By Antonio R. Harvey | OBSERVER STAFF WRITER

As the talks of overhauling social security reach new levels around the country, a few residents in Sacramento wondered why there were not more African Americans at a town hall meeting recently to vent their concerns over the issue.

Larry Thomas, pastor of Gloryland Missionary Baptist Church in Stockton, said social security should be more stabilized, but not eliminated.

Under the title, “Social Security vs. Privatization?” the meeting convened at the Hart Senior Center on 27th and J streets to discuss whether the social security reform is a crisis, President George W. Bush’s proposal, issues concerning privatization and the personal responsibility to save.

In addition, the program and panel discussion addressed the alternatives for strengthening social security, and its impact on women, minorities, young workers and persons with disabilities.

A reflection of all races, nearly 40 people, old and young, from the community showed up for the meeting, though only seven African Americans were in attendance.

“I’m disappointed,” said Diana Madoshi, a medically retired Black women who sat on the five-person panel at the town hall meeting. “I want to see more African Americans at these events about social security reform. Right now, social security represents people of color and that’s why I’m here to speak on the behalf of African Americans.”

In reference to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare’s Viewpoint newsletter, “while social security is expected to be only one part of a person’s retirement income, minorities rely on it for more of their income.”

In a statement she did not agree with, Madoshi said she heard President Bush say social security reform would be “beneficiary” to African Americans.

“Without doing any research I just laughed at that,” Madoshi said of Bush’s assumption. “This plan (to reform), or non-plan, or thought or dream will not be beneficiary. African Americans, women and disabled persons will (only) be displaced by this plan.”

The two-hour town hall meeting was sponsored by several organizations including the Division of Social Work and the Gerontology Program at Sacramento State University, AARP, California Alliance for Retired Americans, Gray Panthers, the Older Women’s League, Resources for Independent Living and the Sacramento Central Labor Council.

The meeting covered many social security and Medicare issues, and it featured a panel discussion that allowed the attendees to participate.

Sacramento State’s emeritus professor of Social Work and Gerontology Emanuel Gale facilited the panel that consisted of Madoshi, Pete Martineau, Gloryland Missionary Baptist Church of Stockton Pastor Larry Thomas, Paula Beth Mann of the Older Women’s League, and local self-employed businesswoman Paula Lee.

On all fronts, each panelist had much reform information to share with attendees, including statistics concerning the poverty rate if social security benefits are cut.

“The poverty rate for Latinos would rise from 18 percent to 59,” said Mann, who worked for the State department on Aging. “It will rise from 24 percent to 65 for African Americans and from eight percent to 34 for Asians. These are figures I got from a Web site that was removed before Bush took office.”

Overall, Gale, Viet Nam veteran Jim Smith and NCPSSM District Manager Peter D’Anna made it clear that getting more African Americans involved with the town hall meetings is important, though the issue of social security reform involves everyone.

“I’ve heard a lot of things about rac,” Smith said. “But people have to understand that this is about as close to a civil war as it gets. This is a class war. It’s the haves against the have-nots. This issue includes all of us.”

For more information on town hall meetings on social security and getting more African Americans in the Sacramento region involved with the issue, call (916) 283-6345.

Following are some facts about social security from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare:

• About three-fourths of African Americans beneficiaries rely on social security for at least their income.
• Aproximately 45 percent of African Americans benefiicaries rely on social security for 90 percent or more of their income.
• In 2001, 29 percent of African Americans received income from private assets, compared with more than 63 percent of Whites.
• In 2001, 30 percent of Blacks 65 years old and over with income reported receiving income from pensions, compared to 42 percent of Whites 65 years and older.
• In 2001, 21 percent of Black elderly 65 years and older were poor, compared to seven percent of White elderly.
• If not for social security, the poverty rate for older African Americans would more than double from 22 percent to 57 percent.