We started our day with a nice pancake breakfast at out host family’s home.
We then headed over to St. Peter’s. We were supposed to gather and leave for Hartford by no later than 7:00 am. It didn’t happen.
Anne showed up the night before but was still under the weather. This morning he decided not to ride again as she was still feeling a bit weak. She would help with support.
After everyone arrived, we decided that we would split up. We had to be at John Larson’s office by 9:00 to meet with John Rossi.
Johnnie F, Tom and I departed around 7:40 and hustled our butts to try and get there on time. We had to meet Charlie at the founders bridge. Dave and Anne drove support for us. We hustled and got to Hartford by 9:05.
The others rode at their pace and headed over to a place called the Retreat which was a pilot assisted living program only 5 years old. This was connected with CRT, the Community Renewal Team heade up by Nancy Pappas. She worked out the details of the visit with Pam.
At John Larson’s office we met with John Rossi and three college interns who admitted being oblivious to poverty on campus. We think there is an opportunity on college campuses to open their eyes.
The visit with John Rossi went well and he was again prepared for our visit. He had some hand outs and advised us of some of the programs the Obama administration was putting in place to end homelessness.
He also discussed the rapid transit bus lines that were being implemented in CT and the rail service being considered fom New haven to Hartford to Springfield. These rapid transit facilities would be quite beneficial for lower income folks to get them to their places of employment. As everyone knows this is sometimes a stumbling block for individuals access to good jobs. A rapid transit system offers a means to help pull themselves out of poverty.
All in all our visit to Larson’s office was informative and it appeared there was a lot going on in Congress. The deficit is definitely the biggest item being discussed. Anything that would increase the deficit is going to have a difficult time passing through Congress, especially on the Senate side. We have a difficult battle brewing.
Charlie, Johnnie, Tom and I then went over to the Retreat building and joined the tour that was being held for the other part of our team. What a positive assisted type living facility. Nothing like it is the US. It was a very positive, health program for the elderly and kept them oput of a Nursing Home which depleted them of their assets. This program does not and actually helps them hold on to the assets. You really could see the positive in the demeanor of those folks we saw living in the building. We even got a tour of one clients apartment and she was glad to let us see her “home”.
We asked what we could do and were told to request more of these pilot programs be instituted. What a huge difference that would make. Avoiding a Nursing Home seems like such a good thing. We left there with a lot of hope for the future.
We then biked over to the shelter connected with CRT, the Stuart McKinney Shelter for men. What a well run clean Shelter. Nancy brought us over but we were provided with the inner working by Jose. He really educated us on the life within the shelter. W met one of the volunteers, Alex Mobley who was a budding poet. Jose was encouraging Alex to publish his poems Alex read many of them off the top of his head and later showed us his written.
We had lunch at this shelter and again the food was surprisingly good. Only a few clients were around as the men must leave the shelter during the day. They come back at night Jose has bee there for 13 years and loves his job. He also mentioned this job is not a job for wimps. We all got a chuckle out of that. We gave then a check donation as we did for the Covenant Soup Kitchen. Jose was quite happy.
After the Shelter we headed over to Dodd’s office and met with mark DeStephano for most likely he last time. We had a good conversation with him but with Senator Dodd on his way out Mark could not really say what position Senator Dodd had on some issues. But it was still a pleasant visit and we wished Mark well.
While waiting for Mark to greet us, two chiropractors came out of the other office due to their curiosity about our bikes. They seemed genuinely interested in what we do. I gave them each a card nd look forward to them possibly contacting me.
Because our last visit of the day was Lieberman’s office at 4:00, some left early for home as there was no presentation tonight. But while gathering outside of Dodd’s office Pam noticed Karen Kohl’s keys tucked in a corner of the steps leading to Dodd’s office. She was actually lucky to see them as we were about to leave when she looked back. Those of us who know Dave Kohl well just chalk this up as Dave being Dave. We called him and he was very happy!!
The others went to Starbucks for some coffee and a treat. Definitely needed at this point.
Those who stayed got to go over to Lieberman’s office and speak with Kathy Bass, his congressional aide. We expressed our concerns over the continuation of the EITC and the Child Tax Credit and tried to find out what Joe’s stance was on that. We also asked Kathy if she could find out what Senator Lieberman’s position was on the new defining of poverty guidelines as presented by the Dodd McDermitt bill.
Claire also brought up her concern about child obesity and requested the Senator’s position of that as well. Kathy was going to follow up on that and get back to us. She took a lot of notes and hopefully will get back to us.
Claire also mentioned someone on her staff who was losing their home and asked what could be done. Kathy asked a few questins and recommended this person contact their office. She felt they could be helpful.
This is exactly what Mark had said when Claire mentioned it to him earlier in the day.
While getting ready to leave for Manchester, a young African-American woman came over to talk to me about what we were doing and to possibly us connecting with St. Joseph’s college in some way. I gave her my card. Hopefully she will contact me.
Finally we all headed to Manchester where we would bed in our own homes, get a good night’s sleep and start out at 8:30 in the morning for Bethlehem.
Lou
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