Addressing Homelessness in Spokane

Our April meeting saw Phil Altmeyer, a 36-year veteran of Union Gospel Mission, deliver a presentation on homelessness in Spokane. Altmeyer outlined the mission's core values which include faith, hope, and love, and explained how these principles underpin UGM's approach to addressing homelessness. He also indicated that to address homelessness, people need to understand mental illness and addiction. Both are huge factors in creating and maintaining the problem of homelessness.

In the distant past, hobos worked for handouts (bums did not) and many people were addicted to alcohol. Ever since the filming of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 1975 (filmed in Idaho), many mentally ill individuals were released from institutions. Unfortunately, these people were not able to sustain a job or healthy lifestyle and became homeless. In more recent times, Altmeyer believes drugs like fentanyl complicated the situation, creating almost immediate addiction, and have increased the numbers of homeless as well.

Altmeyer and UGM stress that the homeless need a sense of ownership and responsibility. He feels the Spokane City Council has enabled the homelessness by reinforcing bad behaviors and an atmosphere of lawlessness. When people check into UGM facilities, they are given chores and responsibilities to assist them in building self-respect and a sense of community. They are provided temporary shelter and support and are rewarded with more permanent housing. Services and support without accountability is not an acceptable solution.

Altmeyer highlighted the various programs and services offered by UGM which include temporary shelter and housing, meals and nutrition, addiction recovery, and education and job training. He mentioned some success stories and gave hope that the homeless cycle can be broken.

April 2023

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE - Scott Robinson

With an upcoming debt limit deadline and budget negotiations ongoing,

differing factions in the House Republican caucus are putting out their lists of

policy priorities. Recently, the House’s Republican Study Committee, one of

the two most conservative caucuses of House Republicans, released its “Debt

Limit Playbook,” outlining policy priorities to reduce spending.

Relevant to NARFE, this Playbook proposes to cut federal employee benefits such as (1)

basing annuities on an employee’s highest five years of earnings; (2)

increasing the employee contributions to the Federal Employees Retirement

System (FERS); (3) reducing or eliminating cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for the FERS and Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS); (4) eliminating the FERS Annuity Supplement; and (5) reducing the rate of return of the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) G fund. Additional proposals would (6) raise the employee share of FERS contributions to the highest current percentage for all current FERS employees, (7) create a TSP- only retirement system, (8) voucherize the government share of Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) program premiums, and (9) implement Chained-CPI for all government COLAs.

The Playbook also calls for reversing discretionary spending levels for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024 to Fiscal Year 2022 levels. NARFE supports proper funding of the Office of Personnel Management to ensure accurate, reliable, and timely customer service, as well as sufficient funds to allow for a federal pay raise. Significant spending cuts could jeopardize recent plans put in place to modernize OPM’s technology and improve processes (source narfe.org).

Please call me at 208-661-7695 or email me at scottsoriole@q.com if you have any questions regarding Spokane Chapter 32.

ALZHEIMER’S (vacant Chairperson)

For the past few months, this ghost writer has shared information about a new drug, Leqembi, and government approval of it. On 22 March 2023, Alzheimer’s Association advocates from across the nation joined together in Washington, D.C. to face U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra during his testimony at two Senate budget hearings. Multiple senators from both sides of the aisle questioned Secretary Becerra about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision to block access for Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Alzheimer’s treatments.

Medicare has always covered FDA-approved treatments for those living with disease, but apparently not for Alzheimer’s disease. “Each day that CMS blocks access, more than 2,000 people transition to a more advanced stage of Alzheimer’s where they are no longer eligible for treatment,” said Robert Egge, chief public policy officer of the Alzheimer’s Association and AIM executive director. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said, “[The CMS policy] is requiring additional clinical trials or registries that could create logistical challenges for people in rural areas as well as the providers who are trying to take care of them, because they’re not all eligible based on where you are” (source alz.org).

Spokane Chapter is recruiting an Alzheimer’s Chairperson. If you are interested in sharing your learned knowledge with the group, then please contact any Officer or Director. With no chairperson, a village is needed to share information with our group.

PROGRAM (vacant Chairperson)

If you missed our March meeting, then I encourage you to go to narfespokane.org/news to read about last month’s guest speaker, Jonathan Hulog and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Phil Altmeyer will talk to us about the Union Gospel Mission in April. Mary Binder will talk about her relationship between District Vice-president and the chapters in May.

We hope to have a new staff assistant from Senator Murray’s Office speak in June.

We won’t meet during July and August, but we’re planning Spokane Chapter’s 73rd birthday party in September.

We hope to have Hospice talk to us in October.

Ann Ozuna will present her annual review of Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) in November, and we’ll celebrate the holidays during December.

That sums up the balance of the year, folks. Please join us if you can. I hope to see you there.

Spokane Chapter is recruiting a Program Chairperson. If you are interested in sharing your learned knowledge with the group, please contact any Officer or Director.

MEMBERSHIP

The Chapter is looking for a Membership Chair. If you are interested, please contact any of the Officers or Directors. Come be a part of a great group of people fighting for your benefits.

APRIL CHAPTER MEETING MONDAY APRIL 10, 2023

Lunch at 11:30; Meeting at 12:15 Darcy’s Restaurant

10502 E. Sprague Ave.

PRESENTER: Phil Altmeyer – Union Gospel Mission

Phil will be discussing UGM's strategy in reducing homelessness in Spokane.

Darcy's Restaurant and Spirits

Traditional American Cuisine

10502 E Sprague Ave

Spokane Valley, WA 99206

+1 (509) 891-0773

darcysrestaurantandspirits.com

View Darcy's location on Apple Maps

The meeting will be available via ZOOM:

The ZOOM information is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84692463195?pwd=R3M0eFF0NzRaMFo3bTNvNERDNHBBUT09

Meeting ID: 846 9246 3195 Passcode: 137652

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

NARFE – PAC (Vacant Chairperson)

For several years, this ghost writer has said, “the Congress giveth and the Congress taketh.” Over time, the Congress has given federal employees and annuitants employment benefits, such as health benefits, in exchange for lower wages of comparable jobs in the private sector.

NARFE-PAC supports Fed-friendly legislators who understand that government should keep the promises made to its public servants. NARFE-PAC bolsters the profile of our top issues, educates lawmakers on the issues that affect us most, and doing away with the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). You can help protect our earned benefits by contributing to NARFE-PAC (source narfe.org).

You can contribute to NARFE – PAC using the contribution form found in the monthly NARFE Magazine or by sending a check, made out to NARFE – PAC, to our Post Office Box. The address is: NARFE, PO Box 4592, Spokane, WA 99220.

LEGISLATION - Roger Bosky

The repeal of the Government Pension Offset/Windfall Elimination Provision (GPO/WEP) continues to gather steam. Senators Brown, Collins, and Markey have reintroduced the Senate version of the Social Security Fairness Act (S 597). The bill would fully repeal the GPO and WEP.

Over 2.5 million retirees are denied their full retirement benefits because of the GPO/WEP, justifiably called the evil twins of Social Security. Last year the House bill repealing the evil twins had 305 cosponsors, a record high, even though it expired without a vote. HR 82, currently before Congress, already has 204 cosponsors. We need to tell Congress to get on board to give workers their full share of earned benefits.

Other bills needing our attention are HR 866 which would give FERS retirees a full cost of living adjustment (COLA) rather than a potential 1% yearly reduction; and HR 716 which changes the way COLAs are computed to reflect the spending habits of the elderly more accurately.

PAST VICE PRESIDENT - Arlene Patton

LEGcon 2023 is scheduled for June 19-21, 2023, National has announced that this year’s conference will be held virtually. Registration is now open, so please be an early bird and get your registration in. The WSFederation has budgeted funds to cover 80 registrations.

A special thanks to Gisela Moyle and Beverly Benka for conducting the required Chapter 32 audit of both the Chapter’s general fund and seminar fund accounts. Their review resulted in no issues.

Membership recap for the first quarter of 2023: 5 members were dropped for non-renewal, 2 members passed away, 1 member transferred into the Chapter and 25 members renewed. A special thanks to all that continue to support Chapter 32 by renewing their Chapter membership. Records show we currently have 225 Chapter members and 208 National Only members for a total of 433 members.

Chapter 0032-Spokane will be celebrating its 73rd anniversary during our September 11th Chapter meeting. We hope to have the National Region 9 Vice President and the WSFederation president join us for that meeting/celebration. Mark your calendar and come out and join us for the celebration.

NARFE is more than just a great magazine. Let them know!

Promote NARFE anytime you can. The more members we have the more power to protect our benefits and retirement!

NARFE = YOUR BEST BET FOR THE FUTURE!

WEBSITE - Chris Smith

I have become the new webmaster for the NARFE Spokane website.

The link is https://www.narfespokane.org

The website lives on both computer and mobile (phone) sites, so periodically something slips by me. Check out the news and newsletter tab for the latest, including Candice Correia’s references from her February presentation on 2022 taxes and a synopsis of Jonathan Hulog's March program on the Border Patrol. I’ve begun to include some pictures of speakers and past and future events on the website as well.

Please contact me at redpoll@mac.com if you find any errors or have any pictures or pertinent articles that may be of interest to members.

SUNSHINE Susan Harvey

As I write this, the sun is shining. Sunshine will not last long since April showers will bring May flowers. Remember, none of us are spring chickens and yard work is not easy. Take care of your bodies and minds.

The Chapter is sending birthday and anniversary wishes to all who celebrate in April.

Scott Robinson is continuing the search for a Membership, Alzheimer’s, and Programs Chairs. Call him if you are interested.

REMINDER, spouses can be members on their own OR can take over the membership of a deceased member.

If you become aware of good news, illnesses, surgeries, or a death of a member or family member, please contact me at 509-953-6828.

SERVICE & OUTREACH Kathy Brooks

We are planning the Pre-Retirement Seminar for our future retirees. It is scheduled May 22nd and 23rd. If you are, or know anyone interested in attending, please reach out to Kathy Brooks at 509-954-6719, kmbrooks06@msn.com or

Spokane Washington Chapter 32

PO Box 4592

Spokane, WA 99220

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association 32NARFE on the Web: National: www.narfe.org WSF: www.narfewa.org Spokane: https://www.narfespokane.org

SPOKANE SERVICE CENTER

Narfe0032@gmail.com

509-954-6719

Notes on U.S. Border Patrol Presentation

Here's a brief summary of the presentation that was presented on Monday, March 13, by Officer Jonathan Hulog of the U.S. Border Patrol. The presentation focused on the current situation at the US-Canadian and Southern border and the efforts being taken to address border security.

The northern border of the Spokane sector includes Eastern Washington to Western Montana. Three hundred agents are employed in this area.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection was formed in 2003. There are three distinct entities in CBP: Office of Field OPs (blue uniforms), Air and Marine Ops (dressed in yellow), and the Border Patrol (green uniforms). The first deals with trade and travel at ports of entry, the second with activities on the air and sea, and the third with illegal activities outside ports of entry and is mainly a field job. So if you are interested in what you can and cannot bring into the U.S., you would be dealing with Customs agents at one or more of the 238 ports of entry to the U.S. Illegal entry to the U.S. via water craft would be addressed by Air and Marine Ops. Crossing the border by land involves Border Patrol agents such as Jonathan.

Three quarters of CBP agents are involved with the southern border with Mexico, mainly with drugs and illegal immigration. Unfortunately, the Mexican cartel is involved with both. On the northern border, many illegal immigrants fly to Canada and hike to the U.S. There are 20,000 employees connected with border patrol. Border Patrol agents are embedded in other agencies and are called up for natural disasters, civil disturbances, and special operations. Despite good pay and a $20,000 enlistment bonus, a high rate of promotion, and an entry age of only 18, it's a difficult job series to recruit for. Horse patrols are common, using wild mustangs from BLM. Not surprisingly, there is active recruitment at rodeos.

Surveillance involves cameras, radar towers (with a reach of 12 miles), drones, and tracking skills. "Coyotes" are often armed, some are just young high schoolers from the local communities. Agents visit high schools and even grade schools to discourage young people from participating. Ranchers are important liaisons as well since they own large areas of land along the border. Immigration legislation is the biggest challenge; right now the bar for claiming asylum is low and most illegal immigrants are released after being charged.

Many thanks to Agent Hulog for his informative talk.