CDCAN ACTION ALERT: Come to the State Capitol one more time this month

“WE ARE HERE TO SPEAK FOR JUSTICE” – Parents and families over 40 years ago who came to the State Capitol to fight for community based services and the Lanterman Act – the only civil rights act for people with developmental disabilities in the nation.

ON FEBRUARY 3rd HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT THE STATE CAPITOL FOR THE HEARING ON THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED $750 MILLION REDUCTION IN STATE GENERAL FUND SPENDING TO REGIONAL CENTERS & OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES.  NEARLY 200 OF THOSE WHO CAME WERE ABLE TO GIVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE.  IT WAS THE LARGEST CROWD FOR BUDGET HEARINGS IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. [Photo is from December 2003 protest rally at State Capitol where 5,000 people showed up to attend a Senate Budget hearing on the proposed suspension of the Lanterman Act – organized by CDCAN]

OUR COMMUNITY CAME AND SPOKE FOR JUSTICE ONCE AGAIN.  IT MUST DO SO AGAIN.

YOUR VOICE & PRESENCE AS A PART OF THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IS NEEDED AGAIN AT THE SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #3 ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES HEARING FEBRUARY  10TH WHO WILL HEAR WHAT THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET PANEL HEARD ON FEBRUARY 3rd -  THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL FOR $750 MILLION IN MASSIVE CUTS IN GENERAL FUNDING FOR REGIONAL CENTER COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES

The Legislature will soon act on these and other proposals sometime before March.  These hearings are the last opportunity for public testimony at the State Capitol.

FEBRUARY 10th  - THURSDAY

WHO: SENATE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE #3 ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
WHEN:  09:30 AM or upon adjournment of the Senate floor session (Senate will convene at 09:00 AM and likely adjourn by 09:30 AM.
WHAT:  Hearing on Developmental Services Proposed Cuts
WHERE: State Capitol in Room 4203
CAN PUBLIC TESTIFY?: YES – very brief (can also submit written comments)

PLEASE BRING A PHOTO OF YOURSELF OR A LOVED ONE OR A FRIEND OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW THAT WILL SHOW POLICYMAKERS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A HUMAN LIFE – NOT JUST A PROGRAM OR SERVICE.  HOLD UP THAT PHOTO WHEN YOU ARE IN THE HEARING ROOMS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SPEAK.  SAY “I AM HERE ALSO FOR BECKY” or “ADAM” or WHOEVER ELSE YOU IT IS.  THIS IS ABOUT A PERSON – A HUMAN LIFE.  AND EVERY LIFE MATTERS.

What points should be raised at the February 10th budget subcommittee hearings on the developmental services (regional centers) $750 million reduction?

• We need to focus on the amount  - the total $750 million reduction in state general fund spending in developmental services that the Governor is proposing and to persuade the Legislature to reject, or significantly reduce that amount.  A cut of that size is so enormous that any proposal submitted later would have to be one that imposes drastic, sweeping and devastating reductions touching every part of the regional center community-based services. 
• We can and should offer up ideas and solutions to save money later – after the Legislature makes a decision about the   Any idea we come up with now does nothing to lower the overall reduction amount of $750 million.  That is the issue and threat confronting ALL of us NOW. 
• In addition, we should be opposing the reductions to Medi-Cal, especially elimination proposed for Adult Day Health Care, Multipurpose Senior Service Program, cuts to SSI/.SSP individual grants, In-Home Supportive Services and other services.  We are ONE community.  All of us. 
• We face an uphill fight to stop or even to reduce the reduction amount – and a further uphill fight later in the coming months – to push ideas that can help to lessen the harm of any cut made directly to developmental services.  And it will hard to fight the other proposed cuts to IHSS, Medi-Cal, SSI/SSP, MSSP too.   But the families who fought over 40 years ago for the Lanterman Act – and others who fought hard for other disability rights in California and in the nation all  faced uphill fights too. Fighting uphill doesn’t mean we go down.

Who Should Go To the February 10th Budget Subcommittee Hearings on Developmental Services? 

• This Action Alert (like the one for February 3rd) is especially directed to people and organizations who are impacted by previous reductions and will be impacted by proposed additional cuts, who are located in the Northern California area – who can get to Sacramento and the State Capitol more easily than people from Southern California.   People from other parts of the State should come too if they can – but given the limited resources people have now – we will need to count on people in the Northern part of the State and the Sacramento area.  [We need to preserve resources and time for later hearings in May or June when the Brown Administration submits its final draft proposal for statewide purchase of service standards.]
• People living in the Northern California or in the Central Valley north of Fresno or the Bay Area or the San Jose area, need to make an effort to come to these two critically important budget subcommittee hearings and/or get others to come too.

Do people make a real difference when they show up at these hearings?

• An empty hearing room when important issues are being heard makes a tremendous difference.  The Legislature will take action VERY soon on these proposed cuts. 
• The presence of people impacted by proposed cuts helps to avoid that. An empty hearing room sends a very bad message.  A full hearing room helps – and certainly people’s testimony does too – but the ultimate power and action we need to do on an on-going basis is in the legislative districts we live and vote in.  THAT will make the more lasting and profound difference.  
• The enormous size of the crowds that packed every overflow room and the main Assembly hearing room and balcony, and the hallways made an impression on legislators, legislative staff who saw it – and other lobbyists and advocates in other areas.  Some were clearly stunned by the sheer size of the crowd and the huge numbers who lined up to speak.

I cannot make it to the hearings.  How can I submit written comments?

• Emails – Unlike correspondence to the US Capitol, emails are very ineffective unless you know the legislator or you know the staff person.  Otherwise, there is a good chance it doesn’t get read or have the same impact as a ;letter delivered in a different way. 
• Letters – People should send these whether they go to a hearing or not.  Send letters to the budget subcommittee chairs and the full budget committee chairs – AND to your OWN State Senator and Assemblymember who represents you and your own community. 
• When Should I Send the Letters: Now – the Legislature is expected to make decisions on many of the Governor’s proposed cuts before the end of February? 

Where Do I Send Letters:

Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, Chair
Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health and Human Services
State Capitol – Room 5019
Sacramento, CA 95814

Copy to:

Sen. Mark Leno, Chair
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee
State Capitol – Room 5019
Sacramento, CA 95814

AssemblymemberHolly Mitchell, Chair
Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services
State Capitol – Room 6026
Sacramento, CA 95814

Copy to:

AssemblymemberBob Blumenfield, Chair
Assembly Budget Committee
State Capitol – Room 6026
Sacramento, CA 95814

And ALWAYS send copies to:

The name of your own State Senator and Assemblymember
State Capitol (no room needed)
Sacramento, CA 95814

Note: sending the letter to their district office – where you live – is better.

What other things can I do if I cannot go to the hearings?

This is a PARTIAL list of ideas and suggestions (CDCAN will issue later this week a more complete list and also questions and answers about advocacy)

• District Office Visits - Even if you DO go to the hearings, everyone should make on-going visits – at least once a month if not more frequently -  to their own State Senator and Assemblymember in their district offices.  Ask them about the proposed budget cuts – get them to explain it and how it could impact you as a constituent, or have them explain how it could impact your own organization and jobs in your own community.  Remember – registering to vote, and voting are only the first two steps in the right to representation in government.  The others include engaging your own legislators – attending hearings, calling and writing and sending in letters and comments about issues.
• Phone Calls – Make phone calls to your own State Senator and Assemblymember at their district office – where you live.  Be respectful and identify yourself as a constituent.  Find out who handles the issues you are concerned about. 
• Letters to the Editor of Local Newspapers – Blog Postings:  the effectiveness of letters to the editors or blog postings or comments vary – and probably are less effective than people think.  However it can increase the visibility of an issue (both good and bad). 
• Getting Word Out Locally – this is probably the next important thing an advocate can do – beyond engaging their own legislators.  Most people – despite the media coverage, despite notices and reports sent out by advocates and groups both statewide and locally, still don’t know about the urgency or the enormity of the proposed reductions coming down very very soon.  Our community needs to be informed – help do that – not with opinions or spin.  But straight information that is credible.  Get word out to our community.  Organize local meetings or townhalls.  CDCAN will help moderate or organize local townhall telemeetings for your own community if you are interested.  Contact Marty Omoto at martyomoto@rcip.com.   We will be doing local townhall telemeetings in Los Angeles, Fresno and Santa Barbara in the coming weeks.

LOGISTICS FOR THE HEARINGS: 

• HOW TO TESTIFY: To testify listen to the budget subcommittee chair’s instructions. Normally people line up to speak. Be very very, very, very brief – talking longer doesn’t help convince anyone of your point and worse, it takes time away from the people behind you.  Sometimes the security (sergeants) or committee staff will have wireless microphones for people in the audience, including some in wheelchairs, to help speed up the process and allow more people time to speak. The Senate has not held to a similar strict 1 minute rule as the Assembly Budget Subcommittee  – but given the size of the crowds expected, will likely strongly encourage testimony to be very brief, and people should expect a limit of 1 minute there too.
• FOR INFORMATION TO VERIFY IF HEARING IS STILL ON: Call the CDCAN office at 916-446-0013  to hear voice message (or talk to me directly) about the Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing status (to make sure the hearings are still on as scheduled, etc). Dates and times and locations of these hearings can change at the last moment – though the hearings held this past week have occurred as scheduled with no surprises. 
• HOW LONG WILL THE HEARINGS BE?: Hard to estimate because it depends on the numbers of people who testify and the length of the various presentations of the various budget proposals. The February 3rd Assembly hearing lasted nearly 6 hours due to the enormous numbers of people testifying. The Senate budget subcommittee hearing on February 10th will likely last at least 3 hours or more – probably longer (depending on numbers of people wanting to testify). 
• WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE?  Normally the hearing rooms are opened up a half hour before the start of the hearing.  To get a good seat you should arrive at least a half hour before the hearing. There is also seating on the balconies of both hearing rooms (enter on the 5th floor).  To access the balcony seating, go back to the elevators to the 5th floor floor. From the elevators, go right, up the hallway to almost the very end of the hallway.  On the right hand side is the entrance to the Assembly hearing room balcony.  To the left is the entrance to the Senate hearing room balcony.  There is limited spaces for people in wheelchairs.  CDCAN is working with the Senate sergeant at arms to find other nearby hearing rooms that can be used as overflow rooms. 
• WHAT IF THERE IS NO ROOM IN THE HEARING ROOMS?  You can go to the 6th floor cafeteria or basement cafeteria or the hallway between Rooms 4202 and 4203 or the 4th floor of the old part of the State Capitol to view the hearings on the monitors.  You can still testify even if you are outside the room by going to the hearing room as soon as you hear on the monitor that they are taking testimony.  Go to the entrance of the room, and tell the sergeant at arms (if they prevent you from entering because the room is full) that you want to testify.  They will tell you what to do.
• PARKING: There is a 24 hour 6 story public parking garage directly across from the State Capitol (10th and L Streets – enter on 10th Street) that includes accessible parking spaces on every floor.  Street metered parking is also available but no advisable because of the length of the hearings.  There is also public parking lots on J and 13th Streets (enter on 13th between I and J Streets) and J and 11th Streets (enter on 11th between I and J Streets). 
• ENTRANCE INTO THE CAPITOL:  See below for accessible entrances.  There are two other entrances into the State Capitol – from the East Steps (facing Capitol Park) and the West Steps (facing 10th Street).  Neither are accessible.  All entrances will be open on February 10th
• ACCESSIBLE ENTRANCES:  Accessible entrances into the State Capitol are from the North (facing L Street) and South (facing N Street) sides – and all entrances require everyone to go through a screening process similar to other public buildings – though not as difficult as airports.  CDCAN has verified that both these entrances will be open on Thursday, February 3rd.  Allow for at least 15-30 minutes – depending on the line waiting – to get into the building (if there is no line or a small line, the wait is only a couple of minutes)
• SECURITY: All entrances require people – including people in wheelchairs – to go through a security check that includes metal detector, and placing items for checks by x-ray machines. Its similar to airport security, minus the pat downs and the security settings are not as sensitive. 
• PROTEST SIGNS: No protest signs are allowed into the building. 
• CAMERAS AND VIDEO CAMS: Cameras and video cameras are allowed into the building – but no video taping or picture taking in the hearing room unless specifically authorized by the chair of the subcommittee or committee. Ask the security person in the room (called “sergeants”) how you can get permission.  You can also write to the subcommittee or committee office for person before the hearing (which is the best way)
• CAFETERIAS: Public cafeterias on the 6th floor of the newer section of the State Capitol and the basement of the older section.  Both close around 3 or 4 PM.
• ATM MACHINES AND PHONES: ATM machines and public telephones also available in the basement of the older section
• RESTROOMS: Restrooms available on all floors of the State Capitol. Not all of the restrooms on every floor however are accessible.  Restrooms on the first floor in the newer section of the Capitol are generally accessible.

WHAT OTHER EVENTS ARE PLANNED?

• CDCAN is looking are working with others to plan – when it makes strategic sense as a tactic to do so – rallies and other protests.
• Also being planned are a series of on-going CDCAN Townhall Telemeetings, and local physical townhalls that CDCAN will organize with help from local agencies and other advocacy groups to connect people and communities together to fight proposals that are wrong and harm the rights of children and adults with disabilities, mental health needs, the deaf, blind, seniors, their families, community organizations, facilities, workers who provide supports, services and advocacy.  We are one community threatened with multiple challenges that we must respond now to – and beyond this budget year.
• CDCAN is working with people in communities on next steps in advocacy at the district legislative level – with on-going district office visits, letters, and other contacts.