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Dear Guv: Are You on The Dole, Too?

Cathy's Latest Rant: State of California's New Disability Program Leaves Disabled Without Money for Food, Rent

Dear Readers,


I’m on the Dole. I’m getting a check from the State of
California for Short Term Disability. Recently the State went to a different
program for customers, the disabled California residents. We now are required
to enter all our disability information online, using Java Script, and instead

of a check mailed in, we get a Visa Debit/Credit Card. How’s it working? Awful.
 (See this online article)


Below is a plea I sent, online to Governor Jerry Brown, on
November 2nd. I didn’t get my Disability payment until December. I
applied in October. Now, for the record, while working at Autodesk in San
Rafael in 2011, my manager advised that I go on disability as I had such
searing back pain. I was attempting to drive into work, take a Vicodin, fix
software developer, programmer, and technical writer computer issues and image
hundreds of machines per quarter, work 40-45 hours a week minimum, make up any sick time taken for doctor’s appointments and physical therapy, and, of course, drive there and back. I changed all my medical to close to work so I didn’t
miss time.  Of course, it was my choice to work there for $70,000 annual salary, potential bonus, health benefits for my family, and stock options.

If I didn’t have my husband giving my $1500 per month to
cover my car payment and bills, I wouldn’t have had money for two months to
eat.  In December 2011, I got paid my disability within a few weeks, the old system of forms and faxing, compared to over 2 months this time, with the new, online, faster system.


Here’s my letter to the Guv. And, no, he didn’t answer it.


Am I mad? Oh yes. Am I impassioned to speak about this issue? Definitely,
definitely, yes. I’ve learned, by age 43, to make sure I backup what I say with
lots of data. I have worked in Information Technology for a long time.


Oh, and Guv? How’s your prostate doing? Did you go on State
Disability? Good luck getting through on the phone.



Dear Governor Jerry Brown,

I've been trying to get temporary disability or SDI. But,
alas, I can't get through to the EDD offices there by phone on the 800# line. I
searched the Internet, and looks like this has been an issue for at least three
years. There's a new online program for SDI, which I started. I printed out the
7 page form and took to my doctor's office to fill out and sign. But there's no
fax# or mailing address on the form. I called and called and called over 10
days, and can not get through. I sent an email, finally got a response and address
and fax#. After faxing, I tried to check on the online to see where it is.
There's some odd problem with my account, cathygodom  Instead of asking me for the password, it asks "What is the name of your fictional character?" And I can't go any further.


On Monday, October 29th, I called 916-654-0453 at 8:10AM (supplied by an email) and got a woman on the phone who was, unfortunately, not very pleasant. She put me on hold twice for 5 minutes and complained about her system "not being up". I finally got her in front of her computer screen, and gave her my social, and explained the problem, and she was short, rude, and didn't want to hear my problem, cut me off, and said "Jesus Christ, why are you calling me, we
don't do that." She thought it was a password issue and it (I believe) is
not. She only said my claim was "pending" and couldn't tell me
anymore. I needed to know if they got my fax OK and were working on it. I was
quite disappointed in her lack of customer service skills. So I composed
myself, and tried again on Wednesday, October 31st at 8:41AM. I did speak with
a nice, kind voice, named Colleen,(as I know government workers can be quite
kind, as I'd worked before for the City of Napa) and explained the problem and
she listed. She also went to the SDI logon page and typed in my user id of
cathygodom  and got the same issue. She said she would check on it and call me- she did call once, but said they were still "looking into it". She does have my phone number and hopefully she'll call back.


Governor, I am a regular person, needing assistance. I could
be a fellow neighbor, co-worker, friend. My family background is from San
Francisco, with my Dad's side being hard working Italian immigrants, working on
fishing boats at Fisherman's Wharf and living in North Beach. My Mom's family
were Polish immigrants, working in meat packing and later butcher shops in
Chicago, then near Yakima, and then in North Beach. Her father owned
"Speedy's" or "Spediacci's" up by Coit Tower, with both her
parents working there all day, and she taking care of her brother and sister, with
meals and cleaning. Both families worked hard to send their children to school,
to learn English, be good hard working citizens and raise families here in
California.


Governor Brown, I do respectfully ask, what is the plan to
help out EDD Disability and Unemployment call center and online? I ask as I
have 20 years of Computer and Information Technology background, with a degree from the University of California at Davis, working in corporate help desk and servicing fellow employees like Charles Schwab, MCI Systemhouse and Autodesk, a California based software company. Perhaps there is something I can do to help?



 

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Cathy Gumina Odom January 15, 2013 at 10:39 am
If you want to hear other voices, please check out Facebook's group for State of California Employment Development Department. There you'll see it's not just me.
Cathy Gumina Odom January 15, 2013 at 12:04 pm
Link to another news source about this issue: http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/Eyewitness-News-keeps-getting-EDD-questions-keeps-seeking-solutions-186092202.html
DBell January 15, 2013 at 01:43 pm
let me get this straight, you have decades of experience in IT yet instead of applying online you act like some 90 year old who has an aversion to using a computer?
MICHAEL P WILSON "Independent Kid" January 15, 2013 at 07:14 pm
Why would Brown be on the dole? He has a job.
Tim Fertiny January 15, 2013 at 07:20 pm
LMAO....Kid, as much as it pains me...your alright
Cathy Gumina Odom January 15, 2013 at 09:59 pm
Governor Jerry Brown, 74, was diagnosed recently with prostate cancer and taking radiation. And still working a full schedule. Impressive, actually, at his age and diagnosis. I'd rather be working than be on the Dole and getting a check for doing nothing. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/us/politics/california-governor-brown-being-treated-for-prostate-cancer.html
Paul Hubbard January 15, 2013 at 11:10 pm
The only person stopping you, is you. If you have time to go to Disney, on a cruise, attend crab feeds, eat out, etc. you have time and energy to work. Our Governor has figured it out and I assume he has a little more on his plate.
Cathy Gumina Odom January 16, 2013 at 01:14 am
Paul: Thank you, you are absolutely correct. If I stay home, on Vicodin, I'll be watching TV all day. If I'm taking Oxycontin, I'll be drooling on the couch. It's drivng me nuts. I need to work, to have a purpose, to DO something, to make a difference. The Guv can do it, on radiation, at age 74. But is he making a difference or going through the motions? I'm just blogging now. But today I started my classes at SRJC. I'm taking Journalism and working on the school paper. I'm going to make a difference. I'm learning how to write, the right way, so I can be an activist, for the disabled, Seniors, the Underdog. Anyone being bullied? "Call me, beep me, if you want to reach me" OK, no beepers anymore.
Dover January 16, 2013 at 01:19 am
How kind of your husband to make sure your bills are paid so that you can afford to eat. Most married men would spend that money on strippers and beer, not the basic needs of the woman with whom they took marriage vows.
He sounds like a keeper! Don't let him get away.
Paul Hubbard January 16, 2013 at 01:20 am
What's an activist make these days? I believe most are on the dole
Cathy Gumina Odom January 16, 2013 at 01:21 am
Java Script? It's been in the news lately for a security risk. I watched, in disbelief, yesterday, as a reporter met with someone somewhat technical, and advised just to uninstall it and not use it. Sure.... http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/u-s-agency-warns-of-java-software-problem/
MICHAEL P WILSON "Independent Kid" January 16, 2013 at 01:23 am
Paul one became president. lol
Paul Hubbard January 16, 2013 at 01:26 am
Point well taken ..lol
Cathy Gumina Odom January 16, 2013 at 01:48 am
Oh, and for us Disabled and on the Dole folks, here's the link to the SDI Page: http://edd.ca.gov/About_EDD/New_Automated_and_Online_Services.htm
Cathy Gumina Odom January 16, 2013 at 04:15 am
Dover: How kind of you to assume. I'm actually the one spending my Dole on beer tonight, bought a 12 pack of Sierra Nevada. I think there might be strip clubs still in Santa Rosa, I'll take a look tomorrow. I've no aversion to stuffing dollars in g-strings or paying for lap dances, which, BTW, charge you by the song in the background. I think three should do me just fine ;-)
Paul Hubbard January 16, 2013 at 02:29 pm
Again Cathy, as an adult you are free to post anything that fits within the guidelines of the site, but please be careful with your family since they did not sign up for your behavior. I may just be an old over protective daddy but you add way too much info to the select whacks that cruise the internet looking for things just like this. You've posted your address, phone numbers, admitted no guns at home, photos of husband and kids and many more facts about your personal life. Again its none of my business but you have to be careful on the internet, the thing is full of losers just waiting for this type of thing.
Julie DeSoto January 16, 2013 at 09:35 pm
Cathy, Java Script and Java are not the same product. It's the Java plug-in that is causing concerns. Java Script is needed on many sites to operate and participate.
Cathy Gumina Odom January 17, 2013 at 06:06 am
Paul thank you for your concern. I do honestly appreciate it. I'm ok and perfectly sane. My Dad was Tommy Gumina, (Gaeton Gumina) class of Saint Ignatious in SF. He was the immigrant kid from North Beach. Sicilian. Another kid in one of his yearbooks is our current Governor. Yes. Google it, and come back. Lets chat. dad trained me to protect myself. I have been to Roma, Porticello, Sicilia in the year 2000 and saw the Pope John Paul. I have pics too. Then circle back and say one word here. Engage.
Paul Hubbard January 17, 2013 at 02:22 pm
Haha... I never questioned your sanity, well not out loud anyway. I was only being a protective dad and feel you make it way too easy for whack jobs to find you.
I'm not sure what if any bearing you being Italian or vacationing to Italy has on this, I honestly believe nothing. Both sides of my family immigrated from Italy as well, while I'm proud of my heritage I don't feel it needs to be injected into every conversation as if it changes anything. I've also traveled Europe many times, spent months there on multiple occasions as a young man and been back 12 times as an adult. Should I go into my college roommate whom is on TV everyday? See, we all have history but it does not really matter to anyone else?
Cathy Gumina Odom January 17, 2013 at 07:07 pm
Ok the shocking truth: Sicilians have African blood. Google it. Google reason for mafei as Sicily was overrun by every damn country around it. Sicilians are dark skinned, dark haired, tan easily year round to any exposed skin. Several relatives are infertile and. Have adopted kids like me the token white chick in the pack. Anything online I've put is already searchable data or google able or on a govt database somewhere. Trust me. Any good Internet forensic specialist would find. It.
Cathy Gumina Odom January 17, 2013 at 07:09 pm
I'm on Facebook online as Cathy Gumina Odom, there are public files you can access w/o being my friend. And I'm on Linked In professionally as Cathy Gumina Odom from Napa Calif. go research my computer skills.
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Loui Loui June 17, 2013 at 08:58 am
An actual post with the information and image of the home on this site would've been helpful -Read More instead of just a lazy link.
F Otterbeck June 17, 2013 at 03:17 pm
Is there any way to remove the blogs from the news page? Blogs are not news. They are opinionRead More pieces, and I would like more news. thanks!
Keri Brenner (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 05:41 pm
Hi Beau and F: Yes, the &#39 are still there and not going away. I trust that tech people areRead More working on this...Sorry. And as far as the blogs being on the news stream, I can't change that except to keep the blogs mostly at the bottom and the news on top. The new platform is designed to highlight the blogs more than they were before. Occasionally if there is a timely, useful or highly newsworthy blog post I will move it up, but in general the news will be in the first 5 slots and the blog below. Hope that helps. Keri
F Otterbeck June 19, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Promoting blogs instead of news makes the Patch less useful. I liked having an alternate newsRead More source. Blogger promotion is too much like stroking the egos of local bloggers rather than promoting news and information. It seriously compromises the value of Napa Valley Patch as a news source.
Louisa Hufstader (Editor) June 16, 2013 at 02:47 am
Go, Jamie! I voted, all the way out here in lobsterland where I hope you and Kevin will visit someRead More day.
Roberta Goodin June 16, 2013 at 05:49 pm
Jamie, I have clicked on you several times and wish you the best! Salad sounds wonderful! Roberta
Jamie Brown Miller June 18, 2013 at 07:07 am
You're all so very kind! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Kimberly Olson June 14, 2013 at 08:18 am
It is easy to judge people from a distance. All of us have up and down times in life, none of usRead More have the same internal or external supports to deal with it all. Maybe those among us who feel superior could try to take a moment or more to see life from the perspective of someone who (even from a position of pain or vulnerability) has too much pride to accept the stigma of being in need of the social translation of "the lowest of the low" homeless shelter or addiction counseling. It feels good to try lifting others up rather than tearing them down; Maybe your smile or expression of something other than disgust could make a positive difference to move a person in need toward help.
Unfiltered Steve Simoneau June 14, 2013 at 06:17 pm
Lo! And behold! If you check today's (Friday, June 14) Fugitive page on Napa Valley Patch you willRead More see Benjamin Paz, the one and same who was arrested for being naked at the Expo.
Ray Richards June 15, 2013 at 06:16 pm
Thank you Marlene for your story, It is a tragic and difficult life that many homeless people haveRead More to live and I always thank my god that I have been more fortunate. I would like to respectfully suggest though that you break your future comments (and I hope there are many more) into paragraphs to make them easier to read. Thank you and I hope you well.
Keri Brenner (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Not the case. It's definitely on the list of stories to cover. Absolutely! Thanks for the reminder!
J. Roland Wagner June 13, 2013 at 08:06 am
Before advocating change, be sure of what you will obtain by such a change. I haven't seen anythingRead More that concerned me with Libersteins decisions.
MICHAEL WILSON June 13, 2013 at 08:27 pm
If He is running unopposed It would be a waste of Ink. Or in the case of media of the day A waste ofRead More electricity. Look at the County Sheriff We are stuck with Who ever the Union wants
Loui Loui June 13, 2013 at 10:25 pm
I'd like to show appreciation to my grandfather on Father's Day. He taught me how to cook a roast,Read More garden, work with tools, use a shotgun and appreciate our surrounding waters. Always a patient man, my grandfather showed me so much. I got scared once when I broke a tool when we were building a skateboard ramp. He just replied with, at least you know not to do that anymore. I always admired how my grandfather loves my grandmother so much. That's old, true love. Fairy tail kinda stuff. Love we all want to grow old with. I love my grandpa with all my heart.
Keri Brenner (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 06:19 pm
Hi Loui Loui: Your grandpa sounds wonderful!
Unfiltered Steve Simoneau June 13, 2013 at 10:41 am
Loui Loui, it's called false pretenses and misleading claims. While I understand it's not theRead More editor's or tech's fault, releasing a product to the public as "New with better features!" shouldn't mean that it comes with glitches, bugs and frustration. And unlike Google+ and FB, Napa Valley Patch didn't "come out", we had a NVP that was working perfectly fine and Corporate Patch decided to upgrade. Can you imagine the ether-riots if FB did an "upgrade" full of glitches and bugs"?
Unfiltered Steve Simoneau June 13, 2013 at 10:54 pm
Actually, Loui, I left FB two years ago and haven't been back since. And while Patch and FB may beRead More "free" services they rely on users to exist. It's a symbiotic relationship, so both sides must be content for it to work efficiently.
MICHAEL WILSON June 15, 2013 at 10:24 am
I am With USS on Facebook I have never Been there. I use the Patch and a few Blogs I also have myRead More own Website. Facebook has gone into the censorship business, from what many are telling me.
Unfiltered Steve Simoneau June 10, 2013 at 06:42 pm
Why the Hispanics need their own Chambers Of Commerce is a mystery to me. Racism is the promotion ofRead More one race above others. If I supported a White/Caucasian Chamber Of Commerce I'd be labeled a bigot and racist. One Chamber Of Commerce should suffice for ALL!
Harold Edwards June 11, 2013 at 01:15 am
All the Chamber of Commerce promotes is slave labor pure & simple.It screws the worker &Read More practices unfair labor for business big and small.They are not a team player there only for the team owner!! Don't fall for there wicked ways.
Renée Bell (Courtesy photo)
Amy Larson June 12, 2013 at 02:22 pm
It says 7 comments for this article when it's on the side. When you go to the post, there are 0.Read More This will show up as the first one.
Amy Larson June 12, 2013 at 02:23 pm
Sorry, "comment". Now it's adding to the count with each real comment.
gaylon June 6, 2013 at 03:39 pm
Loui Loui, Will do! So happy to hear of your interest in this important issue..
Janice Allgower June 11, 2013 at 10:21 am
Gaylon. I will be there and bring my husband along as well. Great speaker , he should really informRead More us all on just what is going on.....
gaylon June 11, 2013 at 11:03 am
Janice, Thank you for your interest...This is a huge concern for most citizens....Bring aRead More neighbor...See you there...