Prop 415 the Pima County way

The ads sold the idea that friends and neighbors were banding together in a grassroots effort to pass Pima County’s Prop 415 to save the community’s pets. Those ads appeared to have resonated with over 60 percent of the voters.

However, the truth is slightly different than the sales pitch. Of the $150,000 plus raised by the PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) committee, over $126,000 was contributed by handful of County contractors, developers, builders, and beneficiaries. According to campaign finance documents, only a small amount was raised by the committee, through an energetic email campaign, and outreach events with the help of high priced consultants and other vendors.

pima-county-prop-415It is distinctly possible that the same people who provide medical services to Pima County Jail inmates wanted to donate $5,000 to “PAWS” for the future care of the pit bulls abandoned by the inmates in their care. Correct Care Solutions (CCS), out of Nashville, did not respond to inquiry as to why the company would make such a generous contribution to protect our community’s “pets.”

Correct Care Solutions (CCS) is paid millions of dollars a year for services rendered to drunk drivers, drug dealers, wife beaters, and other nefarious Pima County friends and family members. According to their website, “CCS employs over 11,000 employees and cares for approximately 250,000 lives in 38 states.” Through “consumer demand,” the company has “grown into a progressive and customer-oriented leader within the correctional health care field…..” CCS offers “comprehensive medical, dental and behavioral health services for inmates.”

A contribution of $5,000 is relatively small for an organization like CONMED INC. (CCS), that appears to thrive in the 8th poorest metropolitan area in the country. Pima County, with its high poverty rate and growing desperation, has a real need for inmate health services. For example, from July 24, 2014 to September 25, 2014, CONMED INC (CCS), billed Pima County $902,780.19, $5,890.00, $918,698.30, and for $911,270.45 for a total of $2,738,638.94 in “Non-Medical Services,” and “Medical Services.”

CCS isn’t the only deep-pocketed neighbor who wanted to help out our “pets.” Developers and builders such as Don Diamond, Al Norville, Sundt, BFL Construction, and Bob Gugino, kicked in over $65,000 to the PAWS cause. They were joined by the University of Arizona Health Network and TMC, who handed over $15,000 each.

Pima County politicos and their associates rounded out the big donor list. Bronson for Supervisor contributed $500, and Raul Grijalva’s PAC contributed a mere $250. Larry Hecker and his firm Hecker and Muehlebach were very generous with multiple contributions totaling $2000. And of course, SEIU donated a portion of their hard-working members’ dues too in the amount of $1000.

In the end, it will be the people in South Tucson and other Pima County pockets of poverty that will feel the pressure of the cost of the $22 million pet shelter bond package and long term care costs for the mostly pit bulls at the shelter for the rest of their natural lives. That’s the Pima County way!

Check back tomorrow for our coverage of the consultants and strategists behind the PAWS victory…..

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