A TALE OF TWO CASAs

May 24, 2012 |
Your CASA is not my CASA
Posted by Kelvin Wade

The two columns I wrote recently on junkets taken by Fairfield and Suisun City council members have been well-received by the public. People want accountability from their elected officials. Unfortunately, there has been unintended fallout for a local nonprofit organization.

The organization that runs the conferences that local council members have attended is the California Association of Sanitation Agencies. Unfortunately, many readers have erroneously contacted CASA of Solano County, which is the Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused and/or neglected children. Executive Director Candy Pierce notified me last week about the mixup after receiving numerous calls from people upset about the junkets.

It’s easy to see how the mistake was made, given both organizations have the same acronym, CASA. I regret the error. While the California Association of Sanitation Agencies runs the conferences at posh resorts that your council members spend the public’s money to attend, the Court Appointed Special Advocates is a small nonprofit group helping children in Solano County.

I wrote last week about domestic violence, including overhearing fights from my former next-door neighbors. In the view of my Neighborhood Watch group, the children who lived in that house were being neglected. Not only would the children witness the fighting inside the house, but they would witness screaming fights among adults outside. We witnessed drug dealing from the house. The children would play on the roof of the house with no supervision. Toddlers would be playing outside at midnight. Sagging diapers would go unchanged. And the children frequently went to neighbors’ houses asking for food.

We repeatedly called the authorities and eventually the children were removed from the home.

It’s volunteers from organizations like CASA who advocate for children in those situations. For a child to be removed from their home and placed in foster care, it has to be a confusing, frightening experience. But it’s these advocates who give a voice to the voiceless and make sure children’s best interests are served.

When the executive director notified me about this mixup, I didn’t want to make a little correction on Page A2 that few people would notice. They, like so many local organizations, can use your donations. Every penny counts. I don’t want confusion over the columns I wrote to affect their charitable contributions. If you’re so inclined, you can make your tax-deductible donation payable to CASA of Solano County 600 Union Ave., Suite 204, Fairfield, CA 94533.

Now for those who disapprove of the junkets, I wouldn’t direct my questions to CASA (California Association of Sanitation Agencies). They, and other organizations, have every right to put on whatever conference they want at the gaudy resort of their choosing.

We should seek accountability from our elected leaders. Ask them if this is the best use of their budget. Is it essential for them to go on these junkets? And are they going to CASA’s conference in August in Monterey?

I appreciate the passion from the public. But we have to channel it to those we want to hold accountable. Peace.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES: I'm glad I could make this correction. I didn't want the confusion to affect donations for this organization which does such good work for children. Plus, i could not understand why folks were calling CASA in the first place. Those phone calls should've been directed at the council members who went on these junkets. I have no beef with the California Association of Sanitation Agencies. If they want to put on conferences at gaudy hotels then they can do that. If the public doesn't like council members dropping a couple grand each going to these things they should take it up with the council person.