Gary Silbiger
NOTE: This is the third in a series of Culver City Progress election articles detailing the role of former Councilmembers and the views of the challengers on the important issues in Culver City. View the previous articles here and here. A scorecard for each issue is included at the end of the articles.
On August 25, 2008, the City Council had the opportunity to decide whether to grant $10,000 for a year of excellent legal representation by the Santa Monica office of Legal Aid for Culver City’s victims of domestic violence. We know Legal Aid for being in the forefront of providing legal assistance in various areas of civil law to low income people. Susan Millmann came to the City Council meeting that night for the umpteenth time, but what made this date unique was that the request for funds for the Domestic Violence Clinic she directs had finally made it on the Council’s agenda.
Millmann explained that the Domestic Violence Clinic helps victims of violence complete the many complicated documents needed to file in court, including a declaration for a Temporary Restraining Order, accompanies them to court, and provides referrals to social service agencies and counselors. Each client has a lawyer or paralegal spend 2 to 4 hours preparing both the documentation and the victim. Legal Aid has been representing an average of 50 Culver City residents per year – totaling 10% of its caseload - never having received a penny from the City for its services. Twelve percent of its Culver City clients are seniors, disabled, or both. The other cities in the Legal Aid program – Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica – paid their fair share. Only Culver City was having a free ride.
After Susan Millmann and Lee Welinsky, a long time Culver City volunteer in the Domestic Violence Clinic, spoke it was time to get down to business and certainly approve this worthy Culver City program. As a councilmember I made the motion for the City to pay $10,000 (averaging only $200 per Culver City client) to Legal Aid for their yearly assistance and Councilmember Chris Armenta quickly seconded it. Then came an unexpected response from the other 3 Councilmembers: we have no money. Never mind that these same Councilmembers have funded countless community activities, consultants, and the like, before and after this issue, and even on the night of August 25, 2008. After all, budget decisions are all about priorities, and this one obviously was not valued.
Councilmember Andy Weissman began by saying it was not the time to debate the role, if any, that local government should play addressing social problems. After weaving through a myriad of justifications for ignoring government’s responsibility to deal with “social problems," Weissman said the City should not spend any money on funding a Domestic Violence Clinic because the City might need the money for fixing potholes or trimming trees. Councilmembers Micheal O’Leary and Scott Malsin agreed the program was unworthy of financial support. The vote for issuing the $10,000 failed 2 to 3. Legal Aid, bless their big hearts, have continued to represent Culver City residents and pay for all expenses from their own sources.
This lack of City Council support for low income women trying to prevent violence shows several things about our council.
First, the majority vote is financially foolish. When victims of violence receive legal protection through the granting of a temporary restraining order, and the abuser is served a copy, it provides a measure of safety for the victim thus decreasing the visits of the police and medical personnel from the fire department, and lessens the inevitable court proceedings. The City saves money through this legal deterrent.
Second, the Councilmembers claim to be strong supporters of safety in our City, but only for certain people. Where is the City support for low income women, many of whom are seniors and disabled? “Safety” becomes a word that the public loves to hear from politicians, but words are meaningless unless they are backed up with actions.
Third, this vote showed the lack of ethics and morality on behalf of the majority because it is inhumane to turn our backs on any group in our community. We must insist that everyone is worthy of respect and assistance. Women historically have been victims of domestic violence and regularly get ignored by the elected officials and government employees, who often are men.
Culver City residents are compassionate, forward thinking people. We volunteer our time for numerous causes that improve the lives of those less fortunate. When federal, state, and county elections occur, Culver City selects the most progressive and humane candidates, for instance, Karen Bass, Curren Price, Holly Mitchell, and Mark Ridley Thomas. Yet we allow our City officials to regularly make backwards decisions that negatively affect both our community and our reputation.
FUNDING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CLINIC SCORECARD
August 25, 2008 Vote to Approve Domestic Violence Clinic Funding
Scott Malsin: F
Micheal O’Leary: F
Andrew Weissman: F
Gary Silbiger is the Co-Editor of the Culver City Progress Blog and the former Mayor of Culver City.
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