Tulsa County Sherrif Against Working Blin...

<p>On behalf of <strong><u>All Working Blind Individuals</u></strong> that choose to work rather than collect a disability check.</p><p><strong>SUBJECT: House Bills 1196; 2230; & 2278</strong></p><p>These house bills are attempting to amend Oklahoma Statute Title VII whereby County Commissaries would become exempt from the statute; thereby removing opportunities for blind individuals to become self-supporting rather than depending on a disability check.</p><p>In 1994 in the case of Glanz v. McCray, the Tulsa County Commissioners and Sheriff lost the case where they tried to remove a blind individual from making an honest living. <u>Now it seems they are attempting the same battle on a new battlefield.</u></p><p>Mike Spencer, the current blind individual operating the Tulsa County Jail Commissary not only employs his regular full time staff but also employs part-time jail detention officers.</p><p>In the year 2016 the following agencies/individuals benefited from the earnings of this county commissary:</p><p>Tulsa County Sheriff&rsquo;s Department&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $ 110,492.00</p><p>Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitative Services&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $ 73, 662.00</p><p>Oklahoma Tax Commission&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $ 115,016.00</p><p>Jail Detention officers & Commissary Employees&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $ 204,084.00</p><p>Aramark (Kiosk and equipment supplier)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $ 169,060.00</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oklahoma vendors supplying commissary products &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$ 653,471.00</p><p>Mr. Spencer played OU football through two National Championships then went to work as a dock supervisor until he lost his vision overnight in the mid 1990&rsquo;s and was forced to quit. He went unemployed for years until he learned of the EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES afforded blind individuals provided by Title VII.</p><p>He continues to operate Tulsa County Commissary and deliver commissary goods to inmates when he is never paid by Tulsa County Sheriff&rsquo;s Department in a timely fashion.</p><p>Currently the Tulsa County Sheriff&rsquo;s Department is behind in payments for goods delivered to inmates by Mr. Spencer to the tune of $ 77,000.00. Delinquent payments are very normal for the Tulsa County Sheriff&rsquo;s Department but they continue to demand purchase and delivery of commissary goods which Mr. Spencer must pay for while awaits his payment.</p><p>It seems that the greed of the Tulsa representatives: Kirby, Mulready and O&rsquo;Donnell and the Tulsa County Sheriff&rsquo;s department is more important than allowing blind and other disabled individuals the right to earn a living and contribute to society in a positive manner.</p><p>WORKING BLIND INDIVIDUALS ARE BEING TREATED UNFAIRLY.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mike Spencer</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 918-640-1807</p>