Memorandum

To: Rules Committee From: Councilmembers Linda J. LeZotte

and Cindy Chavez

Subject: Resolution in opposition to the closure of Agnews Developmental Center

Date: March 5, 2004

The 2003 California state budget contains recommendations by the Legislative Analyst’s Office that include the closure of Agnews Developmental Center by July 1, 2005. Agnews currently provides a home for 430 residents with severely developmental disabilities and jobs to 1,300 staff.

The closure would force the relocation of all 430 residents who are either medically fragile, profoundly retarded, or both. Any residential move for clients with severely developmental disabilities will adversely impact every aspect of their lives and put them at extreme risk of transfer trauma, neglect, abuse and possibly death. In turn, this will add to an already over-burdened system of emergency care services and community group homes, which are also facing budgetary cutbacks.

Agnews is the only developmental center that serves the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Its closure would leave only four developmental centers remaining statewide, and only one in Northern California. This would place a tremendous burden on those families whose loved ones depend on developmental center services and are therefore forced to relocate to other centers.

The closure of Agnews violates the spirit of both the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Lanterman Act which establish a baseline of services for all California citizens with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Included in this closure is the loss of 1,300 skilled employees, whose paychecks are vital to our local economy.

We must work to protect the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our community, and continue to be committed to finding programs and facilities that support our disabled community in these tough budgetary times.

We urge our colleagues on the City Council to oppose the closure of Agnews Developmental Center and direct our Inter-Governmental Relations staff to forward a letter of opposition to the Governor and our local delegation urging them to find an alternative to closing this valuable facility.