Most conscientious attorneys are worry warts/party poopers. We’re paid to consider all potential scenarios. Thus, it came as no shock to me that I reacted first with pleasant surprise and then with concern when I heard that the State of California had awarded LGS Recreation $1 million for its 55-plus program. Perhaps it was my knowledge of the back stories, or it was my occupationally ingrained reticence to fully embrace any good news. In either event, it exists. Call me a worry wart or a party pooper if you must.
The first back story from my perspective began about two years ago, when the Community Health and Senior Services Commission (CHSSC), of which I am a member, determined there were numerous deficiencies in the delivery of senior services in Los Gatos. Our report prompted the town council to provide $500,000 in American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds to improving older adult services. These funds were disbursed to several organizations, including LGS Recreation. Furthermore, it led to the creation of a Senior Services Committee to do a more thorough investigation of older adult services in our community and determine long term, how to enhance and solidify older adult services in Los Gatos. In addition to conducting a survey, they explored what other similarly situated communities were doing to help older adults.
Their report created a Road Map for improving older adult services. CHSSC is charged with implementing this Road Map.
The second back story stems from the fact that LGS Recreation operates via a joint powers agency arrangement with local school districts. The local school districts oversee the 55-plus program, possibly to its detriment since the primary focus of the school districts is on the youth of these communities.
The third back story is that tensions between LGS Recreation and the town needed repairing. The tensions resulted in charges and counter charges. To summarize, LGS Recreation felt and perhaps still feels underappreciated, and felt singled out for extra work to justify its request for town funds. On the other side, some believed LGS Recreation was not fulfilling its commitments to the town. Much of this conflict arose against the backdrop of the pandemic; a period that was difficult for the parties, as well as for nearly everyone else. The tensions were recently reduced somewhat and the town council’s funding for the fiscal year to LGS Recreation for its 55-plus program was completed, albeit at a level below what LGS Recreation had requested.
With these back stories, some wondered whether LGS Recreation would continue to deliver older adult services to the community.
Then, we learned about the $1 million grant from California to LGS Recreation, specifically targeted for its 55-plus program. While this is great news for LGS Recreation and for the town as it likely means LGS Recreation will continue to deliver 55-plus services for the next four years (the $1 million is to be disbursed over four years) and it should lead to even better relations between the town and LGS Recreation, it leaves some issues unresolved. Here’s where my worry wart/party pooper persona kicks in.
Four years is a long time, but what happens after that? That was question one.
How will this infusion of funds alter the town council’s thinking when decisions need to be made about funding LGS Recreation for the next fiscal year? That was question two.
How might LGS Recreation utilize this money to help CHSSC with implementation of the Senior Service Committee Road Map? That was question three, although it is up to LGS Recreation, not CHSSC, to decide how to spend these funds.
The structural format by which LGS Recreation operates with the school districts still exists and presumably will continue to exist for the foreseeable future. Can this arrangement continue without unduly complicating the relationship between the town and LGS Recreation and without impairing the delivery of services to older adults? That was question four.
It’s never fun being known as a worry wart or party pooper. In my case, it’s unavoidable, due to my position on the CHSSC and my attorney background. However, the fact that I feel compelled to be a worry wart/party pooper doesn’t prevent me from congratulating LGS Recreation for a job well done in successfully seeking out this funding, nor does it stop me from hoping that LGS Recreation continues to help CHSSC in implementing the Senior Service Committee’s Road Map.
Jeffrey P. Blum is a family law mediator who lives in Los Gatos. He can be reached at bl*****@ao*.com .
