Powell, Peoples, and Lee respond on program capacity and funding cuts

This was inherited.

So, you know, when I became the president, I did an analysis of our salaries.

And I realized we was never going to meet, get to where we need to be to be in comparison to our competition, so to speak.

And we had to practically, this last contract, revamp, give up two days of vacation in order to try to get the 11 years and get the starting salary to where we are now.

So this is historical, but I think it's time to fix it.

Because we can do better services for your clients and other clients in the community at large.

And everybody wins.

So in all due respect, it's great that we're having this oversight hearing for probation.

And I don't know how much input the department and I would love to be a part of that conversation with you.

But I think we should also, this is just a suggestion, all due respect, have OLR, have OMB, have those oversight agencies at the table and DCAS.

What's the issue?

Thank you for that.

And there's more to come.

But thank you.

Councilmember Brewer.

Thank you for all that you're doing.

I guess my question is similar.

Do you have in your work see that there are enough alternatives for young people or anybody actually for the programs that they need?

Because it's always been my experience that there aren't enough and the commissioner kind of hinted that she's reassessing.

All of you.

Yeah, whatever.

Yeah.

Go ahead.

What's the question?

The question is, are there enough programs outside of probation that have the needs met, that meet the needs of the people you're serving?

Sort of alternatives or programs that they need that are obvious for their...

To be successful?

There was a point prior to the administration, there was a significant amount of programming.

And now with this commissioner, as she has spoken to you before, they're rebuilding and restoring.