Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Save California Library Literacy Funding UPDATE

SAVE
CALIFORNIA LIBRARY LITERACY FUNDING

Senate Budget Subcommittee #1 met yesterday.
UPDATE from: Laura Seaholm
Program Manager, Project Second Chance

In attendance were Senators Liu, Huff and Wright. A total of 8 library representatives spoke yesterday (including Stacey Aldrich, Margaret Todd, Deborah Doyle, Faye Combs, and myself). Everyone did a great job advocating for CLSA, Literacy and PLF. In particular, I want to commend Faye Combs, an adult learner from the Berkeley Reads program. Faye was WONDERFUL!! The Senators were riveted as she talked about her struggles with reading, how she found help from the library, and how she and her family have been transformed as a result of learning to read.

The Senators appeared to be attentive and supportive during the other presentations as well, and they took notes from time to time. They did not ask any questions, but I believe that is in large part due to the GREAT job our lobbyists (the Dillons) have done in educating them and laying out a compelling message during earlier pre-meetings.

The next step is Budget Subcommittee meeting #2 on Monday, February 7th (listen live) at 9:00 a.m. Many of the people who spoke yesterday will be back! And this time we'll have a little practice under our belts! :)

Your letters and telephone calls have and continue to make a HUGE difference!!! Our presentations carry much more weight if our representatives are being bombarded by our show of support! In case you don't have the names and numbers of those we will be presenting to on Monday, see below.

Thank you again, and GO LITERACY!!!

Hearings Schedule: Write - Call - Fax - email
Federal Funding is also in Jeopardy
Feb 7 – 9:00am: Assembly Budget Subcom – Rm 444, State Capitol

Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number 2 on Education Finance
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

Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841

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