Inclusion Daily Express -- Good News For Now: No LDC Funding In Governor's Budget

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Good News For Now: No LDC Funding In Governor's Budget
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
February 22, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS--In what might be considered a victory for community advocates, Governor Rod Blagojevich has not included any new money for Lincoln Developmental Center in his proposal for the state budget.

According to Friday's Pantagraph, the governor's annual budget would set aside $990,000 just to maintain the 103-acre property and the four recently-built, 10-bed facilities on the grounds.

Former Governor George Ryan ordered LDC to be shut down in 2002 following years of ongoing allegations of abuse and neglect at the facility, which housed about 250 people with developmental disabilities.

But Blagojevich promised to reopen LDC and get its 400 employees back to work during his successful campaign for governor. Blagojevich's original plan to reopen the 128-year-old institution was later scaled back to erecting a $10 million "community" of four buildings on the LDC campus to each house 10 people.

Following campaigns by advocates who said the plan would set the community living movement back decades, Blagojevich said in May 2006 that he was having second thoughts as to whether it made sense to continue with the "Lincoln Estates" project. The governor's next budget included no money for operating the facilities.

Last summer, however, Blagojevich seemed to reverse himself -- again -- as the Department of Human Services sought a permit from the state's Health Facilities Planning Board to begin operations at Lincoln Estates. About 20 disability rights activists interrupted the planning board's July 24 meeting, chanting "No more Lincoln!"

In September, after hundreds of activists from ADAPT shut down access to and from the governor's office building, Blagojevich promised in writing that LDC would never reopen as a developmental center, or institution.

Still, local politicians are looking for way to use the buildings and boost employment in the area.

Related:
"Lincoln Developmental Center won't open under new budget" (Pantagraph)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/red/0222e.htm
"Lincoln Developmental Center -- Illinois Governor Strives To Return To The Past" (Inclusion Daily Express Archives)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/institutions/il/ldc.htm

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