The Quarterly has been made privy to a harrowing story o f red tape asphixiation that might sn u f f out the breath o f 9-year-old Jack Nunn. CLINTON STREET EXPOSE By Lenny Dee Every day of the week, ace Chicago columnist Mike Royko writes of horrible asphixiations of simple justice at the hands of bureaucratic Catch-22s. He'll break your heart over the legless man who panhandles to find a permanent place of residence in order to receive Social Security benefits and then have the bureaucrats tell him that his increased income from panhandling will cut his Social Security benefits to the point where food and shelter are unaffordable. Or Royko might infuriate you with other tales of young punks threatening the lives of decent, hard-working citizens, yet are allowed to roam the streets on six months’ probation while a Windy City family makes a fortress of their apartment. Most Oregon chauvinists live here under the assumption that these bureaucratic snafus are relics of the older, decaying East. Lately it seems this myth might have as many holes in it as the Oregon State line. In the last month, the papers have detailed a depressing account of a young black man’s first days on a construction job in Central Oregon that in ugliness can be compared to James Meredith trying to integrate the University of Mississippi—yet neither the union nor the human rights commission felt empowered to help this beleaguered lad. Recently the Quarterly has been made privy to a harrowing story of red tape asphixiation that might snuff out the breath of 9-year-old Jack Nunn, who, for six years, has depended on expensive oxygen machinery to help his badly scarred lungs breathe. At age 3 Jack contracted viral pneumonia, which permanently scarred his lungs and required him to be on 24-hour oxygen supply. At that time, Jack's father's health insurance covered the crisis. Shortly thereafter Jack’s mom and dad got divorced. Mrs. Nunn remarried in the interim and Mr. Nunn quit his job, dropping their health insurance policy. His new stepdad could obviously not find an insurance company willing to provide coverage. Therefore, the State picked them up on the ADC stepfather grant. So the stepfather grant became crucial to Jack’s survival. This spring, Proposition 13 fever hit the legislature, and the stepfather grants were discontinued, leaving Jack’s lungs high and dry. The family continues to pile up huge bills while they frantically search for assistance. (The portable and home oxygen supply runs them $1,000 a month.) Jack’s mom contacted Congressman Les AuCoin’s office, and they tried to get help from the State Emergency Medical Care, without success. On her own, and with AuCoin’s office’s help, she contacted the Red Cross—who has no funding for such cases—the Oregon Lung Foundation (funded by Easter Seals), which only does research and education and does not provide direct assistance: Social Security: and the Shriners Hospital. Some of these agencies are not chartered to help such cases. Others, because the stepfather makes a moderate income, cannot help even though the monthly cost of the machines is three-fourths of his income. One charity could have helped only if the lung disease was a nonprimary illness, but Jack’s lung problem is very prim a ry . . . . Ironically, the only plan that could have helped is Multnomah County's Project Health (with only one year to live, thanks to Proposition 13 fever), but since Jack lives in Washington County. . . . All this activity is compounded by governmental officials flying around in circles and getting stuck on the flypaper. Senator Ed Fadeley, who introduced part of the welfare cutback legislation, was assured by Keith Putnam —Director of Adult and Family Services—that the State would find assistance. Marlene Haugland, Mr. Putnam's Executive Assistant, assured the Quarterly that they have been aware of the family for many years and that the branch office worked for many weeks in helping— there just wasn’t anything available. According to Ms. Haugland, it's frustrating to have need determined by the black and white on paper when there is a lot of gray in this world. Terry Anderson, who works at the Tri-County Community Council, helped the AuCoin office in their search for assistance and found local charities unwilling or unable to help, and the Washington County welfare workers slowed to a standstill by inertia and disappointment in the bureaucracy, without confidence in taking the case to higher offices. Caught in a Catch-22, Jack’s mom feels that no one would dare take the machine from her son despite all ’he “hot air" being blown her way by those concerned. To her, it's a matter of setting a precedent that might help others caught in the red tape nightmare of our bureaucracy. The last time I called Jack's house, it took every ounce of hjs lung power to call his mother to the phone before a heartbreaking wheezing cough set in. For what reason does government exist if it cannot aid a Jack Nunn? / / w we buy used records ARTICHOKE MUSIC 10:30-5:30 ♦monday-saturday ♦722 northwest 21st ♦243*0356 1____________________________________________ F 7
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc4NTAz