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Lackey: ‘More funds to disabled’

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Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) said this week that he believes there is an excellent use for some of California’s $3.5 billion in unexpected revenue, as announced by the Legislative Analyst Office.

“With California projected to have $3.5 billion more in unanticipated revenue this upcoming year, there is no excuse for failing to increase funding to stem the crisis that has impacted the developmentally disabled community,” Lackey stated in a press release. “Years of cuts have drained critical services for the most vulnerable Californians, and it’s time we finally make them a priority.”

Lackey drafted a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown. urging him to begin immediate work with legislators to support and provide additional funding to agencies that support persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He called the current system of funding a “crisis” due to the lack of adequate money to service providers and regional centers for about 20 years, noting that it has only been exacerbated by the state’s failure to address such funding in this year’s budget. He also cited the Lanterman Act as justification for increasing funding. This act is California’s landmark civil rights law that advocates for the disabled community. It also  assists persons in gaining more independence and access to specific services.

“Here in the Antelope Valley, we are seeing the crumbling of services and support for our loved ones, starting with transportation services, which are crucial within our expansive desert community,” Lackey stated. “Getting reliable and timely transportation to and from appointments and community-based services is just one of the many things that has become a system-threatening crisis. We cannot wait another year inasmuch as vital services and support have already been reduced or have disappeared entirely for many families and individuals.”

The 36th Assembly District includes portions of Kern, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, including the communities of Lancaster, Palmdale, Quartz Hill, Acton, Littlerock, Lake Los Angeles, Pearblossom, Mojave, Rosamond, California City, Phelan and Pinon Hills.

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