Gina Cuclis, member of the Sonoma County Board of Education, opened the public comments section of this week's City Council meeting with a challenge to the Council: Take a more active role in efforts to keep the Sonoma Developmental Center open, it's a local issue that needs leadership.
Clearly comparing the issue to last month's 5-0 vote in support of the Drake's Bay Oyster Co., Cuclis said, "I hope you would show the same conviction over what is a very local issue."
A State Task Force has been formed to examine the status of California's four Developmental Centers, and Sonoma's Assembly member Mariko Yamada will convene an informational meeting next Tuesday, June 25, to review their status.
Cuclis submitted her letter, which is reproduced below, as part of her public comment. Following that section of the Agenda, Mayor Ken Brown said to Cuclis and her colleagues, "I am more than willing to assist you, so if you reach out to me, I will help you."
Since the meeting, Mayor Brown has officially scheduled the item on the Council's Sept. 4 agenda. (Since the first Monday of Sept. is Labor Day, the meeting that week is on Wed.)
"My hope is this will provide an organizational platform for Sonoma Valley residents to voice their desire to keep SDC open and send a message to our state representatives," Cuclis told Patch.
"So far, the only organized voice trying to keep the facility open are the parents of residents. But I believe that overwhelmingly the people of Sonoma Valley support the parents' point of view. There's simply been no organized means to express it."
Following is the letter Cuclis presented to the City Council:
June 17, 2013
TO: Mayor Ken Brown
Councilman Steve Barbose
Councilman David Cook
Councilwoman Laurie Gallian
Councilman Tom Rouse
RE: Sonoma Developmental Center
Dear Members of the Sonoma City Council:
You displayed conviction in your opposition to closing the Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Marin County. I hope you will show as much conviction on a truly local issue — take a stand opposing the closing of the Sonoma Developmental Center.
SDC has been a part of our Valley community for 122 years. With nearly 1,200 employees, it is Sonoma Valley’s largest employer and one of the largest employers in Sonoma County. SDC provides good paying jobs employing professionals, such as doctors, dentists, nurses and therapists. The loss of these jobs will be harmful to our economy.
More importantly, SDC provides vital, life-saving services for a population of California’s most vulnerable residents.
The path the State is on, of closing down all developmental centers, ignores that there is a spectrum of needs among individuals with disabilities. Granted, there was time when too many individuals with developmental disabilities were institutionalized. But having the pendulum now swing to the complete opposite direction — assuming all people with disabilities will be fine in community care homes — is unrealistic. Community care homes are not necessarily appropriate for individuals who are medically fragile, or have behavior or mental health issues, or other particular needs.
There are opportunities for public-private partnerships at SDC in order to create revenue and expand its uses. All it takes is creative thinking and political will.
I believe we in Sonoma Valley should stand in solidarity with the families of SDC residents who are fighting to keep the facility open. Now is the time to act, because of the recent creation of the Future of the Developmental Centers Task Force, which has until November 15 to finish its work.
I ask that the Sonoma City Council to please pass a resolution supporting keeping SDC open. Send letters expressing this view to Sonoma County’s five state legislators, the governor, and the task force. All of the City of Sonoma residents I have spoken with about SDC want it to remain open. Your advocacy will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Gina Cuclis
Sonoma, CA 95476
