I’m asking LaMalfa to help our seniors

Congressman Doug LaMalfa met with a dozen or so constituents at the Lassen Senior Center during an impromptu meeting yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, Aug. 22.

As one might expect, the congressman offered his perspective on his usual hot topics — carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, farming, electric vehicles, the need for dams, fish and rivers, climate change and the need for gas and diesel, etc.

He also took questions from those in attendance and even had a lengthy discussion with one resident about the lamb industry. That’s all good and productive.

I wanted to ask a question, and as his aide was trying to get him on the road to a planned Town Hall meeting in Westwood, I asked her if  I could ask the congressman a question before he left. She said yes. But as the questions kept coming and the time kept getting tighter, I told her I would send the congressman this email and ask him my question there. I’d like to share that email with our readers now.

Dear Mr. LaMalfa
Thank you for taking the time to meet with your constituents yesterday at the Lassen Senior Center. Due to time constraints, I didn’t get to ask this question during the meeting, so I’m asking it now in this email.

Our nutrition program for seniors in Lassen County is a complete and total disaster — and I don’t think that’s hyperbole.

Years ago, when the Lassen Senior Center administered the program in Lassen County through PSA2, more than 100 seniors in Susanville, Westwood and Doyle received hot, delivered meals three days per week. Even more seniors were served meals for a small donation at the center three days per week. The center and PSA2 had a falling out, and I’m not trying to revisit that decision. It’s ancient history now, and I only bring it up as a matter of perspective.

After the falling out, for nearly two years, Lassen County seniors received absolutely nothing through PSA2. The PSA2 leadership told me the funds allotted to Lassen County would be banked and used in Lassen County when a new program began. Despite that assurance, I’ve been told the money allotted to Lassen County actually was spent on other programs in other counties. Our loss was their gain.

Finally, thanks to the leadership of Lassen County District 2 Supervisor Gary Bridges and Lassen County Health and Social Services Director Barbara Longo, PSA2 launched a new program called Dine Around Town in which seniors could obtain a voucher for a meal at Lumberjack’s Restaurant on Main Street.

Curiously, nearly a quarter of the funding for each meal went to tax and tip. I never imagined funding for senior meals could be spent that way. Despite requests for information to both PSA2 and Longo, I have been unable to obtain a copy of the contract between the county or PSA2 and Lumberjacks …

The latest depressing news (click here to see our Aug. 19 story on this topic) is that now only 30 Lassen County seniors will receive frozen meals prepared at a kitchen in Redding that for some unknown reason will be passed through an organization in Reno before the meals are delivered.

The need in Lassen County is great and almost completely unmet.

I’ve been told this senior nutrition program is funded by both federal and state dollars, but I suspect the headwaters of most of this funding originates with the federal government and Congress.

I hope you can do something to help our hungry seniors.

I know Bridges is frustrated by all this, and as he once served on the Lassen Senior Services Board of Directors and currently is the county’s representative on the PSA2 board, I’m sure he could provide many details that I cannot.

Thank you for your time and attention to this urgent matter.

Sam Williams, publisher, lassennews.com

Note: Since state funding apparently also is involved, I’ve forwarded a link to this story to our representatives in the state legislature — Brian and Megan Dahle. Maybe they can help our seniors, too.