
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 1, 1994                   TAG: 9407010106
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WELFARE REFORM LEAVES CITIZENS SPEECHLESS

Barbara Webb of Norfolk sat patiently for two hours Wednesday night to tell Gov. George Allen's welfare reform commission about her struggle to raise three children as a single mother.

But Webb never got the chance. State Secretary of Health and Human Resources Kay Coles James ended the meeting promptly at 8, before everyone gathered at the Norfolk City Council Chambers had a chance to speak.

The experience left Webb wondering if the so-called Governor's Commission on Citizen Empowerment was really interested in hearing from ordinary people.

"Those of us who are raising our children alone should have had an opportunity to speak," she said Thursday.

Another woman who was turned away at the meeting put it more bluntly.

"This was nothing more than a photo op," said Brenda McCormick of Virginia Beach, a blunt-spoken advocate for single mothers.

David Caprara, executive director of the empowerment commission, said he did not know how many potential speakers were turned away.

Webb was upset that many of the 25 or so people who did get to speak represented community service agencies, social services or other groups that "worked the business of poverty."

Webb, who submitted her remarks in writing after the meeting, said she couldn't understand why James didn't extend the meeting, which is what happened last year when a large number of people attended a welfare reform hearing sponsored by Lt. Gov. Don Beyer.

"Beyer stayed until everyone had a chance to speak," she said.

James could not be reached for comment Thursday. A spokesman explained that the meeting was not extended because several commission members, who had spent the day meeting with public housing residents and other community groups, had to drive home that night, some as far as Bristol.

"Secretary James was not trying to avoid anyone," said Martin Brown, one of her assistants.

Brown said the commission staff would be glad to arrange special meetings with Webb, McCormick or anyone else who had signed up to speak at the Norfolk forum.

by CNB