Growing up in Ukraine, back when it was a part of the Soviet Union, Valeriy Vernik learned to dread his encounters with obstinate bureaucracies.
Vernik's life is much easier today. He lives in a seniors housing complex in Hillcrest, where many of his neighbors are Russian-speaking immigrants like himself. And when he wants to relax, he goes fishing.
Recently, though, he hit a snag with the state Department of Fish and Game that reminded him of life in the old country.
When Vernik went to renew his fishing license, he was told he didn't qualify for California's low-income senior discount, which lops off about $30 from the $38.25 license fee.
Vernik, who is 67 and lives on Supplemental Security Income, had been given the discount previously. This year, he was told, he makes too much money. Yet the only change in his income was a cost-of-living increase to his SSI checks.
Was one hand of government giving while the other took away?
Puzzled, Vernik turned to his congresswoman, who referred him to his state assemblywoman, who told him that Fish and Game was right.
So in March, Vernik turned to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, explaining his predicament in a handwritten note.
“Please, help me and other low income senior citizens to solve this problem,” he wrote.
Two months later, the governor's office sent him a reply.
“Thank you for writing Governor Schwarzenegger to share your concerns about the 2008 salmon season,” it began.
“The salmon letter,” Vernik calls it, in his charming Ukrainian accent. “I never fish for salmon in California. I do not know what places.”
I arranged to meet Vernik one morning on the Ocean Beach Fishing Pier, where he and a friend, Anatoly Tsank, had cast their lines in the water near the little cafe.
The coastal haze was burning off and the long concrete pier was home mostly to joggers and fishers. A pelican lingered nearby, coaxing freebies from soft-hearted anglers.
Vernik greeted me in a thatched hat. A thickly built man, he is 5-foot-10, with strong hands, white hair and soft blue eyes. He handed me a gift as I arrived: a smelt he had salted and wrapped in brown paper.
“When you come home you just have to clean it with knife from skin and bone, and is good with beer,” he said.
I thanked him and put the smelt in my pocket.
His friend Tsank, who is 80, is another Ukrainian, from the city of Dneprodzerjinsk. Like Vernik, he was an engineer in his day. He greeted me with an impish smile and Vernik translated his comments:
“He says fishing for us is fun, like rest. When bad fishing, Anatoly says, is good air, is good time here. Fish not main scene.”
Tsank smiled again.
Vernik showed me photos from his fishing trips in Chicago, where he lived after leaving Kiev as a refugee in 1992.
In each shot, he's holding up the catch of the day. He began with a photo taken at the Skokie Lagoons.
“This is carp and this is me,” he said, pointing to each.
I was hooked. Who wouldn't want to help this guy?
Vernik's story checked out. He had receipts showing he had received a low-income discount on his fishing licenses in 2006 and 2007. But this year, he paid full price after learning his monthly income put him $14 over the limit.
I was soon on the phone to Glenn Underwood, who works in the license and revenue branch of the Department of Fish and Game. After studying the government codes, Underwood reported that Vernik, despite a modest income, did not qualify for the discount.
Then Underwood said something that took me by surprise: “I'm pretty sure he never qualified for it.”
How could that be?
Upon further study, we deduced that Vernik originally received the discount in error – his income was always within a few dollars of the threshold – and in ensuing years it was renewed as a matter of course.
This year, however, with California in dire economic straits, he was asked to show proof of income and was rejected.
I reported this news to Vernik, who was understandably disappointed.
“So, almost millionaire,” he said. “I agree to exchange income with them if they say I have too much.”
I told him about the state's economic troubles, how Schwarzenegger ran as a reformer but turned out to be a good-time Charlie, and now may have to cut funds for schools and health care.
He nodded, and said it reminded him of a joke he had learned in Ukraine:
“In one place stay a lot of beggars, and every day, a man comes and gives one of the beggars same amount – about one dollar. I tell in American money.
“And then one day the man comes and give just 50 cents. And the beggar says, 'Every day you give one dollar. Today you give only 50 cents. Why?'
“And the man says, 'I have big financial problems. I was married and have lot of expenses.'
“And the beggar looks at everyone and says, 'Look at him! I have to solve his financial problems!' ”
We laughed, and he returned to his fishing. Within the hour, he had matched Tsank's 12-inch mackerel with one of his own.
I hadn't solved his problem, but I came away with good memories and a salted smelt in my pocket. Which, I understand, is good with beer.
Gerry Braun:
(619) 542-4563; gerry.braun@uniontrib.com
