. -- jim donado. >> i am also a former deputy city attorney and it is nice to be back with an older client [laughter] as we think about the critical first step, it is important to be candid, forthright, and up front on if we can afford this. is this a fiscally responsible road to start traveling down? the answer is, we have really solid evidence that has been prepared over the last couple of years that not only can we afford it, the expenditures that we make to provide civil counsel, it pays back by multiples of five-seven times each. in new york state in 2010 and the great state of texas in 2009, both commissioned independent studies to look at this exact question. what are the fiscal impacts of paying for civil representation? in both studies, they found that for every dollar spent by the local government entity, $5-$7 was brought back to the community. one is the savings to the local government and the costs avoided in dealing with the disruptions from homelessness, foster care, educational issues, those savings. and federal benefit money brought back to the community. there are tons of