I’m feeling deep disappointment about the explosive situation in the Washington County Court. What are the sick motivations of that handful of county Justices who see themselves as keepers of the purse and deciders of who deserves help and who should suffer?
Our homeless population (roughly 2000 souls) is 30% long-term homeless, 33% veterans, and 33% CHILDREN. Why would a county government, in the midst of a pandemic, immediately after a killing arctic vortex, who just approved their budget and found it comfortably plush … why would they choose to let needy people, veterans, and CHILDREN suffer like this? There are many housed now, but facing eviction, who may be forced into homelessness when here is money for help. Real community leaders would not make this choice.
The situation is so intransigent that last Monday one progressive Justice quit. She was a voice pushing to use the money for community assistance, and left feeling as hopeless and upset as many of us feel now. I hope no other progressive Justice gives up in disgust. It’s heartbreaking, but walking away only leaves the heartless holding the cash with fewer voices present to stand up for those in need.
This situation is shockingly inhumane. The Quorum Court in Benton County also has CARES Act money in a similar amount. Unlike Washington County, they are publicly discussing how to disburse the funds with relative openness. Our Justices are acting like they have something to hide. What are they hoarding this money for? Or for whom? It has actually been said that they need to save a “rainy day fund.” To fail to notice that for thousands of local people this is the biggest rainy day they’ve every had is a show of amazing blindness.
Working people struggling through a pandemic do not deserve this banal cruelty. Who elected these people? Who can un-elect these people? It needs serious consideration.
Thanks for the ping. I really hope people will see this as an opportunity to contact the Quorum Court and emphasize a more open alternative.