July 10, 2009
Honorable Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Schwarznegger:
This letter is to express our objection to your using State employees as pawns in this budget disaster. State employees are part of the economic recovery solution, not the problem. However, you are unilaterally imposing and unfairly punishing dedicated civil servants.
These civil servants design, construct, and maintain our infrastructure. They deliver health care for Healthy Families and Medi-Cal beneficiaries. They educate our youth (and those young at heart). And they protect the public from fire and crime. Having these services and the people to deliver them is a critical component to California%u2019s economic recovery.
Many of the civil service workers have no other income to depend upon. The loss of income is assuredly adding to the number of foreclosures and bankruptcies experienced in California. In addition, these furloughs are severely impacting many businesses. Restaurants, stores, and shops are reducing employee%u2019s hours or reducing staff because many of their regular State employee customers cannot afford to go out for lunch or shop, which negatively impacts tax revenues and increases unemployment claims.
In closing, we urge you to work with the Legislature to come up with a fair and equitable budget compromise that doesn%u2019t unduly punish those who do the work of the people.
Sincerely,
Cc: Senator Darrell Steinberg
Assemblyman Dave Jones
Chairman John Burton
Vice Chair Alexandra Gallardo-Rooker
Vice Chair Eric Bauman
