CDBG, Unfunded Mandates Claim Spotlight During 2005 Naco Legislative Conference Speakers and Delegates Sported U.S
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Inside this issue... NACo unveiled NACo stresses its juvenile the impact detention reform of unfunded project during mandates to the the 2005 Leg. House Reform Conference. Committee. See page 2. See page 7. Vol. 37 No. 5 • March 14, 2005 Research News Living wage looks at spring “The wisdom to know and concept alive training and the courage to defend the and well in whether it’s public interest” 26 counties a winner for nationwide. counties. See page 9. See page 11. National Association of Counties • Washington, D.C. www.naco.org • www.countynews.org Photo by David Hathcox County offi cials who served in the Vietnam War reach out to help fellow veterans up to the stage as they assemble for a group photo with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). McCain later addressed Leg- islative Conference delegates on immigration reform. CDBG, unfunded mandates claim spotlight during 2005 NACo Legislative Conference Speakers and delegates sported U.S. Attorney General Alberto leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) eliminate the COPS (Community A complete report on the 2005 Legis- “Save CDBG” buttons and NACo’s Gonzales defended the U.S.A. Pa- pledged her colleagues’ support for Oriented Policing Service) program, lative Conference will appear in the Board of Directors issued policy triot Act and urged delegates to sup- retaining the CDBG program. Sen. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) said, “If I March 28 issue of County News. strongly opposing the proposed de- port its renewal. Health and Human John McCain (R-Ariz.) also pledged sound frustrated or a little bit angry, mise of the Community Development Services Secretary Michael Leavitt his support for a “competitive” CDBG it’s because I am. We are shirking our U.S. Attorney General Block Grant program. said Medicaid was a large enough program “without earmarks.” responsibility to local offi cials.” Alberto Gonzales In the most well attended Legisla- problem to see, but a small enough House Government Reform Conference workshops drew Attorney General Alberto Gon- tive Conference in recent memory, problem to fi x now. Committee Chair Tom Davis (R- standing-room-only audiences and zales defended the U.S.A. Patriot federal budget proposals and their Housing and Urban Development Va.) alerted delegates about his ef- focused on issues as wide ranging as Act and said local governments that impact on county governments took Secretary Alphonso Jackson said local forts to review and close loopholes public safety interoperability and so- have passed resolutions opposing front and center stage along with a regulations are barriers to the develop- in the Unfunded Mandates Reform cial services in the 109th Congress. the Patriot Act were misinformed contingency of administration and ment of affordable housing. Act of 1995. And in an angry attack Following are some highlights of Capitol Hill leaders. From Capitol Hill: House Minority on the administration’s proposal to conference speeches and workshops. ■ See CONFERENCE on page 2 2 County News, March 14, 2005 HUD secretary calls for federal and local housing regulatory reform ■ CONFERENCE from page 1 said. Toward that goal the U.S.A. ground between Republicans and Patriot Act has “already protected Democrats on the issue, including or uninformed; and urged delegates our safety.” He said that powers the reduction of prescription drug to support its reauthorization during given under the act to law enforce- costs and lowering administrative remarks at the Opening General ment were instrumental in the quick costs. Session. arrest of Lisa Montgomery for the “There is the time in the life Government’s primary goal murder of Bobbie Jo Stinnett and of every problem where it’s big is to provide security, Gonzales the kidnapping of her unborn child. enough that you can see it, but small “The Patriot Act helped save one enough that you can solve it. And baby’s life” and has been critical that’s where we are with Medicaid,” to the nation’s most important suc- Leavitt said. cesses combating terrorism. He took on critics of the act, say- Housing and Urban ing it had not caused a single case Development Secretary of civil rights abuse and urged del- Alphonso Jackson egates to come forward if they were Housing and Urban Develop- aware of any abuses. He told del- ment Secretary Alphonso Jackson egates of his belief that “we should discussed the barriers to affordable be free to question the exercise of housing and what county govern- power by our government.” He also ments can do, in coordination said he would “not support changes with HUD, to ensure the dream of [to the act] that would make America homeownership for all Americans. Photo by David Hathcox more vulnerable.” According to Jackson, regulatory NACo Second Vice President Eric Coleman and Gwen Ifi ll, moderator and barriers are one of the key factors managing editor of Washington Week, share a backstage moment before Ifi ll’s Health and Human driving up the cost of homes. speech at the Opening General Session. Services Secretary “We believe that we must eradi- Mike Leavitt cate these kinds of barriers,” Jackson remove the regulatory barriers at the are growing out of control,” Jackson Mike Leavitt, secretary of the said. “As secretary, I’m asking HUD local level.” said. “It is simply unsustainable in its Photo by David Hathcox Department of Health and Hu- to remove all of the regulatory barri- Jackson also addressed his con- current form. We must bring Section Attorney General Alberto Gonzales man Services, spoke to delegates ers that impede you from doing your cerns about the sustainability of the 8 under control.” urges delegates to support the U.S.A. about Medicaid. Leavitt addressed job and when we do that, we’re go- Section 8 voucher program. Patriot Act. what he saw as areas of common ing to come to you and ask you to “It’s a fact that Section 8 costs ■ See CONFERENCE on page 3 NACo receives juvenile detention grant from Casey Foundation BY LESLEY BUCHAN detention centers, many operating improved admissions screening suited to other non-secure settings: PROJECT MANAGER above capacity. The Casey Founda- and addressing the disproportionate improved case processing: and a NACo launched its new project tion saw an opportunity for change number of minority youth in juvenile reduced detention rate for minority on juvenile detention reform during and became involved in juvenile detention, among others. Historically, youth. Multnomah County reports a a packed meeting of the Justice and system reform. juvenile justice systems have relied cumulative savings of more than $10 Public Safety Steering Committee According to Lubow, more on anecdotal information and not million in real taxpayer savings after at NACo’s 2005 Legislative than one-third of youth in juvenile hard facts and evidence to measure implementing JDAI strategies. Conference. detention are in for status offenses the success of reforms and improve- “We are very proud of what we NACo recently received a grant and technical violations. These are ments. have achieved in keeping kids out from the Annie E. Casey Foundation non-criminal behaviors, such as be- The Casey Foundation emphasiz- of unnecessary detention and redi- to conduct outreach and education to ing “unruly” or missing curfew. “The es data collection and demonstrable recting them to more appropriate county offi cials on the Juvenile De- kids we are talking about are not the outcomes as critical components in services. These services are a much tention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). ones committing violent crimes,” measuring the success of the counties healthier option for these youth,” The Casey Foundation has heavily in- said Lubow. they have funded to implement JDAI said Lisa Naito, Multnomah County vested resources in developing this Lubow went on to discuss how reform strategies. commissioner and chair of NACo’s model of juvenile justice reform, juvenile detention has not been driven Lubow highlighted the success Justice and Public Safety Courts which has been piloted in several by juvenile crime rates, but by the backed by data of three county JDAI Subcommittee. counties throughout the country. lack of coordination among system Photo by Donald Murray models: Cook County, Ill., Santa Cruz JDAI is currently being replicated The results from these county stakeholders and poor admissions Multnomah County, Ore. Commission- County, Calif. and Multnomah Coun- in several states and 50 counties na- JDAI project sites have been im- screening about who should and er Lisa Naito reports on her county’s ty, Ore. Upon rigorous evaluation, all tionally. pressive. Members of the Justice should not be brought into juvenile successful experience with the Juvenile three of these counties demonstrated NACo will be working to get and Public Safety Steering Com- detention. Detention Alternatives Initiative. substantial reductions in juvenile information on JDAI out to the mittee were the fi rst to hear from Statistics show that while juve- detention and juvenile crime. In broader county audience through the Casey Foundation on why this nile crime was actually decreasing, The objectives of JDAI are to: particular, Multnomah County had various types of technical assistance program is a model for success. juvenile detention increased. More- • eliminate inappropriate or un- historic problems with overcrowding activities. NACo will produce and Bart Lubow, director, Program over, there is a lingering effect on necessary use of secure detention in its juvenile detention facility prior distribute a publication on JDAI for High Risk Youth, Casey Foun- kids who are detained in detention • minimize failures for juveniles to engaging in JDAI reforms. geared for county offi cial members dation, presented an overview of the unnecessarily. Studies indicate they to appear in court and reduce delin- Post-JDAI, the county now has as one of those activities.