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Donna Gerber:
Making the Business Argument for Social Services

December 2002
by Richard Bermack

"Your jobs will become more important during the ongoing budget crisis, to advocate for your clients and for good public policy to the county supervisors, who are trying to figure out, what do you do amidst today’s reality?” Contra Costa County Supervisor Donna Gerber told 535 members at the Eligibility and Employment Services Committee retreat.

Gerber offered a long view of social services, relating her experience as a social worker and eligibility worker in the early 1970s, before she became a union representative and then a member of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. “We were struggling with caseloads back then,” she stated, noting that many things have only gotten worse. “In those days we didn’t think grants were high enough for people to live on. We couldn’t provide the services for people to move up in their lives, and that hasn’t changed. Back then we didn’t have the homelessness we have today because at least we provided enough of a safety net for a recipient to have a place to live. Also back then I could support our family on my salary alone, at that time $600 dollars a month. Now you have an economy that takes two working people.”

She went on to describe her perspective as a member of the board of supervisors, and to discuss what Local 535 members must do to effectively fight budget cuts. “You need to explain how the cuts will hurt your clients and the long term consequences. The long-term cost of putting poor people in a position where they are even more disadvantaged.” She described the need to spell out in economic terms the cost of cutting social services. “I urge you to analyze and quantify the human damage in financial terms and make the argument to both the county and state legislature. In the past that has been the role 535 has played and you need to continue that role.

“We need to make the business argument, and make Californians realize there is no free lunch in politics. You may remember the various proposals, we wanted to deal with the $23 billion deficit with one-third taxes, one-third cuts, and one-third bond revenue, but the Republicans stepped in and prevented new revenue. You have to help the state legislature have the courage to talk about new revenue. You have to put their feet to the fire.

“When I talk to people I represent, if I say how would you like an increase in taxes? They say, ‘No.’ But if I ask them, ‘Would you agree to a $60 dollar per year increase in your vehicle license fee if that meant we can keep mental health services for children, or library services?’ Then the same people who said, ‘Don’t increase taxes,’ now say, ‘Sure I would give $60 or even $100 dollars to keep those services.’ They don’t want to see more children living in cars. Your role is greatly needed. No one else will do it.

“If the state wants to be the largest economy in the nation, then they can’t cut human services. They need to connect the dots of what the dollars mean,” Gerber concluded.