have submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against WestCare Foundation, Inc. and the Illinois Department of Corrections.

I have filed 2 charges against WestCare Foundation, Inc. and the Illinois Department of Corrections. The file numbers are 440-2007-04512 and 440-2008-05507. Both cases have been amended appropriately. This is the only way to take care of institutional racism and indifferent treatment in the workplace.

Melinda Gubbels and Kyra Peters (white females) filed false charges against me for Sexual Harassment and Hostile Workplace in November of 2007. When it was time to come forward and give validity and testimony to their charge, neither Melinda or Kyra testified. Melinda took the day off, and WestCare Foundation, Inc.'s Human Resource Director Michael Shields refused to call Kyra to testify. Neither individual was reprimanded for their false charges. Kyra was a supervisor. Melinda is now a supervisor.

After Mr. Shields' investigation of the false allegations he states "“…Allegations of harassment/hostile workplace against Mr. Nance were not substantiated….” Below is an account of the events from beginning to end. Also, I talk about the continued harassment, intimidation and threats from June 6, 2006 when I went against the strike at Sheridan Correctional Center.

November 8, 2007

WestCare Foundation, Inc.
Michael Shields, Senior Vice President Human Resources
900 Grier Drive
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119

Re: Fred Nance Jr. – WestCare Employee Discussion Report

Mr. Shields:

Pursuant to WestCare Foundation, Inc.’s Open Door Policy, Reporting Procedure Regarding Unlawful Discrimination and Unlawful Harassment and Protection against Retaliation, I submit the following grievance/complaint, along with other grievances filed:

On November 8, 2007 at approximately 3:10 pm I received a WestCare Employee Discussion Report (“Report”) from the Director of WestCare Illinois Sheridan, Mr. Stanley Brooks. I was summoned to meet with Mr. Brooks by Ms. Sandy Smith, Assistant Director. Present at the meeting was Mr. James Carr, Assistant Director, and Ms. Jacquelyne Stinson, Human Resource Manager.

The WestCare “Report” states, in part, “…There has been one allegation of harassment and one formal complaint in regards to staff relations…You are placed on paid administrative leave while WestCare conducts investigations into the allegations noted above.” I asked Mr. Brooks to identify my accuser so I can defend against these bogus charges. Mr. Brooks informed me I was not privy to and/or he did not have the information at the moment for me. Mr. Brooks informed me someone from WestCare would get in touch with me regarding this “Report”.

Sir, these are false allegations. I am being harassed and intimidated by WestCare staff at Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan). I am being treated indifferent from other employees, and this “Report” is a form of retaliation. I am suffering emotional distress and mental anguish due to the nefarious and malicious acts of WestCare staff at Sheridan.

I have filed numerous grievances, which I requested addressing by WestCare Nevada. These grievances have not been addressed by WestCare management at Sheridan. They have been ignored. The grievances I filed required an investigation, to which I have not been informed of any investigation; nor has anyone who I named in my grievances been given an “administrative leave” as I have received. This is indifferent treatment.

At this time, I believe I am being singled out and targeted for harassment and intimidation to further advance the notion of the WestCare staff promoting this discrimination that I am the problem at Sheridan. The problem lies with those who will stop at nothing to humiliate and embarrass me, possibly leading to my termination from WestCare. I am the solution to client behavioral change at Sheridan with my innovative care for the clients. I know these clients better than anyone at Sheridan because I have been where they have been. No other staff at Sheridan can promote such a charge.

It also appears this “Report” mirrors the allegations of Jerry Pomush and Mary Gaston when Mary and I were competing for supervisor (see grievance dated February 5, 2007). Now that I am in competition for Assistant Director, I have someone else bringing false allegations and charges against me, attempting to assassinate my character.

This “Report” uses the term “formal” complaint. Is this grievance and my previous grievances considered “formal” complaints? A grievance gives a reason for a “complaint” or implies “resentment” or is a “formal objection.” A complaint is a “statement of unhappiness” or “something making somebody unhappy” or “expresses unhappiness” or a “formal charge.” In my written statements, as this one, I have always utilized the terms grievance/complaint in addressing the disheartening issues and the discriminatory acts I have faced at Sheridan by WestCare staff.

Sir, can you explain why my grievances/complaints have stopped at the “Sheridan” door? Have they reached your office? Should my grievances/complaints be afforded the same treatment as my accusers of this “Report”? When I wrote my grievances/complaints, I did not hesitate giving my name; therefore, affording the object of my grievances/complaints the opportunity to face their accuser.

The grievances/complaints that I requested an address from WestCare Nevada (The Corporate Office) and have not been answered by The Corporate Office have the following dates: December 26, 2006, January 13, 2007, February 5, 2007, April 29, 2007, May 28, 2007, and September 10, 2007. Most of these grievances/complaints were not even addressed by WestCare Sheridan staff. Mr. Brooks talked to me about the grievance written on September 10, 2007. When talking to Mr. Brooks I named the individuals whose names I omitted in the grievance/complaint. I explained to Mr. Brooks that I omitted the names because of how I transmitted the grievance/complaint to him. Mr. Brooks told me this grievance was forwarded up the chain. I believed this to mean it went to the corporate office of WestCare Foundation, Inc., which is Nevada.

I am not sure of WestCare’s response time but it will be 2 months on November 12, 2007 since filing the grievance/complaint. It appears the “allegations/complaint” against me is more important than mine. Sir, this is indifferent treatment.

WestCare Regional Vice President, Leslie Balonick, has talked to me (off the record) many times about my “writings” (grievances) addressing the character and behavior of WestCare staff at Sheridan. These conversations were not taken in an official capacity of addressing a grievance/complaint. The way I have received her conversation to me was as if I am resented because I utilized the grievance procedure of WestCare Foundation, Inc. Most recently, she mentioned my writings during my interview for Assistant Director on November 6, 2007. It is very peculiar I am accused of harassment and “negative” staff relations, occurring on November 7, 2007 after this interview process. This paragraph in no way is accusatory toward Ms. Balonick. I do not think she is my accuser here.

It was my impression from the interview that I was marked as a bad candidate for Assistant Director because of utilizing the grievance procedure. Ms. Balonick asked many questions, in different ways, about my interactions with WestCare staff at Sheridan. I informed her then I had mended most of the relationships since the strike of June 6, 2006, where many WestCare staff targeted me because I opposed the strike and talked about the character and behavior of the staff on strike, posting on my website.

Sir, it is not hard to understand why WestCare staff at Sheridan would want me out of the way. As I informed Ms. Balonick and Mr. Brooks during my interview for Assistant Director, I am the best qualified person for that position at Sheridan. I informed them that no one working at the facility has more life experiences or clinical work experiences than I. I informed them I have a total of 42 years experience dealing with the population at Sheridan.

Someone has encouraged my accuser to file the complaint against me. This conspiracy to undermine my character and behavior is ongoing. I have asked many times that management support my integrity, character and behavior against the malicious and nefarious attacks against me at Sheridan by WestCare staff. Ms. Balonick once told me I might be paranoid about the attacks I alleged against my character and behavior. I am not delusional or paranoid about the character of acts against me. It is obvious.

Sir, is this the way WestCare Foundation, Inc. takes care of their dedicated, responsible and professional employees? Am I to have no rest from these attacks on my character and behavior? I do have positive relationships at Sheridan, both from many WestCare and IDOC staff. There are many employees on both sides of the isle at Sheridan that respect me because I earned their respect. I have humbled myself and accepted a lot of adversity to build these positive relationships. I should not have to comprise my integrity.

Nevertheless, there will be those that will never be satisfied with my character change, my ethical stance on issues of character and appropriate behavior. They will continue unless management stands up for me and says stop the aggressive behavior against Nance. It appears all they can see is that I am a threat to them because of my undeniable abilities to facilitate change in the clients and staff due to my years of life’s experiences.

Wherefore, I proclaim the allegations and charges of harassment and staff relations against me are intimidating, threatening and discriminatory in nature. I should be reinstated to my position immediately, while an investigation is pending on these allegations and charges, and while my grievances/complaints are investigated and given a determination as similarly situated employees of WestCare Foundation, Inc.

Respectfully submitted,

Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS

cc:

Leslie Balonick, Stanley Brooks, Sandy Smith, James Carr and Janel Smith (EEOC)
All grievances filed with WestCare Foundation, Inc. attached

November 16, 2007

WestCare Foundation, Inc.
Michael Shields, Human Resources
900 Grier Drive
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119

Re: WestCare Employee Discussion Report of 11.8.07

Mr. Shields:

On November 15, 2007 I received an email from the Director of WestCare Sheridan, Stanley Brooks, requesting I report to work on November 16, 2007 to address the allegations against me. Mr. Brooks informed me I would be meeting with my accuser Melinda Gubbels, the Director of Human Resources for WestCare Michael Shields, my Assistant Director James Carr and himself. I supervise Ms. Gubbels.

On or about October 26, 2007 I informed Ms. Gubbels that a client on her caseload was getting a writing consequence from me because of his negative behaviors. I informed Ms. Gubbels I had spoken to this client to let him know he was getting this consequence. I informed Ms. Gubbels she would be responsible for following up with the client to assure he completed his writing assignment. Ms. Gubbels agreed to follow up with the client.

As a normal practice of mine, when I finish completing a written consequence form on a client, I hand the client his copy. When I completed the form I handed the form to the client, while he was in group. The client was expecting the consequence. Ms. Gubbels immediately left her group, which was in progress, and came over to the other side of building to tell me I better stay out of her group.

Ms. Gubbels knows she is never to leave her group alone, while in progress. Mr. Brooks informed me once that a counselor should never leave their group unattended while in progress. Ms. Gubbels also stated, as she walked away from me, that I better stay away from her group when she is facilitating it. Ms. Gubbels was very irate, disrespectful and insubordinate to me. The group Ms. Gubbels was facilitating saw her giving me a reprimand because she was in the hall talking to me, giving me negative hand gestures, stating going back into her group, “you heard what I said.”

I met with Ms. Gubbels in my office to have an informal meeting during our break to discuss her character and behaviors. Ms. Gubbels became even more irate with me telling me I better stay out of her group. I informed Ms. Gubbels I am supposed to monitor the groups of all staff. I informed Ms. Gubbels I would address this behavior and the previous behaviors in a supervision report. Ms. Gubbels responded telling me to do what I had to do, but that I better stay out of her group.

I informed my supervisor James Carr. Mr. Carr suggested I conduct a supervision to address these issues. Mr. Carr also suggested I report and address this behavior on Ms. Gubbels’ yearly evaluation, suggesting to Ms. Gubbels the character development I was looking for in the upcoming year. On November 2, 2007 I conducted the yearly evaluation on Ms. Gubbels using the WestCare Performance Appraisal Form. I addressed Ms. Gubbels’ insubordination. Ms. Gubbels did not score well on her yearly evaluation, specifically, in the areas of “cooperation with others and professional growth.” Ms. Gubbels refused to sign her evaluation, which she has the right to refuse.

On November 8, 2007 after I had received my WestCare Employee Discussion Report from the Director, and others in attendance, without knowing what the allegations were all about, I left building C8 and proceeded to walk toward the front gate to exit Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan). As I crossed the blacktop, Ms. Gubbels was coming toward me. I asked her where she going? Ms. Gubbles told me she had been called to C8.

Ms. Gubbels asked me, “What do they want with me in C8?” I told her I did not know, but maybe they wanted to ask her some questions about the inmate on her caseload who went to the hospital. I also told her that they may talk to her about the Employee Discussion Report I just received for harassment and staff relations. I also informed Ms. Gubbels I had just received a “paid administrative leave” from WestCare. I told Ms. Gubbels I was informed WestCare had to do an investigation on me before I could come back to work. I asked Ms. Gubbels if she knew anything about a harassment charge or was she a witness against me. Ms. Gubbels said no.

As I was driving home, I received 2 text messages from cell phone number 815-674-9266, which is Ms. Gubbels cell phone number. I did not initiate a call to Ms. Gubbels. The first text message stated, “Not a witness. I was asked about Kuhn and Hudson.” I sent a return text message stating, “Did we do anything wrong with that situation? I was there for following: there has been one allegation of harassment and one formal complaint in regards to staff relations. The dates are 11/2 and 11/7. You and I had our evaluation on 11/2. Is there anything I should know?” Ms. Gubbels sent a return text stating, “Not trying to burn you. There has to b something else.” I sent a return text message to Ms. Gubbels stating, “Thanks.” I did not ask Ms. Gubbels to text message me or call me about this issue.

Respectfully submitted,

Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS

November 19, 2007

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Ms. Janel Smith, Investigator
500 West Madison St., Suite 2800
Chicago, Illinois 60661

Re: EEOC Number 440-2007-04512 (Supplement to charge)

Ms. Smith:

WestCare management is purposely, maliciously and deliberately discriminating and retaliating against me for filing charges with EEOC against them, writing my Congressman, and using their grievance procedure. The “new” charges laid against me have no foundation, and do not address the only issue on the table, which has to be the dates November 2nd & 7th of 2007, which is on the first employee discussion report.

The discussion report of 11/16/07 giving a conclusion to the first employee discussion report states “…serious problems in communications between Mr. Nance; his subordinates; and his supervisors have been found to be ongoing, as well as a high number of complaints from inmates...Continued problems in this area may result in further disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.” This statement tells me that when they put me on "paid administrative leave" they were disciplining me. This means their investigation was meaningless because I was being disciplined for something they now say is unfounded.

This is ridiculous. What more do you need? There is nothing founded. WestCare’s statement is “…Allegations of harassment/hostile workplace against Mr. Nance were not substantiated….” The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) Sheridan Correctional Center’s (Sheridan) Adjustment Committee has severely punished an inmate for engaging and promoting other inmates to write grievances on me. The management at Sheridan is aware of this move by IDOC. WestCare management has decided to punish me anyway. It is retaliatory in nature due to the issues I raised in my grievances, which they have not addressed as they do with similarly situated employees, and the writing to Congressman Danny Davis about this employee discussion report. Please acknowledge receipt of this email. I will also send the 2 employee discussion reports by fax to you. What relief will EEOC give me? Let me know if you can open up the attachments I sent by email.

Respectfully submitted,

Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS

Zimbabwe deal sees Mugabe cede some power

Zimbabwe deal sees Mugabe cede some power - Yahoo! News

Finally, Justice for all. We as African American and Africans have to stop fighting each other. We have to share whatever wealth our people have. Sharing brings unity and justice for all. We have to learn how to share the power. Let us not be the crab in barrel.

Alaska lawmakers vote to subpoena Todd Palin

Alaska lawmakers vote to subpoena Todd Palin - Yahoo! News

Will Palin abuse her power if she becomes Vice-President? Is she ready and prepared to become Vice-President? Does McCain think America is stupid?

The 5 McCain Videos Everyone Needs to See - New link for those who could not open the others

Hello,

If you have trouble opening the pages copy and paste in address then play the site. Check it out!!!

Try this link

If you couldn't open the links below, here is a much better link.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mccain&search_type=&search=Search




My Friend,
Let everyone in your spere of influence know the truth. We have to stop the madness now!
DRM

---

It is my belief that as a member of the American public we should become well informed on the issues and then judge for ourselves. Please forward this on to others and keep them in the loop.

I received this message yesterday and watched the videos. I am no fan of McCain, but the videos still surprised me. After looking at them on You Tube, I looked at some related videos, including several of McCain either totally avoiding answering veterans questions about why he voted against increasing the tuition benefit (the GI bill was allowing $650 a month for books, tuition, fees and housing), and even more importantly, health benefits, or putting down the veterans who asked why he had done so. His only answer was that he had been endorsed by the "major veterans' organizations." I was really shocked that this man who is a kind of "professional veteran" would be so callous to the needs of veterans who didn't luck out by marrying a multimillion dollar heiress.

The Real McCain 2 reached an astonishing 4 million views last week, just as the McCain campaign was trotting out lie after lie at the Republican National Convention. Coincidence? We don't think so. To us, this unprecedented number suggests that the public is desperately seeking the truth about John McCain -- a truth the corporate press still isn't providing.

We're hearing reports of a lot of hand-wringing from people who are scared and don't know what to do. So we came up with a way to put that nervous energy to good use! Join the McCain Truth Squad and a couple of times a week we will send you McCain videos for you to forward on with a personal note to your friends, colleagues and family members.

Join the McCain Truth Squad: http://www.blogger.com/

To get you started, below are five videos that present the Real McCain: an elitist out of touch with hard-working Americans; a double talker who supports a costly war in Iraq but won't support our veterans. Forward this email on. This is the McCain everyone should know.

1. The Real McCain 2: Watch as McCain's YouTube problem became his nightmare in the video that received over 4 million views.
http://www.blogger.com/

2. Less Jobs. More Wars: What is this 'Iraq war' charge on my bill?
http://www.blogger.com/

3. John McCain vs. John McCain: Tell McCain to get off the Double Talk Express.
http://www.blogger.com/

4. McCain's Spiritual Guide: The video that caused McCain to renounce Rev. Rod Parsley's bigoted endorsement.
http://www.blogger.com/

5. Why Won't McCain Sign the GI Bill? Presenting the most blatant hypocrisy of the McCain campaign.
http://www.blogger.com/

Imagine how differently people would regard McCain if they saw all five of these videos and learned the truth. That's why we want you to forward this e-mail to everyone and anyone with a personal note at the top from you. Why send these videos individually when you can send them all at once? Also, get them on all the blogs and traditional news sites you can. Make sure you're doing everything you can to educate the public about the Real McCain.

Fred L. Nance Jr., President & CEO

As basic as you can get: Your the Boss: who would you hire???

And can we add to Senator Obama's qualifications that he taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago for 12 years (1992 to 2004) which is the study of the interpretation and implementation of the United States Constitution - the foundation of the United States of America!!!!!

Senator Obama is an expert in knowing and understanding the elements of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights in the areas of (just to name a few):

Relationships among the states

The States and the Federal Government

The 3 Branches of the Government (Executive, Legislature, Judiciary)

The Human and Civil Rights of individuals in relation to both Federal and State Government

Affirmative Action and Discrimination

Search and Seizure Protections

Eminent Domain

Voting Rights

Prisoner's Rights

Freedom of Information

Grand Jury Proceedings

Why are we not seeing more published information on this great aspect of his qualification and experience? Let's make sure it's a topic of discussion. He is more than qualified! Probably more so than any other presidential candidate, would you agree?

Sadly what makes total sense does not always occur, the fact that people would even consider voting for those 2 ,is scary. -- America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, skyrocketing Federal spending, 1 in 11 homeowners in some form of foreclosure or behind on mortgage, bank foreclosures, unemployment at a 5 year high, etc. etc., Let's look at the educational background of your two options for this 4-8 year job assignment: Obama: - Occidental College - Two years. - Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations. - Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude & Biden: - University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science. - Syracuse Univers ity College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.) vs. McCain: - United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899 & Palin: - Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester - North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study - University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism - Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester - University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism Now, which team are you going to hire? See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. See Now

Fred L. Nance Jr., President & CEO

Illinois Budget Cuts: Senator Emil Jones hesitates on restoring social services funding

Galesburg Radio 14...WGIL - Local News First

Illinois Budget Cuts

THANK YOU, Fred!

The House passed both SB 790 and SB 1103 yesterday. SB 790 provided the revenue stream and SB1103 restored the DASA cuts. Efforts now move to the Senate – we must ask all Senators to urge leadership to convene session in Springfield immediately and to concur on SB 790 and SB 1103. Please contact any and all Senators to assist in this effort.

THANK YOU,

Sara

Fred L. Nance Jr.

State of Illinois 95th General Assembly: Vote on Senate Bill 1103

The House of Representatives for the Illinois General Assembly voted to restore funding on September 10, 2008. A "Yea" vote is for yes. A "Nay" vote is for no. The State of Illinois, 95th General Assembly, House Roll Call for this vote is 118 members. There were 113 "Yea" votes, 0 "Nay" votes, and 5 excused absences. The excused absences went to:

Representative Suzanne Bassi,54th Dist - Republican
Representative Mike Fortner, 95th Dist - Republican
Representative Elizabeth Hernandez, 24th Dist - Democrat
Representative Sandra Pihos, 42nd Dist - Republican
Representative Angelo Saviano, 77th Dist - Republican

I guess this issue was not important enough for these Representatives to show up for the service we pay them to participate in that affect our lives.

State of Illinois 95th General Assembly: Vote on Senate Bill 790

The Illinois General Assembly House of Representatives voted on Senate Bill 790. Bill 790 is the funding dollars for Senate Bill 1103. As you can see from examination of this list of State Representatives voting, some believe Bill 1103 should not be funded. Those who believe funding should not be restored must be okay with criminal activity, recidivism, substance abuse and alcoholism. I guess they believe the disintegration of families and community are not important. We can also assume they are against funding the Sheridan Project at Sheridan Correctional Center. The Representatives who voted "Nay" cannot believe the Sheridan Project is a National Model for America. What side of the coin are we playing with at this time? What is the name of the game today? What is the future of our communities? Will our communities continue to deteriorate under this legislative body of individuals who believe they should vote along "party" lines no matter the cost?

A "Yea" vote is for yes. A "Nay" vote is for no. The State of Illinois, 95th General Assembly, House Roll Call for this vote is 118 members. There were 97 "Yea" votes, 16 "Nay" votes, and 5 excused absences. The excused absences went to:

Representative Suzanne Bassi,54th Dist - Republican
Representative Mike Fortner, 95th Dist - Republican
Representative Elizabeth Hernandez, 24th Dist - Democrat
Representative Sandra Pihos, 42nd Dist - Republican
Representative Angelo Saviano, 77th Dist - Republican

I guess this issue was not important enough for these Representatives to show up for the service we pay them to participate in that affect our lives.

To make it easier to identify those who oppose funding substance abuse and alcohol treatment from this list with their "Nay" vote, I will note their names:

Representative Bob Biggins of the 41st District - Republican
Representative Sandy Cole of the 62nd District - Republican
Representative Jack Franks of the 63rd District - Democrat
Representative Brent Hassert of the 85th District - Republican
Representative Renee Kosel of the 81st District - Republican
Representative Michael McAuliffe of the 20th District - Republican
Representative Bill Mitchell of the 87th District - Republican
Representative Ruth Munson of the 43rd District - Republican
Representative Harry Ramey of the 55th District - Republican
Representative Dennis Reboletti of the 46th District - Republican
Representative Timothy Schmitz of the 49th District - Republican
Representative Aaron Schock of the 92nd District - Republican
Representative Keith Sommer of the 106th District - Republican
Representative Ed Sullivan of the 51st District - Republican
Representative Michael Tryon of the 64th District - Republican
Representative Ronald Wait of the 69th District - Republican

I guess we can see what "political party" wants to dismantle the social service system in Illinois and decimate our communities. I guess Representative Jack Franks forgot what "party" he belongs too. I guess substance abuse and alcoholism does not exist in the Districts voting "Nay" for restoring funding to DASA. Something is wrong with this picture. Are there any questions you would like to ask of your representatives?

Illinois General Assembly - Representative Paul D Froehlich, 56th District

Illinois General Assembly - Representative Biography

Mr. Froehlich called me today at 5:33 pm on September 10, 2008 informing me he was on the "Floor" discussing the issues of Budget Cuts with his colleagues. Mr. Froehlich is from the "greater" Schaumburg Illinois District. Mr. Froehlich believes they will or have found monies to restore services. Mr. Froehlich believes the House will vote to approve funding. Mr. Froehlich informed me it will be left up to the Illinois Senate to approve.

Out of 177 faxes sent to the Illinois General Assembly members, Mr. Froehlich is the only one who has acknowledge receipt of his fax. Hopefully, others will follow suit and restore the funding of services for substance abuse and alcholism. Mr. Froehlich concurred with me that incarceration will cost much more than services.

Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois Legislature Opens the Door to its Constituents to suffer Substance Abuse and Crime in their Communities

Update: September 11, 2008

September 11, 2008

Illinois General Assembly
Senators

The House passed both SB 790 and SB 1103 yesterday. SB 790 provided the revenue stream and SB1103 restored the DASA cuts. Efforts now move to the Senate – we must ask all Senators to urge leadership to convene session in Springfield immediately and to concur on SB 790 and SB 1103. Please contact any and all Senators to assist in this effort.

THANK YOU,
Sara

I received this email and posted it on my blogs. I sent all Illinois Senators and House of Representatives legislators’ faxes on Monday, September 8, 2008 regarding this matter. The only Illinois General Assembly person to contact me on this issue was the Honorable Paul Froehlich of the 56th District of Illinois.

Please act on this matter immediately to restore the budget cuts to DASA.

Thank you.

Fred Nance Jr.

Sara:

I am sending this correspondence by fax to all Illinois General Assembly members of the Senate. I have confirmation by my technical apparatus that each Senate person received my fax sent on Monday, September 8, 2008, which you are in receipt. I will reproduce the list of the Illinois General Assembly members I sent my faxes too upon your request, along with the individual fax numbers I sent my correspondence too. I will also post this correspondence on my blogs so the world will know how responsible our Illinois legislators are in taking care of their constituents.

This is the message sent to the Illinois General Assembly Senate members recorded on the fax cover sheet.

Illinois Senators:

Please review and respond by restoring the funding to DASA. Please do not think this dilemma will bypass your constituents and their communities. The impact of substance abuse and alcoholism affects us all.

The time is short. If we do not head-off the criminal thinking and behaving of substance abuse and alcoholism, it will capture our communities and the outcomes will be devastating. The time to act is now. The money has been found to restore the budget of DASA. Come aboard and join the fight against drug abuse, alcoholism, crime and recidivism.

cc:

Sara Howe, Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA)
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
http://clickforjusticeandequality.wordpress.com/
http://click.townhall.com/
http://www.frednance.newsvine.com/

Update: September 10, 2008

On September 9, 2008 Alderman and Chairperson of the Committee on Health, Ed Smith, held an agenda in Chicago's City Council Chambers on the state of the Budget Cuts of Illinois Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois General Assembly. I presented testimony and the writing below. I left the writing below for other City Council members of Chicago, which were not present.

I informed the City Council members that I faxed the writing below to all 177 Illinois General Assembly members, having confirmation of receipt for them. I informed them that Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois General Assembly have basically dismantled the Illinois social service system. I informed them that not only can I not get funding for my company to provide services to those who suffer from substance abuse and alcoholism, I cannot obtain employment because of the budget cuts.

What was also surprising and I spoke out about it was when I heard about this City Council meeting I imagined the Chicago City Council Chambers would be filled to the rafters dut to the impact it would have on our communities, such as an increase in criminal thinking and behaving. I informed the City Council members present that no community would be immune to the onslaught of crime and this dilemma.

About 50 senior citizens of McHenry County were in attendance, among other social service agency personnel and customers. There were about 5 City Council members present for this hearing. I was amazed at the non-presence of all Chicago City Council members. Are these people blind to what is going on here? Do they think their communities will be safe with the budget cuts and the dismantling of Illinois' social service system? The voters should beware of who they have in office.

Update: September 8, 2008

September 7, 2008

Illinois General Assembly

My name is Fred Nance Jr. I am writing and sending this correspondence advocating for the Human/Social Service agencies and our clients. The correspondence accompanying this cover letter responds to the Illinois Budget Cuts effecting substance abuse and alcohol treatment. The Budget Cuts handed down by Governor Blagojevich and this Assembly has dismantled needed services to this population. Along with my colleagues and peers, I cannot obtain funding for my company or employment because of Governor Blagojevich’s Budget Cuts.

I am President and CEO of C.L.I.C.K. Services, NFP. C.L.I.C.K. is a not-for-profit social service agency. My website is http://www.clickservices.org/. Prior to the development of C.L.I.C.K., I was a victim of substance abuse and alcoholism for 27 years.

I am 59-years-old. For 27 years I was involved in criminal thinking and behaving due to substance abuse and alcoholism, leading to incarceration on January 16, 1992 at the age of 42 for drug related crimes. Upon entry into the Cook County jail at the age of 42 I did not have a G.E.D. I achieved my G.E.D. in the Cook County jail. When I entered the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) in July of 1992 I started taking courses at Lakeland and Kaskaskia Colleges before taking college courses with Roosevelt University. When I was released from IDOC on December 20, 1994, I continued at Roosevelt University’s Chicago Downtown Campus. I achieved my Bachelor and Master Degree from Roosevelt University in Social Science and Community Counseling, respectively. I will complete my PhD in Human Services focusing on Social Policy Analysis and Planning in the Fall/Winter session of 2008 with Walden University.

I attended a NBC Channel 5 press conference promoted by the Honorable Congressman Danny Davis on Saturday, September 6, 2008, regarding the recent budget cuts impacting social services. Press conference speakers included Congressman Danny Davis, Raphael Rivera of Healthcare Alternative Systems, Skip Land of Safe Haven, Melody Heaps of T.A.S.C. and Anthony Cole of Haymarket Center.

This correspondence and its attachments are being sent to all Illinois General Assembly members, that is, House of Representatives and Senators. The attachments have been posted on my blogs at http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/, http://click.townhall.com/, http://clickforjusticeandequality.wordpress.com/ and http://www.frednance.newsvine.com/.

During our roundtable discussions, before the press conference on Saturday, September 6, 2008, I requested the social service agency in attendance to ask their clients/customers/consumers and laid-off employees to develop blogs on the Internet to tell their story of how the budget cuts of Governor Blagojevich and the Illinois General Assembly are affecting their substance abuse and alcohol treatment. I asked them to assist them in developing these blogs if they are unable to do it for themselves.

FY 09 budget cuts issued through The Illinois Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (DASA) will decimate the statewide substance abuse treatment and case management system that serves courts and probation. A total of $110 million ($55 in State funds plus an additional $55 in Federal matching dollars) will be eliminated from a $250 million budget, reducing funding to 43% less than last year’s funding levels.

Budget Cuts Result in Thousands Being Denied Critical Services:

An estimated 42,000 people will lose access to treatment services in the next year across the State of Illinois.

Budget Cuts Clog the Criminal Justice System:

The Illinois criminal justice system makes more referrals to publicly funded substance abuse treatment than any other entity, totaling 35% of all referrals to treatment.

The Illinois State’s funding cuts will drastically reduce treatment as a sentencing option.

The justice system will be left with no resources but to release addicted offenders back to the community, hold them indefinitely in already overcrowded jails or send even more nonviolent offenders to prison.

Action Is Needed Now—Delays Increase Costs:

The longer the funding cuts remain in effect the damage caused will cost more and take longer to repair. As clinical staff is laid off across the State of Illinois, and as people in need are turned away from services, it will take far longer to rebuild the system currently being dismantled by Governor Blagojevich and Illinois State Legislature.

Increased County Jail Costs:

With severely diminished or eliminated treatment, an estimated 4,540 offenders this year could wait even longer in jail for disposition (2,880 in Cook County Illinois and 1,660 outside of Cook County Illinois).

For every additional 30 days 4,540 individuals spend in jail (at an estimated $125/day in Cook County Illinois and $70/day outside of Cook County Illinois), it will cost Illinois counties an estimated additional $14.3 million.

Increased State Prison Cost:

Treatment and case management cost an average of $4,425 per person (services are usually delivered over a year to a year and a half). By contrast, 1.5 years in prison (a typical sentence for nonviolent, drug-involved offenders) costs an average of approximately $32,400.

With severely diminished or eliminated treatment, if judges send 4,540 defendants to prison instead of supervised community-based treatment, the State of Illinois could pay an additional estimated $127 million in prison costs.

THE ILLINOIS STATE’S LEADERSHIP MUST WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY A REVENUE SOURCE AND RESTORE FUNDING TO COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT SERVICES IMMEDIATELY.

THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH SHOULD NOT HOLD THE STATE OF ILLINOIS CITIZENS HOSTAGE TO VIOLENCE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE A POINT TO EACH OTHER.

THE BUDGET CUTS BY GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH AND THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE COULD HAVE TAKEN A 5% CUT ACROSS THE BOARD TO MEET BUDGET DEMANDS.

GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH AND THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE DID NOT CUT THE SHERIDAN PROJECT, WHICH PROVIDES SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT TO INMATES AT SHERIDAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER.

WHAT SENSE DOES IT MAKE TO PROVIDE SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT TO CRIMINAL INCARCERATED IF THERE IS NO VIABLE, SUPPORTIVE, COMPREHENSIVE AND OPTIMAL AFTERCARE TREATMENT?

THE CITIZENS OF ILLINOIS WILL SUFFER TORMENT, INJUSTICE AND INCREASED CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, THEIR HOMES AND IN THE VERY LIVES.

WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO RESTORE THE BUDGET FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT? WHO WILL BE THE FIRST TO STAND FOR “REAL” JUSTICE?

Budget Cuts FY09 Fact Sheet 8 Aug 08 (2)

---

Illinois' Healthcare Crisis:

Budget Cuts are Decimating the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment System

Facilities have closed doors; discontinued services; and forced thousands onto waiting lists

Statewide Effects of Budget cuts

Ø $43 million cut from addiction services; more than $11 million cut from programs serving women and children, youth in treatment, youth in the community court system, and people addicted to methamphetamine

Ø Cuts have reduced the treatment system by 43 percent, a brutal and indiscriminate reduction that has devastated treatment providers across the state

Ø Many providers have closed intake programs, discharged clients, cut services, and laid off staff.

Ø Approximately 42,140 people will go without critical treatment services that are essential to making them productive taxpaying citizens.

Ø Budget reductions will result in a loss of $55 million in federal matching dollars.

Ø Loss of GRF dollars coupled with loss of matching federal dollars will result in an 85 percent reduction of the prevention service system, forcing many prevention providers to close their doors.

Ø Illinois already spends approximately $3 billion on the consequences of untreated addiction, including: crime, lost worker productivity, fatal vehicle crashes, higher insurance premiums, school dropout, teen pregnancies, child abuse and domestic violence; a 43 percent reduction will cost the state $4.3 billion to deal with untreated addiction.

Effects of Budget Cuts on Constituents

Ø Include here the short and long-term effects of the budget cuts on your agency.

Ø Consider staff cuts, closed programs, decreased services, longer waiting lists, fewer clients served, decreased prevention services.

Ø The more specific you can be the better.

Ø Try to provide specific numbers in terms of losses, numbers turned away/not served, percentage decreases in services etc.

Action Needed NOW

Ø The leadership of the State of Illinois must work together to identify a revenue source and restore funding to community-based treatment and prevention services.

Ø A $55 million cut to our system, a system that has served the people of this state for more than 3 decades, will turn thousands of people in treatment today out on to the streets, and will deny access to thousands more who desperately need our services.

Ø By attempting to balance the budget on the back of Illinois' most vulnerable citizens, the state is also turning away $43 million the federal government is willing to give this state to serve thousands of people!!

Ø This cannot stand! The leadership must identify a revenue source and restore treatment funding!!!

Nothing was cut from Governor Blagojevich's Sheridan Project, which offers substance abuse treatment to reduce recidivism. These budget cuts will not reduce recidivism. Crime will increase in our communities. I will write an essay on this issue next week.

Fred L. Nance Jr., President & CEO
ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
C.L.I.C.K. Services, NFP
http://www.clickservices.org/

McCain's speech

Joe Biden <info@barackobama.com> wrote:

Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2008 00:59:54 -0400;
From: Joe Biden <info@barackobama.com>
Subject: McCain's speech

Fred -- John McCain just accepted the Republican nomination and adopted the most conservative platform in the history of his party. After days of negative attacks -- and no mention of real proposals to fix our economy, get more people health care, or make America safer -- the party that brought you eight years of disastrous policies is asking for four more. Well, not if we have anything to say about it. Across this nation, people like you have joined this movement because you believe that we are better than the past eight years. And now that we are entering the final stretch, it's going to take all of us to bring the change we need. Step up at this crucial moment and make a donation of $5 or more to change our country. After the last eight years, it's up to you to keep America's promise alive. How can John McCain pull us out of the deep hole we're in when he voted with George Bush more than 90% of the time? The American people deserve more than a 10% chance at change. No matter what McCain says, we can't bring about change by relying on the same ideas that have failed us for the last eight years. Show the McCain campaign that people coming together, giving what they can afford, and working toward a common purpose will transform this country. Change begins with you. Please make a donation of $5 or more now: http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/6f2167e9520a71a0/m5kp2N/VEsE/ Thanks for everything you're doing, Joe

Paid for by Obama for America This email was sent to: frednance@clickservices.org To unsubscribe, go to: http://my.barackobama.com/page/m/6f2167e9520a71a0/H8gCkg/VEsC/

Community organizers say they get no respect from GOP

Community organizers say they get no respect from GOP - Yahoo! News

This is why you need to know who you are voting for President of the United States. Community organizing addresses the issues of the common man/woman. If we did not have people organizing our communities, the "Big Boys" would not know what is happening on the ground floor.

Obama sends supporters to blunt Palin's impact

Obama sends supporters to blunt Palin's impact - Yahoo! News

Way to go. We should not lose focus. President George Bush is the reason the economy is in the basement. We cannot afford to have 4 more years.

Press Conference regarding Budget Cuts

Congressman Danny K.

Davis

Invites you to attend

A press conference

Regarding the recent

budget cuts

impacting social

services

On Saturday, September 6, 2008, at 12:15

p.m.

At the Annual State of

the District 2008

Malcolm X College -- 1900 W. Jackson

Chicago, IL

For additional Information, Please contact Tumia Romero, Office of

Congressman Danny K. Davis, at 773-533-7520 or

tumia.romero@mail.house.gov.

Ms. Tumia Romero

Office of Congressman Danny K. Davis

Deputy Chief of Staff

3333 W. Arthington, Suite 130

Chicago, IL 60624

773-533-7520 (office)

773-533-7530 (fax)

tumia.romero@mail.house.gov

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. This communication may contain material protected by HIPAA legislation (45 CFR, Parts 160 & 164) or by 42 CFR Part 2. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.