It's About Hope, Again
Headshot of Marty Omoto: Marty Omoto Headshot
I didn’t think back in late 2001 that in 2009, we would have fought and still be fighting every year against major spending cuts over and over, year after year. It isn’t just the perverse feeling of history repeating itself – it is more like history is stuck in the same place.
This commentary below – titled “Its About Hope” was written and originally sent out December 1, 2003 (five years ago!) as an alert to thousands of people across California and the media. It was the first commentary I wrote. [Okay I admit it. I am a champion pack rat and keep all these precious things I have written. Two friends of mine however had re-read the commentary not too long ago and said I should send it out again because it touched on many of the same issues and concerns we faced five years ago.]
Five years ago in December 2003, it was a pretty difficult time for the disability and senior and low income communities in California, with massive and potentially devastating budget reductions proposed by the Schwarzenegger Administration - with the new Governor just assuming office November 17, after a historic recall election of Gray Davis earlier in October. The cuts back in 2003 proposed included suspension of the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act – the landmark civil rights act for children and adults with disabilities – the only such law in the nation, elimination of a major part of the In-Home Supportive Services program, massive cuts proposed for Medi-Cal, regional centers, mental health, SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment) and more.
Back in December 2003, other groups - education and others were not being directly impacted by any budget reductions. Nurses were not directly impacted at this point - and so the protests that we organized (which continued protests we organized when Gray Davis was Governor) were the first major such events confronting the then new Schwarzenegger Administration.
A rally was planned first for December 5, 2003 (with just a week's time to organize) to bring people to a special Senate Budget Committee hearing on the Governor's proposals. Two days before it was postponed and then rescheduled for December 10, 2003 Monday morning. With five days notice we organized the rally bringing over 4,500 people including children to the North Steps of the Capitol. Those thousands came into the Capitol and packed the main hearing rooms, hallways and overflow hearing rooms and every other available space.
This commentary was written during that desperate time when things seemed pretty dark for many of us.
When I wrote the commentary below, one sister – Alana, who had developmental disabilities, had passed away just months before - but my younger sister was still alive. A year later she was gone too – and so many other good friends and advocates. Natasha Littletree, Warren Mattingly, Noel Nuedeck, Jim Sanford, Betty Bacon, Shirley Klein, Bob Roberts, Joan Lee and so many others.
I think those losses weigh heavily on all of us who knew them – and it makes more difficult the fights each year (since late 2001) against spending cuts that we have been forced to wage – more desperate and seemingly futile. I think a lot of us feel more alone and feel a greater sense of despair and weariness.
Now, in the fall, winter of 2008 and January 2009, we are once again faced with an even worse budget crisis, with a massive deficit that threatens the ability of the State to even borrow money to pay its bills.
This time no one is claiming any of the proposed cuts will be temporary. It seems like a desperate time again.
The Governor proposed in his 2009-2010 budget – with more details to come, massive permanent spending cuts including those to health and human services – In-Home Supportive Services, SSI/SSP (Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment), regional centers, Medi-Cal, mental health, and more. The Governor did however also propose new revenues – unlike in previous budget years or in 2003 and in that respect, he has done better.
The Democratic budget deficit plan that was passed on December 18, 2008 (but vetoed by the Governor on January 7, 2009) also contained cuts – though less than what the Governor and Legislative Republicans proposed.
It may seem like a desperate time – and it is. And it may feel futile to fight. But it is not. We can get through this.
We need to mobilize as one community and fight with and for each other – not in the name of a program or service, but for the rights of our children and families and friends to have those services and supports – and for the rights of inclusion, choice and independence. For hope and for justice.
And so, as we have done before – as others have done before, we will need to let the Governor and Legislature know that we are here to speak for justice. And when we do that, we will always remember, that this struggle and our fight is always about hope. For all of us.
Marty Omoto