Action Alerts   

June 21, 2010

 

URGENT ACTION ALERT!!!

 

State Budget Remains in a Serious Log-jam


   Cuts to DDS services remain a serious possibility

 

SCENARIO: A single influential staff member comes to you with a problem that is impacting your entire organization. It is a legitimate problem – one worthy of attention. And you believe both the staff person’s assessment and need for action. But there are a dozen other problems on your desk as well.

 

But instead of a single influential staff member coming to you, a group of 50 staffers ask for a meeting. They all bring to you the same issue. It is still worthy of attention and deserves action. But now there may be a greater sense of urgency, notwithstanding your overburdened list of other problems, because there are so many members of your staff (constituents?) engaged and interested in your attention!

 

This is what your Legislator and Members of the Budget Conference Committee are facing with this budget discussion.

 

URGENT ACTION REQUEST!

 

When we put out urgent action alerts, some of you mount a broad based campaign within your organization. You ask your staff to write and fax letters. You inform consumers and their families and engage the members of your boards of directors and your business partners.

 

But others, like the single staff member scenario above, simply take it on you to make a single call or write a single letter.

 

It is not that you are not influential, accurate or articulate. But your lone plea may simply not be a big enough deal to cut through all the noise in the Capitol, or to make a Legislator pay greater attention because “there are so many ‘constituents’ engaged and interested in your attention!

 

Sorry if this sounds preachy, but you are either a grassroots organizer or you are a lone voice crying in the wilderness.

 

We have nearly a quarter of a million people with developmental disabilities in California. That is a lot of people, families, friends, support staff and interested community leaders.

 

The discussions in the Capitol surround new revenue as well as potential serious cuts. Many voices are weighing in on their issues of greatest importance. HAVE WE DONE THE SAME?

 

If you have already done a broad-based campaign, keep your campaigners informed and ask them to FAX a short note or make a call and say:

 

If you are the lone voice in the wilderness, see if you can’t expand your effort and add more voices to your own – from your organization! From your board! Using e-mail or phone trees or whatever methods will work!


Same message as above! No more cuts! We can’t take any more! We are watching closely and we urge you to reject these devastating cuts!

 

 

 

 

 

SAMPLE LETTER

DATE

 

Senator Denise Ducheny, Chair
Senate Budget Conference Committee
State Capitol, Room 5035
Sacramento, CA  95814

 

 

RE:     Department of Developmental Services (DDS); Item 4300-101-001, Conference Agenda Section III, Page 39


            SUPPORT ASSEMBLY VERSION

 

Dear Senator Ducheny,

 

I am (introduce yourself; executive director, manager, direct care staff, board member, business partner, supporter etc.) of (Name of agency) serving the communities of (list your communities!)

 

We SUPPORT the Assembly version of the DDS budget item before you and STRONGLY URGE YOU TO APPROVE this version when the issue comes before you.

 

The Governor has proposed to reduce funding for my programs by 1.25%! That cut is worth (what does a $1.25% cut cost you???). That amount of money would make me (reduce wages? lay-off staff? reduce program enrollment? eliminate programs? Be as specific as you can!)

 

We understand the terrible budget situation faced by the State. But we want you to understand how difficult it has been for our agency to keep our doors open and provide services to hundreds of people with disabilities with more than $500 million in cuts to the general fund in the last two years!

 

We are already subject to a 3% payment cut which has cost us ($$$). We are carrying another loss of ($$$$) from cuts to adult education and various cuts to a long list of programs that state-wide add up to more than $334 million carried over from last year.

 

This additional cut would be devastating.

 

Please join us in SUPPORTING THE ASSEMBLY ACTION to eliminate the cut and eliminate related trailer bill language both of which were supported by the Senate.

 

Sincerely,

 

Signature
Title

C:        Conference Committee Members
            Your Senator
            Your Assembly Member