Save California Library Literacy: Feb 7 @ 9am

SAVE
CALIFORNIA LIBRARY LITERACY FUNDING

Assembly Budget Hearing: Feb 7 @ 9:00am (Listen Live)

Fax and Call This Morning

Federal Funding is also in Jeopardy

Assembly Budget Subcom – Rm 444, State Capitol

Your FAXES and telephone calls make a HUGE difference ! ! !

Listen to the hearing Watch the hearing

The Honorable Susan Bonilla, Chair
State Capitol, Room 2188 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2011
Fax: (916) 319-2111

The Honorable Bill Berryhill, Member
State Capitol, Room 3141 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2026
Fax: (916) 319-2126

The Honorable Julia Brownley , Member
State Capitol, Room 2163 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2041
Fax: (916) 319-2141

The Honorable Brian Nestande, Member
State Capitol, Room 4139 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2064
Fax: (916) 319-2164

The Honorable Sandre Swanson, Member
State Capitol, Room 6012 - Sacramento, CA. 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2016
Fax: (916) 319-2116

Find your Assembly Member or State Senator

excerpts from the Senate Hearings ( Feb 1):

~ Stacey Aldrich, State Librarian, outlined the 3 programs to be eliminated.

~ Steve Boilard (Legislative Analyst Rep) . . . puzzling why Budget proposes the complete elimination . . . PLF has been around for 30 years . . . venerable program has suffered large cuts already . . . difference between fair share and elimination.

~ S. Bob Huff, Budget SubComm: which programs funds Talking Books for Blind ?
~ S Aldrich: dollars part of Federal Funding State receives . . . fully funded . . . but wouldn’t be able to support it without Federal funds.

~ Mike Dillon, CLA Lobbyist, explained fall-out that would occur . . . libraries are busier than ever . . . lead to ‘haves and the have-nots.’

~ Laura Seaholm, Project Second Chance, and Faye Combs, Learner Berkeley READS, spoke on behalf of literacy funding.

Senators riveted during Ms Combs testimony: of how she had “fallen through the cracks” of the school system, with no one then recognizing her inability to read. She noted that when her “grandchildren came along, I realized that I needed some help,” and she added that the literacy program has “opened so many doors for me.”

~ Deborah Doyle (CLA Legislative Comm Chair): devastating blow

~ Cindy Singer (SIEU721 LA County): “Often, there is standing room only, or people sitting on the floor. The library is also a safe zone for teens, who can’t be bullied by gangs there.”

Senator Bob Huff: “This is an area that is difficult to cut, particularly when compared to the cuts they have taken already.”

Chairwoman, Senator Carol Liu added, “I agree. A complete elimination is very difficult.”