Friends and colleagues,

I'm sending this message as a service provider representative, advocate and resident concerned about the priorities being express in this year's budget process.

As everyone who has been following the FY 2001 D.C. budget this spring knows, so far it has been a disappointing year for low income and vulnerable residents.

Our elected officials are supposed to be the voice of the people. But this year fighting over the budget seems to have reached a new height, at the expense of desperately needed funding for critical programs.

Funds at risk include, but are certainly not limited to:

• Interim Disability Assistance: The D.C. Council Committee on Human Services recommended $4.3 million to implement assistance for residents waiting for SSI, but the full Council has cut those funds out.
• Homeless Shelter Services: The Mayor cut funding from $16.3 million in 2000 to $13.4 million in his proposed 2001 budget. The D.C. Council Committee on Human Services recommended an additional $3 million, but the full Council has cut those funds out.
• The Earned Income Tax Credit for working individuals and families needs $3.9 million for a 10% refundable EITC.
• Tobacco settlement funds need to be directed toward improving the health of the District's vulnerable residents.

The D.C. Council meets next Tuesday, May 16 at 10:00 a.m. to vote on the 2001 Budget Request Act and Budget Support Act.

I hope that if you are concerned about the D.C. budget and the lack of priority on programs for those in our community who need help the most, you will consider emailing or calling in to the D.C. Politics Hour (hosted by Kojo Nnamdi, featuring Mark Plotkin).

You can email them at: pi@wamu.org

You can call them at:  1-800-433-8850

The show airs at noon on WAMU (88.5 FM), so if you email, it seems to be better to do so before noon.

Thank you,

T.J. Sutcliffe
So Others Might Eat (SOME)
(202) 797-1764