CALIFORNIA UCP ALERT #01-2003
November 25, 2002 Monday
LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS TO GOVERNOR URGING SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY
SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
ACTION NEEDED NOW
Letters and phone calls to the Governor (also copies to Senate
President Pro Tem John Burton and Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson).
There will be a second (and many more) letter campaigns to members
of the new Legislature after they are sworn in on December 2 and
after the Governor's proposal of cuts to the current year budget
becomes available to the public. Many other advocacy actions are
planned, including a statewide meeting. See sample letter/script
is below.
WHO
SHOULD RESPOND TO THIS ALERT
People with developmental (and other disabilities), their
families, providers, direct care staff, advocates, and other
organizations - all those a part of or connected to the California
Community Advocacy Network (California CAN). Please note that the
UCP ALERTS have numbers which indicate the number of the Alert and
the year (2003 is being used since this will reflect actions taken
by the new Legislature).
BACKGROUND - WHY THIS ALERT
* WHAT THIS ALERT IS ADDRESSING - This alert addresses the
proposed (and currently unknown) additional cuts to the current
year budget that the Governor says will total over $5 billion. The
Governor did not rule out current year cuts to education - which
means, that EVERYTHING is on the table. The Governor has also
ordered a freeze on current year spending - though specifics are
not yet known. This alert does not specifically target the
2003-04 budget proposal the Governor will submit to the
Legislature on January 10, nor does it specifically target the
potential funding crisis to community providers and vendors if
regional centers run out of funds by early spring, as currently
projected (projections reportedly show that all 21 regional
centers will end up with a combined shortfall of over $100 million
by early spring). This alert also does not target how
current cuts are now being implemented now (as passed by the
Legislature and signed into law by the Governor in September).
* WHO IS IMPACTED - Unknown - but people with developmental
disabilities are especially vulnerable in this funding crisis at
several key points in the coming weeks and months. Other
populations, including people with other disabilities, mental
health needs, seniors, people with low incomes, are vulnerable too
- though some key potential crisis flash points will differ (due
to different funding streams).
* WHAT COMMUNITY PROVIDERS/ORGANIZATIONS IMPACTED - Unknown,
though every group is potentially at risk (including
regional centers).
* WHAT PROGRAMS OR SERVICES ARE IMPACTED: Unknown - though in
theory, every program or service is at risk.
* WHAT STATUTES OR REGULATIONS ARE IMPACTED: Unknown, though
potentially the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act
is at risk.
* WHAT STATE DEPARTMENTS ARE IMPACTED: All departments and
agencies may be impacted, but the some of those impacting people
with developmental disabilities are: Department of Developmental
Services (funds community services through the regional centers
and also the developmental centers), Department of Rehabilitation
(work activity and supported employment programs, also other
habilitation programs), Department of Health Services (Medi-Cal
and other related programs), Department of Social Services
(including In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/SSP, and other
programs including Ticket to Work, etc.), Department of Education
(special education and adult education - though many specifics are
determined locally). In addition - local government services
(especially counties) are at a high risk.
* TARGETS - this alert is targeted to the Governor as he (and his
staff) puts together the proposals for the Legislature to consider
for the special session. Later alerts will be targeted to members
of the Legislature, once the Governor's proposal becomes known.
* SIZE OF THE DEFICIT GROWING - The projected current year budget
deficit is over $6 billion (and growing) for the current year that
ends June 30, and over $15 billion (and growing) shortfall
projected for the 2003-04 budget that begins July 1, 2003.
Combined, the shortfall is a staggering $21 billion - which many
fiscal analysts believe will swell to over $30 billion by June
30. Even if all the cuts totaling $5 billion were to be
proposed by the Governor and adopted by the Legislature during the
special session, a still massive budget shortfall would remain for
the Governor to tackle before he presents his 2003-04 budget
proposal on January 10.
WHEN
SHOULD YOU SEND YOUR LETTER FOR LETTER CAMPAIGN #01-2003
As soon as possible but before December 6th. Remember - this is
the first letter campaign for 2003. There will be a SECOND
(and other) letter/adovcacy campaigns immediately after the
Governor releases his proposal for cuts to the current year
budget, which will be directed at the Legislature, when they
convene the special session on December 9. THIS alert expires by
close of business, December 6th. Do not use or respond to THIS
alert beyond THAT date.
WHERE
TO SEND YOUR LETTER AND CALL FOR UCP ALERT #01-2003
Note: remember, the targets for other alerts will change.
Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814
Call - Capitol Office Phone: (916) 445-2841
Send - Capitol Office Fax: (916) 445-4633 [usually busy and often
no answer]
Send - Los Angeles Office Fax: (213) 897-0319
Send - San Francisco Office Fax: (415) 703-2803
Note: The Governor's Capitol office fax line is often very
busy, and may not answer. If that happens, send your letter to
either the LA or SF office - LA office is preferred. Those lines
tend to be more available. While it is always better to target
one office, it is more important to get letters there.
Send copies of your letter to:
Senate President Pro Tem John Burton
California State Senate
State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814
Call - Capitol Phone: (916) 445-1412
Send - Capitol Office Fax: (916) 445-4722
Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson
California State Assembly
State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814
Call - Capitol Office phone: (916) 319-2047
Send - Capitol Office Fax: (916) 319-2147
SOME
DO'S AND DON'T ABOUT LETTER WRITING
* DO sign your name and also print your full name AND address
* DO be respectful and polite.
* DON'T be rude in your letter (that never helps)
* DON'T send petitions (that is almost never effective)
* DO send your letter via fax and/or regular US Mail.
* DON'T email to policy makers (this is still not yet an effective
way to influence policy makers. This does not apply if you know a
particular staffer personally and you want to send a personal
communication).
SAMPLE LETTER TO GOVERNOR FOR LETTER CAMPAIGN #01-2003
Below is a sample letter for you to use as a guide in drafting
your own (feel free to use the sample letter if you wish).
[Date Today]
Honorable Gray Davis
Governor
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Davis:
As a [person with disabilities/parent/family
member/provider/direct care staff/advocate], [I/we]
are writing to strongly urge that community services and supports
for people with developmental disabilities be a priority in
California.
Services and supports in the community - much of which is funded
through the 21 non-profit regional centers to community based
organizations, already face cuts and reductions, with devastating
consequences for people with developmental disabilities.
Thousands of people with developmental disabilities also receive
services and supports through community based groups the from the
Department of Rehabilitation, and through from critically
important programs like Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services,
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), special education, adult
education and more.
[Put your own personal experience or comments, which always helps]
Over 30 years ago, Democrats and Republicans passed the landmark
Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, signed into law
by Governor Ronald Reagan. That promise recognizes the basic
rights of people with developmental disabilities. These civil
rights are not optional privileges or extravagances. These rights
- that promise, represent critically important services and
supports for thousands of Californians to survive.
[I/we] understand that the state is in a fiscal crisis
and hard choice have been made this past year - and more hard
choices will still need to be made. Hard choices include keeping
promises. [We/I] will not stand by and allow the
rights of Californians with developmental disabilities to be
waived or suspended because of the state fiscal crisis.
California made a promise 30 years ago. [I/We] want
your pledge that you will keep it. The lives of thousands and
thousands of Californians depend on that promise. Please keep the
promise of the Lanterman Act.
Please send [me/us] information regarding your
decision, as Governor, on this critical issue. Thank you very
much for your attention.
Sincerely,
[sign it and also print your full name and address]
cc: Senate President Pro Tem John Burton
Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson
NOTE: If you would like to get on the UCP Update distribution (and
conversely, get off of it) please send an email with that request
to: martyomoto@rcip.com. Please allow some time to be removed from
the list (it takes time to delete names from distribution
listing). Additions can be added immediately. Please also send
announcements of meetings,and any alerts or legislative reports
you or your organization sends out etc. Sharing information is
part of our organizing effort. Please feel free to forward or copy
this. Thanks! Remember - we are all in this together.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION
Marty Omoto, Legislative Director
CA Coalition of United Cerebral Palsy Associations
1225 8th Street Suite 480 Sacramento, CA 95814
916/446-3204 FAX: 916/446-3206 email: martyomoto@rcip.com
Coalition Chair: Michael Williams (UCP of the Golden Gate)
Immediate Past Chair: Ron Cohen (UCP LA and Ventura Counties)
