Please protest the aggressive action taken by MCAS Director Jackie Rose who has refused a postponement of an animal control hearings for a defendant who due to her severe psychological state and medical condition is wholly incapable of assisting in her representation or representing herself. The hearing is tomorrow January 17 2018, in Multnomah County, the Yeon Building 3:00 PM. There is no case number but the defendant’s dog’s ID: “Rosie MCAS 118122.” The postponement was declined today. The dishonest response to this concern from the Multnomah County follows as does the rebuttal to the falsehood. ------------The initial appeal to the county: Tue, Jan 16, 2018 at 1:41 PM, Gail O’Connell Babcock wrote: TO THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY COMMISSION: AN URGENT TIME SENSITIVE COUNTY AGENCY CIVIL RIGHTS CONCERN To: The Multnomah County Commission Deborah Kafoury, County Chair Sharon Meieran, Commissioner District 1, Loretta Smith, Commissioner District 2 Jessica Vega Pederson, Commissioner District 3, Lori Stegman, Commissioner District 4 To: Steve March, Multnomah County Auditor Please see the summary correspondence below. Jackie Rose, MCAS Director, has refused to postpone an animal control hearing scheduled for tomorrow, January 17, 2018 despite a request that a failure to postpone poses a serious suicide risk and/or catastrophic breakdown of the defendant involved described in correspondence from the defendant’s clinical social worker, and her pro bono Attorney Robert Babcock. Troubling Concerns: MCAS knew on its first visit that [ the defendant] was unable to care for herself due to psychological and physical trauma (assaults) and was a victim exploited by others in a chaotic environment. She was unable to defend herself. MCAS has a documented history of exploiting and trampling over the rights of vulnerable populations: the mentally ill, the poor, the homeless and minorities demonstrated again in this urgent case. MCAS did not immediately call Social Services. They exploited it. Fully aware of the chaos, uninvited residents who had moved in, and need for immediate social service intervention MCAS chose to take advantage of [ the defendant] fragile psychological and medical condition (the defendant has uncontrolled frequent seizures). She is unable to defend herself. I am asking that the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners immediately intervene to honor its values. Exploitation of vulnerable fragile populations runs completely against this commission’s values, the Equity lens mandate, an acknowledgment of civil liberties for everyone and the Americans with Disabilties Act. Can this not be solved humanely and wisely without exploitation of a vulnerable fragile person by MCAS Director Jackie Rose to “just get this over with?” Gail O’Connell-Babcock, PhD, Citizens for Humane Animal Legislation/Watchdog Sent by e-mail and by fax From: Robert E. Babcock Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2018 11:19 AM To: Linda Beloof [ the Hearings officer] Cc: 'David Blankfeld' [ county counsel] Subject: FW: Defendant Ms. Beloof: I do request postponement of [ the defendant’s] hearing. I informally requested MCAS (through Mr. Blankfeld) to postpone. I learned about an hour ago that MCAS wished to proceed. The letter from LCSW [ the defend forwarded to Mr. Blankfeld and offered in support of this request appears below. [ The defendant’s clinical social worker] conclusion supports my own lay evaluation of [ the defendant’s] condition, her inability to assist in her and her dog’s defense, and the risks of proceeding at this time: “I am concerned that a decision to destroy this animal would send my very fragile client over the edge. She has almost no financial resources and is not in a stable mental state. I would ask the court to hold off on an action that could very well result in a breakdown of some proportion, until a thorough neurological and psychiatric exam can be done.” I think postponement is the wisest course for all of us. Robert E. Babcock Excerpted letter from the defendant’s clinical social worker: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1O74XX7w9eJ-dZ1U9SUXJhWudfrmTfHIl ------------Multnomah County’s response: From: [ The Multnomah County Commissioners’ office] To: Gail O’Connell Babcock Tuesday Jan 16, 2018 5:15 pm Subject: Re: TO THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY COMMISSION: URGENT TIME SENSITIVE COUNTY CIVIL RIGHTS CONCERN: psychologically and medically vulnerable defendant in an acute mental health crisis Good afternoon, Ms. Babcock, ….” Thank you for your email and for bringing this matter to our attention. I want you to know that we have reached out to the Department of Community Services and our County Attorney's Office on this matter and were informed that the County does not have authority to delay [ the defendant’s] hearing as the Hearings Officer is not a County employee. That having been said, we were concerned as to the reports of [ the defendant’s] potential or current mental health crisis. Given yours, and subsequently [her treating clinical social worker’s] testimony to [ the defendant’s] mental status, we asked our County Crisis Center to reach out to [ the defendant] to offer pathways to mental health services. Additionally, I have attached to this email a list of mental health services that [ the defendant] could utilize. Should you contact her anytime soon, I ask you pass this information along to her. If you think there is a chance that [ the defendant] is in imminent danger of hurting herself, please contact 911 immediately. Thank you again for bringing this matter to our attention. Please let me know if there is any additional information I can provide. Constituent Relations & Policy Liaison ------------The follow-up response: From: Gail O’Connell Babcock To: district 2 district2@multco.us>; district3 ; district4 ; mult.chair ; mult.auditor TO THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY COMMISSION: URGENT TIME SENSITIVE COUNTY CIVIL RIGHTS CONCERN To: the constituent relations and policy liaison representative Thank you for reaching out with cold comfort. Indeed, the following statement is completely false: “The County does not have authority to delay [ the defendant’s] hearing as the Hearings Officer is not a County employee.” The county does and indeed has often in the past. They do it all the time and I can provide the records. Anybody who told you that is a liar. IN FACT, one can delay. That is also not the report from an attorney at the Disability Rights Oregon. If County Chair Deborah Kafoury and the county commission is satisfied with this response, then this commission has completely failed its public duties. [ The defendant] cannot provide coherent testimony on her behalf. To try her now is no different than stripping her and making her run down the road exposed and naked. I am a trained psychologist. I have never seen such amorality and blasé attitude toward mental health and the vulnerable populations you claim to protect. Instead of stopping a tragedy by allowing time for solutions that don't risk life you have given me a mop and bucket to clean it up. Good day, sir. Gail O'Connell-Babcock, PhD Contact Information: Multnomah County Board of Commissioners Deborah Kafoury, County Chair Telephone: (503) 988-3308 E-mail: mult.chair@multco.us Sharon Meieren, Commissioner, District 1 Telephone: (503) 988-5220 E-mail: district1@multco.us Loretta Smith, Commissioner, District 2 Telephone: (503) 988-5219 E-mail: district2@multco.us Jessica Vega Pederson, District 3 Telephone: (503) 988-5217 E-mail: district3@multco.us Lori Stegman, District 4 Telephone: (503) 988-5213 E-mail: district4@multco.us