The Negligence of the Pinole Senior Center

The Negligence of the Pinole Senior Center

Where does the buck stop?

By Ivette Ricco

September 11, 2020

It is time to hold our elected officials publicly accountable for their utter lack of action regarding the Pinole Senior Center.

On September 1, Mayor Roy Swearingen announced that the Senior Center was opening a cooling center, by appointment, and that 30 people could be accommodated.

The Mayor repeated that at the Pinole Rotary meeting on September 3.

Mayor Swearingen went to the Mayors Conference that night to tout the same accomplishment.

But this was an illusion.

The Senior Center has been closed for many months.

Certainly an argument can be made that Covid-19 played a part in that action.

But as other cities put into place plans for their community and seniors, Pinole stood pat.

No information has been forthcoming, no plan has been established, no attempt to reach out to the over 300 seniors who rely on the Senior Center for food, respite and information has been formulated.

This issue has been buried for months.

The Mayor and City Council need to be held accountable for the inaction, lack of planning and lack of communication that has put our seniors health and safety at risk.

Back in May a Pinole resident and Senior Center volunteer wrote to the city and appealed for help. (That letter follows)

But, nothing happened. This Pinole citizen made numerous requests in emails and in a Zoom meeting with City Staff members, Hector De La Rosa and Kristina Santoyo, asking that staff reach out to the seniors either by calling them directly or making sure the Newsletter went out and that the Senior Center social media sites were active and updated. The response she got was that was that it was “too expensive”!

Too Expensive?

Yet we are on the verge of approving a History Museum estimated to cost $1,000,000.

Yet, the council just approved the placing of benches on Galbreath Road for $25,000 -$28,000!

Are benches on Galbreath more important than the health and safety of our seniors. Shameful.

Where are the priorities?

Where are our elected leaders?

Why does the Mayor promote a program that has/had not been established?

Why does the Mayor announce links for information that are non-existent?

Why aren’t our Council members asking that staff take action?

The council was quick to form an ad-hoc committee for the Faria House but nothing was done for a current asset that is critical to our community. Shameful.

It is not good enough to simply pass the buck to the new City Manager and Staff.

Today I will have a conversation with Andrew Murray the City Manager about this issue.

I appreciate that he has made himself available to speak to me.

But I’m thinking that this is just too little and too late.

To Mayor Swearingen, Mayor Pro-Tem, Martinez-Rubin, Councilman Salimi, Councilman Tave and Councilman Murray, you represent us, and you will and should be held accountable for the things you DON’T do as well as the things you do.

Council, the buck stops with you.

______________________________________________________________________________

Letter to Mayor in May.

From: DEBBIE CYR

Date: May 31, 2020 at 4:54:14 PM PDT

To: rswearingen@ci.pinole.ca.us

Subject: Neglect of Pinole Senior center

Hello , I am dismayed at the lack and of care and concern re: Pinole senior center and its valued seniors . As a 10 year volunteer at the senior center i've gotten to know many of them and even though I longer volunteer there they still feel they can reach out and ask for help.Apparently the they have had no communication about c-19 and what is currently happening . The haven’t received newsletters, emails, calls NO communication of any kind . The Answering machine at he center has not been changed since March, the fb page has not been updated since march. Does anyone not care ?? Manager makes 225,000.00 dollars a year . I've been a citizen of Pinole for 51 years and am getting frustrated by the ways things are happening and or lack of not happening .

Our seniors deserve better than this. Many receive their only hot meal at the center . It is a place of connection and activity. I know they are at a greater risk but with proper social distancing and planning this should have happened something to allow them to come to.

Chef Tara has tried several time to start a bag lunch program and this has gone on unheard ears. Ive texted. with Anthony Tave about what needs to be done to help our elderly population and ideas ive had about Using the kitchen as a back up meals on wheels or something to make sure they are not neglected and or hungry. Since they are at risk and should stay shelter in place but yet we send them out to the grocery stores wait in long lines to expose themselves to find empty shelves. The city of Pinole should be partnering with food banks or something to help.

The City of Pinole / Pinole senior center has not even been able to supply or communicate resources available to assist those homebound , who need hot meals , many seniors showered at center, used as a place of safety , hair, food pick up I understand aloof those service can’t be utilized but communicating that they can call 211 for help and will receive 3 three FREE MEALS a day delivered meals from restaurants in Walnut Creek.

They can apply for food stamps, emergency food and delivery options. Meals on wheels as a City I believe you’ve all epically failed to provide care and resources for those in great need.

We had a recent heat wave and Pinole did not even offer up a Cooling Facility as normally they do . Hercules did and Hercules senior center is arranging free meals for their seniors.

The heat will return will you open up the center or city facility to help those that need help?

With proper planning it is possible it just seems no one in the city cares.

Please helpyouve helped me before with previous issues . Can I count on you to do more for our elderly.

Thank you Debbie Cyr