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February 21, 2003/Adar1 19 5763, Vol. 55, No. 26
Federations plea to save services
BARRY COHEN
Editor
During a recent meeting with state legislators, leaders of the Phoenix and Tucson Jewish communities issued a call to prevent cuts to state-funded social services.
"We as Jews take a collective responsibility for those who are less fortunate, and that will remain our paramount concern," said Philip Sheinbein, chairman of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix's Jewish Community Relations Council. "We need to shield our elderly, our families and our children from cuts and services in healthcare and education."
Sheinbein was one of several federation representatives at the Jewish Community Relations Council Legislators' Reception, attended by approx-imately 22 Arizona state legislators and state officials Feb. 12 at the state Capitol.
Reactions to Sheinbein's call to prevent cuts to social services were mixed.
Arizona's governor does not intend to make drastic cuts to social services, said Michael Haener, Deputy Chief of Staff of Gov. Janet Napolitano, despite the need to address a state budget facing a $1.3 billion deficit. "Where would the people who need services go if the services are cut from the budget?"
Rep. Wally Straughn (D - District 15) noted his social service background of working for 14 years with a quadriplegic who depended upon state-funded social services and said he agrees with the request to avoid cutting social service programs.
But one state legislator questioned the commitment of Arizona's Jewish community to maintaining state-funded social service programs.
"One of the things that I find most disappointing about the Jewish community in Arizona (is that) they become Republicans," said Sen. Ken Cheuvront, (D-District 15) "I don't see the (Jewish) community coming out and really fighting for a lot of progressive issues."
Also at the legislative reception were federation leaders from Phoenix and Tucson, including Vicki Cabot, president of the local federation board of directors; Stuart Mellen, president of the Tucson federation; and Donna Beyer, chairwoman of the Tucson federation JCRC.
They explained that the purpose of the Legislators' Reception is to meet state officials and communicate the purpose of federation and its constituent agencies, in part through providing demo-graphic information for the Jewish communities in Phoenix and Tucson.
Federation provides "the infrastructure for how our community is defined," said Cabot. "We raise money in support of agencies, pro-grams and services ... and build community."
Beyer highlighted the federation JCRCs' role in social action and public affairs. "We address a wide variety of social, political and humanitarian issues," she said. "We express Jewish values ... to carry out a basic tenet of Judaism, tikkun olam, the repair of the world."
In following weeks, representatives of the local JCRC will track legislation and advocate selected bills, said Cathy Wolf, director of the local JCRC.
"As we identify legislation that is of importance to the Jewish community, we will then go meet (with legislators) and talk to them about what our positions are and why we are taking certain stands."
Contact the writer at barry_cohen@jewishaz.com.
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