Page 4 - Reedley Exponent 1-18-18 E-editon

The Reedley Exponent A4 Thursday, January 18, 2018 Editorial & Opinions
Serving “The World’s Fruit Basket” since 1891
A Mid Valley Publishing Newspaper
Founded March 26, 1891, in a two-story building on the corner of 11th and F streets, by A.S. Jones
Fred Hall — Publisher
In my OPINION
One of the things that bedevils those of us who write newspaper columns for community newspapers is the fact early deadlines force topic decision on items which may be resolved by the time you read our comments. We don’t believe this is one of those instances.
Jon Earnest — Editor
Chris Aguirre — Sports Editor Felicia Cousart Matlosz — Panorama Editor Budd Brockett — Editor Emeritus
Opponents of proposed transitional home taking their fight to recall level
QUOTE
“In case you’re worried about what’s going to become of the younger generation, it’s going to grow up and start worrying about the younger generation.”
— Roger Allen
In a closed door meeting with six senators
last week, our president responded to a piece
of legislation — which they had delivered for
his perusal — with an answer that contained
a very common American verbal pejorative
which I hear almost daily. These “learned”
people brought him a proposal on immigration which he found un- palatable and he reacted in a less than politically correct way. We believe Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin from Illinois may have soiled his trousers in his hurry to get out the door to tell the press.
Given the nature of the proposal by the Democratic and Repub- lican senators, we have little doubt that once the press has vented and called for his impeachment, there will be huge support from the general voting public to not only his language but the fact he stood up to this spineless six as well.
We’ll concede there must be a middle ground on immigration, but it must be real and controlled. This open border group which has become the face of the Democratic party will have to accept standards which include being self supportive, learning the language, and assimilating into our culture so as to not present a burden on other Americans for one’s support. The cultural ways of one’s former country must be left behind in favor of their new country. We cannot, nor should we, make accommodations for them to continue to live as they did in a country which became such an abomination as to force them to relocate.
The press’ participation in the attempt to destroy a sitting presi- dent has resulted in the destruction of a once great vocation. No lon- ger does the American press enjoy the trust of the American people.
Certainly they are free to state their opinions as long as they are identified such as what I’m doing right this minute. You would never find this writer twisting a story to fit his opinion and passing it off as straight news reporting.
Surely I’m not the last remaining human who once enjoyed read- ing a well-written political piece that was a thoughtful interview with a newsmaker, who was probingly questioned and not argument based. Notice the use of past tense in the description because, sadly, those days appear long gone. Journalism seems on the critical list via self- inflicted wounds.
High paid talking heads, writers and assorted others with monu- mental egos have seized the bait and became personal. They literally are losing their minds. While writers and pundits spout off about our president’s mental stability they, themselves, are committing suicide in terms of their credibility!
People in my profession can and must begin to do a better job of simply reporting and not declare the sky is falling every time anyone says or does anything which might be politically incorrect. In the heat of the moment anyone who is human is certainly capable of proclaiming there are s***hole countries which mistreat, abuse and starve their people. The final decision should be whether it is advantageous or even reasonable for us to accept those who wish to migrate from such circumstances. This seems especially true when so many of the immigrants are unwilling to change.
But, as always, that’s only one man’s opinion.
In my three years of covering the Reedley City Council, I’ve witnessed an impressive level of cooperation among the council, city staff and — perhaps most important — Reedley citizens. I’ve watched many recogni- tion presentations, awards of achieve- ment and appreciation and numerous partnerships featuring businesses and nonprofit organizations.
Complaints from residents have been few and sometimes far between, at least at the formal meetings. But that tranquility has been disrupted in the past four months, and has sim- mered to the point where a group of southwest Reedley residents want to recall veteran Council Member Ray Soleno.
The source of the recall — but not the impetus, according to the disgruntled residents who live just west of the Kings River (hence their unofficial title of River Bottom) — is a proposed transitional housing facil- ity at 1697 W. Huntsman Ave.. next to the city’s sewer and wastewater treatment plants. The Riverview Es- tates development of houses is just north and east of the residence while the Kings River Mobile Home Park is slightly farther to the north on Olson Avenue.
The site of the proposed transi- tional house was once the local Mar- jaree Mason Shelter, and housed victims of domestic violence for 12 years before lack of funding led to the facility’s closure in September 2016. Neighboring residents claimed that while the shelter was open there was crime in the area. They claim crime numbers decreased when the shelter closed, although those figures haven’t been confirmed by police.
•••
In a notice of intent to circulate
the recall petition, the initial notice reads: “When Councilman Ray So- leno advocated and voted for a tran-
sitional housing facility to be placed adjacent to a middle class neighbor- hood in his own district we actively reached out to Ray numerous times seeking to meet with him so he could better understand and appreciate our concerns. He is, after all, our council member and any reasonable person would have to agree that meeting with constituents is part of his job.” The petition then claims that Soleno has refused to respond to emailed, hand- delivered written and verbal personal invitations to meet. Residents claim that Soleno is aloof and uncaring to their request to reach out.
“Let no one construe that this recall is about transitional housing,” the petition reads. “If voters in an elected official’s district cannot gain an audience with that elected official, it is their duty and responsibility to remove the replace that official. Re- grettably Ray Soleno has given us no other choice.”
•••
Soleno told The Exponent on Jan.
16 that he didn’t respond to the resi- dents at the advice of City Attorney Scott Cross, The advice to not talk with residents about the issue ex- tends to other council members as well, Soleno said. Cross’ counsel was because the residents had filed an appeal of a conditional use permit for the transitional house that was approved last year by the Reedley Planning Commission. The commis- sion is meeting Thursday, Jan. 18, at 5 p.m. to discuss another resolution to approve an amended conditional use permit.
Soleno said that he actually hasn’t decided to support or oppose the tran- sitional house project. His initial “yes” vote in September 2017 was to apply for state grant funding that would be needed if the project eventually pro- ceeded.
“My thing was to go for the funds
and then wait and see,” Soleno said,
Soleno said the
city’s steps last
year to go through
proper channels to
present its case to
the state to prevent
released prison or
jail inmates from
staying at the facil-
ity. “I think [the residents’] concern is problems we would be having there if that was the case. I really can’t blame them,” he said.
Soleno said that if information city staff gives to the council doesn’t pro- vide ample safeguards to limit hous- ing at the transitional facility to tem- porary homeless residents and leaves the door open to criminal offenders, it could sway the council against the en- tire project. “But at this point, nobody knows,” he said.
Cliff Unruh, one of the residents who presented the intent to circulate recall petition to the city on Jan. 12, said the residents’ intentions are clear. “We’re not going to sit back and allow this to happen,” he said. Recall propo- nents say that 80 percent — perhaps as many as 90 percent — of residents in the area support the action.
“They see Ray Soleno and the council as having betrayed the public trust,” Unruh said.
Soleno said he will respond to the initial recall petition intent notice by the Friday, Jan. 19 deadline. Subse- quent steps would mean at least an- other 20 days before the process ad- vances.
•••
Meanwhile, the transitional house
issue goes back before the Reedley Planning Commission this week. Com- missioners will vote on a proposed environmental assessment and a con- ditional use permit application. Inter- esting developments await.
Fred Hall
Jon Earnest
How Medicare covers mental health services
By Greg Dill
Guest columnist
Let’s hope it never hap- pens, but there may come a time in your life when you need mental health care. Your Medicare covers a wide variety of such servic- es, in both hospital inpatient and outpatient settings.
If you have Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), you’re eligible for mental health services when you’re admitted to a hospital as an inpatient. You can get these services either in a general hospital or a psychiatric hospital that only cares for people with mental health conditions.
If you’re in a psychi- atric hospital (instead of a general hospital), Part A only pays for up to 190 days of inpatient psychiatric hos- pital services during your lifetime.
Medicare pays for inpa- tient hospital stays on the basis of “benefit periods.” A benefit period begins the day you’re admitted to a hospital as an inpatient. It ends when you haven’t re- ceived any inpatient care for 60 days in a row.
If you go into a hospital after one benefit period has ended, a new benefit period
begins. You must pay the inpatient hospital deduct- ible ($1,340 in 2018) for each benefit period.
There’s no limit to the number of benefit periods you can have. But remem- ber, there’s a lifetime limit of 190 days for inpatient psychiatric hospitals.
After you pay the de- ductible, Medicare covers inpatient hospital care for the first 60 days with no co- insurance on your part for each benefit period.
For days 61-90, your co- insurance is $335 per day of each benefit period.
If you’re in the hospital beyond 90 days, your coin- surance is $670 per “life- time reserve day” for each benefit period (you have up to 60 reserve days over your lifetime).
In addition, you’ll pay 20 percent of the Medicare- approved amount for men- tal health services you get from doctors and other pro- viders while you’re a hospi- tal inpatient.
Your Medicare Part B (medical insurance) covers partial hospitalization in some cases.
Partial hospitalization provides a structured pro- gram of outpatient psychi-
atric services as an alterna- tive to inpatient psychiatric care. It’s more intense than care you get in a doctor’s or therapist’s office. This treat- ment is provided during the day and doesn’t require an overnight stay.
Medicare helps cover partial hospitalization ser- vices when they’re pro- vided through a hospital outpatient department or community mental health center. Along with partial hospitalization, Medicare may cover occupational therapy that’s part of your mental health treatment and/or individual patient training and education about your condition.
Medicare only covers partial hospitalization if the doctor and the partial hos- pitalization program accept Medicare as full payment.
For Part B to cover a partial hospitalization pro- gram, you must meet cer- tain requirements, and your doctor must certify that you would otherwise need inpa- tient treatment.
Under Part B, you pay a percentage of the Medicare- approved amount for each service you get from a doc- tor or other qualified mental health professional if they
accept Medicare rates. You also pay coinsur- ance for each day of par- tial hospitalization services provided in a hospital outpa- tient setting or community mental health center. The Part B deductible ($183 in
2018) applies as well.
Your doctor or other
health care provider may recommend you get servic- es more often than Medi- care covers. Or they may recommend services that Medicare doesn’t cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. It’s important to ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recom- mending certain services and whether Medicare will pay for them.
All of the above ap- plies to people with Origi- nal Medicare. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) health plan, check with the plan for details of how it covers mental health care.
Greg Dill is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Ter- ritories. You can always get answers to your Medi- care questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800- 633-4227).
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