(Washington D.C.) ADAPT’s “No More Excuses” campaign continued today with dazzling success with two traditionally stubborn organizations. ADAPT won a meeting with the, the chairperson of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) committed to write a letter to public housing authorities concerning a preference for housing subsidies for people with disabilities leaving an institution and needing housing.
Thomas Josefiak of the RNC was able to sign a letter making the important commitment for a meeting with Chairperson Ken Mehlman. ADAPT had success this legislative term with the passage of Money Follows the Person which was a bill to assist people avoid expensive and undesirable institutionalization. MiCASSA, the Community Choice Act is bipartisan legislation that can help complete the full inclusion of people with disabilities in our society.
“We have not been able to get in the front door at the Republican National Committee for the last five years,” said John Donnelly of New York. “We have been trying to make them talk about our issues, so it seems they have acquired some common sense. It would be wise for them to meet with us.”
Newt Gingrich first introduced an early version of the Community Choice Act nearly ten years ago. The hope is that the bill will have RNC support when it is introduced the next legislative term; Republican Senator Spector is the first co-sponsor of the bill.
ADAPT has a history of direct action with the RNC. Most notably was in early October 2000 when ADAPT crashed a gala fundraiser at the site. Blocking all the entrances and exits, ADAPT held the white-tie crowd late into the evening.
“It was unbelievable that it came so fast,” said Daniese McMullen-Powell about the negotiations with the RNC today, “I didn’t expect them to agree to our demands so quickly. But now we have a meeting with Ken Mehlman after the election and before the end of the year.”
ADAPT activists also have a long history of direct action with HUD and with the renewed initiative started with the public housing authorities, ADAPT had to act to get the Department’s cooperation. A year ago ADAPT, through direct action, was able to begin a positive dialogue with Secretary Alphonso Jackson but the discourse has suffered recently.
“It is obvious that HUD is making a decision not to send a letter as they promised,” said Randy Alexander of Memphis. “Jackson said they would inform Housing Authorities about setting a priority [for people leaving institutions] and the only reason for a delay seems to be that they now do not want to simply write the letter.”
Ten minutes after leaving the hotel at 6th and C streets, ADAPT was in front of the menacing HUD building entrance. A delegation led by Jose Laura, Barbara Toomer and Bruce Darling of ADAPT were quickly led inside to negotiate, while hundreds of activists constantly chanted and sang outside in the rain.
“We told them that we have been waiting for so long for the letter and they were not going to do anything,” said Jose Laura of El Paso. “So we decided to leave. That is when they said ‘no, no, wait; we can deliver the letter by November third.’”
The ADAPT team actually walked out of the meeting when the bureaucrats were not receptive; however, the Assistant Secretary Kim Kendrick apparently did not want to see how the mass of ADAPT would react to the news. A second round of discussions was arranged with HUD meeting the essential ADAPT demands.
“The Deputy Secretary Kim came out to talk to us and said the letter would be there November first,” said Barb Toomer of Utah who negotiated with HUD. “So, you know, if you trust them, the letter will be here. If things go the way have in the past, the letter won’t be here and next time the letter doesn’t come – it ain’t gonna’ be much fun.”
Shortly after the submission of HUD, ADAPT was back in line and in the streets headed east to the RNC headquarters. Soaked but invigorated by the success Cassie James of Philadelphia summed up the experience with HUD:
“Well I think we got the slow wheels of HUD turning again, I think it is ADAPT that keeps everything moving. They said HUD would put out the letter but they couldn’t get it out very quickly; but we upped the ante and now the letter will be out in November.”
Gathering altogether at the end of the day, Cassie James announced to the crowd that because of a summer regional action by ADAPT chapters on the east coast, the United States Association of Catholic Bishops supports MiCASSA. They signified their support by writing a letter to the Congressional team sponsoring the legislation. Cassie read selected parts of the letter to the group.
