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GREG WALTERS

FOREWORD BY ALDERMAN GREG WALTERS

This week we are turning our front page over to Jessica Haynes. Mrs. Haynes is leading a state-wide effort to protect funding for families with children with autism. The funding would help support families to afford raising their children at home. Medical professionals endorse this proactive plan as the best for the child and the families who are faced with the responsibility of bringing their children up to prepare them to become a viable member of the community.

A United Front for
Eastern Jackson County PART 2

By Jessica Haynes

Raytown has always been a city that stands together. On Tuesday, April 21th at 7:00 PM, my family and I will be at City Hall to ask the Mayor and Raytown Board of Aldermen to take a formal stand for our neighbors with disabilities.

We are requesting a Proclamation to protect the Self-Directed Supports (SDS) program—a lifeline that allows residents like my son, AJ, to live at home, hire his own support staff, and continue to remain a vital part of the community he loves.

The State is Watching Raytown! 

This isn't just a local conversation; it has become a statewide story. Journalist Stoker Wieczorek recently highlighted Raytown in Ozarks First, noting that our community is at the forefront of the fight for disability rights. For those who cannot join us in person, the meeting will be live-streamed, allowing the entire region to see Raytown’s leadership in action as we stand up for our own.

The "Budget Boomerang" Effect:

As of July 1st, a state budget cliff threatens to "zero out" the safety infrastructure of this program. This is more than a policy shift; it is a massive fiscal failure.

• The Math: Supporting a neighbor at home costs roughly $50,000 a year.
• The Crisis: Without these supports, the state is legally forced to institutionalize that same person at a cost of over $600,000 a year.

By "saving" a few dollars today, the state is effectively signing a half-million-dollar bill for Missouri taxpayers tomorrow. This is a "Budget Boomerang" that will hit Raytown and our great state of Missouri as a whole 12 times harder than the money the state claims to be saving.

A Bipartisan Fight for Dignity!

We are not fighting this battle alone. We are incredibly grateful for the leadership of Senator Barbara Washington and Representative Donna Barnes, who are championing our cause in the Capitol.

We are also heartened by the powerful commitment from Senator Rusty Black, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Black recently stated that these services are "lifelines that allow Missourians with developmental disabilities to live with dignity."

Senator Black has pledged to work with his colleagues to restore these critical funds. By issuing this Proclamation, our Mayor and Board of Aldermen will provide these state leaders with the "ammunition" they need to tell the Governor: "Raytown protects its own. We choose Independence over Institutions."

We believe that families are the best "quality control." Unlike state-run institutions that often hide behind bureaucratic layers, the SDS model creates a direct line of accountability. We hire, train, and supervise because we are the ones who truly know and care for the people we love.

Join Us at City Hall . . . 

We invite all our Raytown neighbors to join us on April 14th. We will meet in front of City Hall at 6:45 PM for a community photo before the meeting begins at 7:00 PM. Let's show Missouri that Raytown is a Community of advocates who support dignity, fiscal resposibility and most importantly . . . each other.

Raytown Fire Protection District News 

BY GREG WALTERS

The Raytown Fire District is looking for additional storage space for its growing supply of medical equipment such as . . . crutches, wheelchairs, shower stools, and even hospital beds. These items are provided to residents throughout the Community Paramedic Program run by Matt Cushman of the Raytown Fire Protection Disrict. If you need equipment or would like to donate, please contact Mr. Cushman at 816-737-6035.