At Tuesday night’s Davis City Council meeting, roughly 50 residents of the facility came to city council to express their support of the council to intervene on their behalf.
Supervisor Mariko Yamada who has been at the forefront of advocacy for seniors and senior living issues spoke before the council:
“I not only want to express support for the council’s efforts to look into this matter, county will certainly be a partner with you in that. In fact they did meet with the resident’s association immediately after the first news report of first the eight percent increase but then learning it has been a double digit increase over the past two years. This is part of a larger corporate issue I think in terms of how seniors are housed in our communities. Atria is a national corporation, there are issues arising, problems with Atria nationwide. But it also speaks to other housing needs for seniors, at the county level we are bringing home a study on rent stabilization for manufactured home parks, as well as taking a look at other facilities such as CCRC’s (Community Care Retirement Centers)… But I also think we need to take a look at senior housing needs throughout the area.”
Davis City Councilmember Lamar Heystek urged the council to take immediate action–if it was within the realm of the law and expressed a willingness to meet during the holidays in order to accomplish this.
“I’m in town [next week] If staff gave us a place, I’d be happy to act before the end of the year because it is of an urgent nature, I mean your rent increases kick in at the beginning of January. And I say that sincerely because I think we can talk about doing things on a long range calendar… but I understand you would like some immediate attention and I hope that I can be part of a solution on an immediate basis.”
Mayor Sue Greenwald also indicated a willingness to act immediately:
“Why don’t we authorize Harriet [Steiner] to look into our legal options and if there are option, why don’t we ask Bill [Emlen] to schedule an emergency meeting.”
Councilmember Don Saylor indicated that neither he nor two of his colleagues would be in town during this time:
“I think there will be two of you in town during that time…”
He also expressed reticence to act immediately even if he were in town.
“Like everybody, I think we’re all touched, nobody likes this situation and we’re very touched by the presence of the people in the room tonight. But I think we have to act within the bounds of what we can do and be clear about that. While it’s possible that we could be the first city in the state, or one of the first, to implement a rent control mechanism, it’s not likely. And it’s not going to happen in the next couple of weeks. I think that we ought to be looking at the things that we can do and working with the management of Atria to try to get them to participate in a voluntary mediation has potential, it’s possible. I don’t know if it’s going to be successful. But it’s certainly worth trying… So I think we should do the things we can, within the authority we have, and test the bounds by exploration. But I don’t think we can do something within the next few weeks, no matter what we do.”
Michelle Reardon, who sits on the Social Services Commission and also practices in geriatric counseling, suggested there may be little a local entity can do at this point. She expressed regrets that Atria was licensed by the Department of Social Services to be a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly. Once licensed she believed that the state and not the city had jurisdiction over “rent.”
This brings forward a larger issue of about Senior Care Facilities and licensing. A quick search for Atria finds a troubled organization with a wide array of complaints against it.
Channel 13 in Sacramento reports on a residential protest at an Atria facility in Sacramento.
“Nobody at this senior home wants to go, they just don’t know if they can afford to stay. They were told that their rents were being raised, the residents got together and figured out that the increases range from six up to eleven percent.
…
Arthur’s rent is increasing more than $4,000 next year.
…
The reason they’ve been given was that the building is riddled with dry rot, but residents don’t believe that’s financial burden to bear.
Some increase is expected, three or four percent is average at other homes. But, the overall feeling here is that management is unfairly taking money these people spent their lives saving.”
In the meantime, Atria faces federal investigations for the violations of workers’ rights:
“At facilities around the country, Atria is now facing a large number of federal investigations over charges that the company violated federal labor law, including threatening, intimidating, spying on, and otherwise violating the rights of employees who have been active in forming a union for improvements at their facilities”
And when workers at these care facilities has attempted to unionize, Atria has resorted to standard intimidation, harassment, and disciplining of workers.
“I was fired because I want a voice on the job. Atria needs to listen to workers so that residents get the care, staffing, and services they deserve. We’re forming a union for a voice in care for residents and working conditions for workers,” said Radika Munna, a former employee at Atria Senior Living, during a candlelight vigil where community leaders gathered to support workers who have been harassed for their efforts to improve conditions for workers and residents by forming a union at Atria Shaker in Lynbrook, New York.
These complaints bring up the question of who licenses these facilities and how local communities and counties can insure that when they provide for Senior Housing, that these provisions are met in a responsible manner. Local governments should not lose control of their authority once they grant building permits and zoning changes. How does a community like Davis, insure that once they provide these facilities, that their residents receive the type of care, attention, and affordability that they deserve?
Obviously this is a much broader question than can be addressed now. But it is imperative that the City of Davis along with Yolo County and other advocacy groups look at what is happening nationwide with companies like Atria and take steps to insure that this never happens again.
—Doug Paul Davis reporting
Sounds like Saylor is taking a sensible, realistic approach given that the City has no authority here. Residential Care Facilities are regulated by the State. Any City action would appear to be preempted and would end up costing the City time and $$ in legal proceedings. Lamar is over-reaching and over-promising pretending he can take emergency action when he cannot.
Sounds like Saylor is taking a sensible, realistic approach given that the City has no authority here. Residential Care Facilities are regulated by the State. Any City action would appear to be preempted and would end up costing the City time and $$ in legal proceedings. Lamar is over-reaching and over-promising pretending he can take emergency action when he cannot.
Sounds like Saylor is taking a sensible, realistic approach given that the City has no authority here. Residential Care Facilities are regulated by the State. Any City action would appear to be preempted and would end up costing the City time and $$ in legal proceedings. Lamar is over-reaching and over-promising pretending he can take emergency action when he cannot.
Sounds like Saylor is taking a sensible, realistic approach given that the City has no authority here. Residential Care Facilities are regulated by the State. Any City action would appear to be preempted and would end up costing the City time and $$ in legal proceedings. Lamar is over-reaching and over-promising pretending he can take emergency action when he cannot.
That’s interesting because I have the opposite reaction. Both Lamar and Sue requested that Harriet find out if there is anything legal that could be done by the city and Don rejected that possibility out of hand. He may turn out to be correct on that point, but rejecting it out of hand is probably not a good approach.
The second thing I find concerning is that City Councilmembers if they could take action ought to be obligated to cancel their vacations and do so. Again, it is possible that Don is correct–indeed likely–but why close doors to possibilities.
That’s interesting because I have the opposite reaction. Both Lamar and Sue requested that Harriet find out if there is anything legal that could be done by the city and Don rejected that possibility out of hand. He may turn out to be correct on that point, but rejecting it out of hand is probably not a good approach.
The second thing I find concerning is that City Councilmembers if they could take action ought to be obligated to cancel their vacations and do so. Again, it is possible that Don is correct–indeed likely–but why close doors to possibilities.
That’s interesting because I have the opposite reaction. Both Lamar and Sue requested that Harriet find out if there is anything legal that could be done by the city and Don rejected that possibility out of hand. He may turn out to be correct on that point, but rejecting it out of hand is probably not a good approach.
The second thing I find concerning is that City Councilmembers if they could take action ought to be obligated to cancel their vacations and do so. Again, it is possible that Don is correct–indeed likely–but why close doors to possibilities.
That’s interesting because I have the opposite reaction. Both Lamar and Sue requested that Harriet find out if there is anything legal that could be done by the city and Don rejected that possibility out of hand. He may turn out to be correct on that point, but rejecting it out of hand is probably not a good approach.
The second thing I find concerning is that City Councilmembers if they could take action ought to be obligated to cancel their vacations and do so. Again, it is possible that Don is correct–indeed likely–but why close doors to possibilities.
We do not need bureaucratic bean-counters representing us on our Council. We need people with values and a vision that can make us proud of our city. Our well-paid city staff and consultants earn their salaries by researching and then explaining to the Council how/if/why the Council’s vision can or cannot be implemented.
We do not need bureaucratic bean-counters representing us on our Council. We need people with values and a vision that can make us proud of our city. Our well-paid city staff and consultants earn their salaries by researching and then explaining to the Council how/if/why the Council’s vision can or cannot be implemented.
We do not need bureaucratic bean-counters representing us on our Council. We need people with values and a vision that can make us proud of our city. Our well-paid city staff and consultants earn their salaries by researching and then explaining to the Council how/if/why the Council’s vision can or cannot be implemented.
We do not need bureaucratic bean-counters representing us on our Council. We need people with values and a vision that can make us proud of our city. Our well-paid city staff and consultants earn their salaries by researching and then explaining to the Council how/if/why the Council’s vision can or cannot be implemented.
“…but why close doors to possibilities.”
…and most importantly, the city actively pursuing these possiblities is the most significant leverage that can move Atria in the upcoming “voluntary” mediation efforts; an observation that I cannot believe Don Saylor is unaware of.
“…but why close doors to possibilities.”
…and most importantly, the city actively pursuing these possiblities is the most significant leverage that can move Atria in the upcoming “voluntary” mediation efforts; an observation that I cannot believe Don Saylor is unaware of.
“…but why close doors to possibilities.”
…and most importantly, the city actively pursuing these possiblities is the most significant leverage that can move Atria in the upcoming “voluntary” mediation efforts; an observation that I cannot believe Don Saylor is unaware of.
“…but why close doors to possibilities.”
…and most importantly, the city actively pursuing these possiblities is the most significant leverage that can move Atria in the upcoming “voluntary” mediation efforts; an observation that I cannot believe Don Saylor is unaware of.
That’s a very good point in terms of leverage.
I think that discussion is important for a number of reasons, but my biggest concern is looking at the company, Atria, looking at the type of company it is, I would not want my parents or loved ones to be involved with such a company. And so we need to as a community have a bigger discussion on this point.
One question we need to ask is whether we can entrust senior care to for-profit companies. I hope Supervisor Yamada, Supervisor Thomson, the Board of Supervisors and the City Council look into this crisis once we have gotten past this point and really look at how we want to do senior housing and senior care in this community. Because I’ll say this right now, Atria is a huge problem that we are going to have to deal with now for years to come.
That’s a very good point in terms of leverage.
I think that discussion is important for a number of reasons, but my biggest concern is looking at the company, Atria, looking at the type of company it is, I would not want my parents or loved ones to be involved with such a company. And so we need to as a community have a bigger discussion on this point.
One question we need to ask is whether we can entrust senior care to for-profit companies. I hope Supervisor Yamada, Supervisor Thomson, the Board of Supervisors and the City Council look into this crisis once we have gotten past this point and really look at how we want to do senior housing and senior care in this community. Because I’ll say this right now, Atria is a huge problem that we are going to have to deal with now for years to come.
That’s a very good point in terms of leverage.
I think that discussion is important for a number of reasons, but my biggest concern is looking at the company, Atria, looking at the type of company it is, I would not want my parents or loved ones to be involved with such a company. And so we need to as a community have a bigger discussion on this point.
One question we need to ask is whether we can entrust senior care to for-profit companies. I hope Supervisor Yamada, Supervisor Thomson, the Board of Supervisors and the City Council look into this crisis once we have gotten past this point and really look at how we want to do senior housing and senior care in this community. Because I’ll say this right now, Atria is a huge problem that we are going to have to deal with now for years to come.
That’s a very good point in terms of leverage.
I think that discussion is important for a number of reasons, but my biggest concern is looking at the company, Atria, looking at the type of company it is, I would not want my parents or loved ones to be involved with such a company. And so we need to as a community have a bigger discussion on this point.
One question we need to ask is whether we can entrust senior care to for-profit companies. I hope Supervisor Yamada, Supervisor Thomson, the Board of Supervisors and the City Council look into this crisis once we have gotten past this point and really look at how we want to do senior housing and senior care in this community. Because I’ll say this right now, Atria is a huge problem that we are going to have to deal with now for years to come.
this is the logical outcome of relying upon for-profit private corporations to serve the general welfare.
am i the only person here who sees a parallel between atria and sodexho?
this is the logical outcome of relying upon for-profit private corporations to serve the general welfare.
am i the only person here who sees a parallel between atria and sodexho?
this is the logical outcome of relying upon for-profit private corporations to serve the general welfare.
am i the only person here who sees a parallel between atria and sodexho?
this is the logical outcome of relying upon for-profit private corporations to serve the general welfare.
am i the only person here who sees a parallel between atria and sodexho?
I agree completely. Sodexho was the first thing I thought of when I started seeing some of these complaints. Sodexho has a very similar anti-union, exploitative business record.
I agree completely. Sodexho was the first thing I thought of when I started seeing some of these complaints. Sodexho has a very similar anti-union, exploitative business record.
I agree completely. Sodexho was the first thing I thought of when I started seeing some of these complaints. Sodexho has a very similar anti-union, exploitative business record.
I agree completely. Sodexho was the first thing I thought of when I started seeing some of these complaints. Sodexho has a very similar anti-union, exploitative business record.