Broad Coalition of Local Community, Labor Groups Vows to Fight Gov's Brazen Power Grab
Teachers, Nurses, Firefighters, Community Activists Dismayed by Unnecessary, Wasteful Special Election
In response to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s call for a special election, a coalition of unions and community groups, representing more than 350,000 Angelenos, today vowed to defeat his brazen power grab.
The coalition decried Schwarzenegger’s rationale for the special election as nothing short of scapegoating California’s public employees, their unions and the legislature. “It’s a slap in the face to those of us who put our lives on the line to serve the people of California,” said Dave Gillotte, president of Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014.
“The governor thinks he can make people like nurses out to be the problem. We are not to blame for his inability to govern,” added Barbara Blake, RN, of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals.
As the initiatives themselves make clear, the true reason for the special election is a shameless ploy to circumvent all meaningful opposition to the governor and his big business agenda. Rather than working with lawmakers in Sacramento to craft real reform, the governor has been on a national fundraising tour to finance his end-run around the system. Since he became governor, he has raised more special interest money than any other governor in the state’s history, far outpacing Gray Davis.
“This special election a power play by the governor and his big business allies,” said John Jackson, organizer for ACORN and state director for Say Yes to Children. “They will only weaken our communities.”
Using his war chest of corporate funds, the governor is seeking to undo the will of the people and dismantle the state’s system of checks and balances on power. The cornerstone of his power grab, the “Live Within Our Means” measure, would dismantle voter-approved minimum funding guarantees for schools (Prop 98) and health services. It would allow the governor to single-handedly decide how to spend the state’s resources.
“Dismantling Prop 98 would be disastrous,” said Harry Keiley, chapter president of California Teachers Association. “California’s per-pupil spending is already among the lowest in the nation, and our teachers are using their own resources to provide materials for their classes.”
Schwarzenegger’s donors are also seeking to silence the voices of working families. If the “Paycheck Deception” measure succeeds, firefighters, police officers, teachers, nurses and other workers will have no effective means to be heard in Sacramento. “Only through our collective voice,” added Gillotte, “were we able to stop the governor’s elimination of death and disability benefits for firefighters and police officers. We know he’ll try again.”
The coalition plans to carry out an aggressive campaign and to educate its members, their families and communities to defeat the governor’s special interest agenda. While Schwarzenegger ignored polls showing the vast majority of Californians saw no need for this election, the coalition has vowed that people will be heard loud and clear in November.
For further comments, contact:
- Barbara Blake, RN, State Secretary of the United Nurses Associations
of California/Union of Health Care Professionals
Cell: 951-312-8482 - Scott Frayer, LA County Police
818-920-0590 - Carl Friedlander, president of LA College Faculty Guild, AFT 1521
Cell: 323-240-4309 - Jill Furillo, RN and director of the Southern California Nurses Association
Cell: 916-417-6203 - Dave Gillotte, president of the LA County Firefighters, Local 1014
Cell: 310-925-2358 - Annelle Grajeda, General Managers of SEIU 660
Cell: 213-494-6783 - John Jackson, Organizer for the community group ACORN
Cell: 213-272-1120 - Harry Keiley, president Santa Monica-Malibu chapter, California Teachers
Association
Cell: 310-428-3624 - Rosie Martinez, Public Health Nurse, VP of SEIU 660
Cell: 626-222-6464 - Will Pryor, County Firefighter 1014
Cell: 310-925-2590 - Bob Schoonover, president of SEIU 347
Equipment mechanic for the city of Los Angeles
Cell: 818-439-9098