Policy Pick: Advocates Mobilize Against First 5 Funding GrabJanuary 25, 2010 |
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 Community advocates are speaking out against Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal this month to take First 5 funding away from early childhood programs."County commissions are interested in working with the state as a partner in the economic crisis, but this proposal treats us as a piggy bank," said Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell, chairman of the Orange County Children and Families Commission. "Organizations like ours are finding ways to accomplish our mission even as our revenues decline. State government must do the same, instead of making fiscally responsible local agencies pay for years of irresponsible state budgeting." The California Family Resource Association (CFRA), a statewide membership association of organizations and individuals that serve children and families, urged community members to act against the governor's proposal. Leticia Alejandrez, CFRA's executive director, recalled the failure of a similar proposal, Proposition 1D, last year at the ballot. "We were all thankful and relieved when the voters sent the Legislature a clear message on election day -- don't touch First 5!" said Alejandrez in a recent e-mail newsletter. "But that was last year. The 2010-11 budget is the worst yet -- balanced on paper only by wishful thoughts of a federal bailout and laden with threats to eliminate not only First 5, but a host of other safety net programs. It's time again to fight the governor's attempts to raid First 5!" The First 5 Association, which represents First 5 LA and the 57 other First 5 County Commissions, urged advocates to contact legislators and express their opposition to a proposal that would take vital funding from local communities. Their sample letters to both Senate and Assembly Health Subcommittees, as well as sample letters to legislators, can be found here. First 5 LA Executive Director Evelyn Martinez also voiced concern about the governor’s proposal: “When the governor cuts services, First 5-funded programs help Californians survive,” Martinez stated. "At a time when poor families are struggling just to feed their children, his proposal will decimate the few resources that remain in their local communities." To read more about First 5 LA’s opposition to the governor’s plan to divert funding from local children and families programs, click here. |
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