When Did Social Services Go Wrong?
- Aug 3, 2019
- 3 min read
Herb Wesson Is Looking For Heroes
Mr. Herb Wesson and Jeff Michaelson Discuss The implementation of Professional Standards in Social Services and Non-Profits with Respect to Independent Living Proficiency Standards and Merit Based Pay Increases that have been proposed by The APDSE Pending a Ratification vote by APDSE Membership
The current President of the Los Angeles City Council, 10th District, and leading candidate for County Supervisor, 2nd District, Mr. Herb J. Wesson, Jr., is a Buckeye who is no deer caught in the headlights. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, "Herb", as he insists on being referred to, is very concerned as to when Social Services in Los Angeles went wrong and what proposed policies will fix the enormous problems that Los Angeles County is facing. "When I got into [politics], landlords were begging to be Section 8, residents were begging to be. Now its shifted, landlords don't want it. When did it all go wrong?", Herb asked Jeff Michaelson, Board President and Chief Labor Negotiator of grassroots labor union The APDSE. "I'll tell you what happened", replied Jeff, "No enforcement. Many Non-Profits have no Housing or Social Security, nor Benefits Appeals Specialists. What is needed is aggressive, zealous advocacy, trust, incentives, a competition between non-profits to achieve better results by rewarding the organizations that perform at a superior level." Jeff proceeded to give Mr. Wesson and his Assistant Chief Deputy, Andrew Westall, a copy of The Independent Learning Skills Proficiency and Merit Based Pay Proposals drafted by The APDSE, which they were very interested in taking back to their office for review. This is one of the many policy proposals that can solve the many problems facing social services, including the exponential rise of people living without the dignity of housing in Los Angeles County. This IL Proficiency chart is available on this website under the Open Letters tab.http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/2b784b_904681c1eedf411c8e0b3546026e4180.pdf
Herb is a self described "people person" who gets to the bottom of problems one on one. "If I'm talking to two people or two million, it doesn't matter how many people are there."
He turned to me and asked how I got started for the APDSE and what my background. I told him that I was a single mom who put my child through private school and was a Housing Choice Voucher participant. To which he replied that he was looking for similar heroes in a city of potential leaders. When asked by Jeff who his heroes were, he replied, "My father." His mother was a republican whose hero was Eisenhower, until she became a Democrat and supporter of Kennedy. "I've always wanted to be a hero. May be I'll die trying to be one."
In Jeff's view, Herb is a hero because of his many legislative accomplishments, most importantly raising the minimum wage in the city of Los Angeles, people with disabilities, employee rights, and tenants rights.
"Enforcement of professional standards, as advocates, to comply with the Law. Advocacy skills are needed to compel property owners, housing authorities to comply with standards which are violated at will because there's no public guardian, a hero, to meet those standards. Whats the reason to comply with the law if there are no consequences?", asks Jeff. He feels that LA hasn't had a hero since Tom Bradley was Mayor and Zev Yaroslavsky was 3rd District LA County Supervisor. Herb wesson is that Hero which Los Angeles needs for low wage workers, single parents, tenants, persons with disabilities who do not have a champion like the wealthy corporations do. We proudly endorse Herb J. Wesson, Jr. for LA County Supervisor, as do Janice Hahn, Mayor Garcetti, Yvonne Burke, Teamsters 42, Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, LA/OC Trade Council, and many others.
The Association of Professional Service Employees Labor Union, Desiree M. Gambos and Jeff Michaelson, proudly endorse Herb Wesson for 2nd District Los Angeles County Supervisor
The APDSE Official Endorsement Letter of Herb J. Wesson, Jr. for 2nd District LA County Supervisor:
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