Can Valentine’s Day Save Californians Struggling With Poverty?

Some social service agencies scared of the drastic budget cuts proposed by the California Governor hope so… they will be presenting “Have A Heart” Valentine’s to the Governor’s L.A. office. Here is the press release:

Los Angeles, CA – Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed deep budget cuts to the state’s education, human and health services in attempt to “balance” the state’s structural budget deficit. He and Speaker Fabian Nunez will receive a special Valentine’s Day delivery when local families bring valentines, flowers, and chocolates to his office, asking him to “Have a Heart” and remember that these proposed budget cuts hurt real California families. Similar deliveries are taking place throughout the state this week at the offices of many of California’s elected officials.

The actions are the work of a broad coalition of over 50 California organizations that support a balanced approach to the current budget crisis (see a partial list of organizations below). Governor Schwarzenegger’s $17.3 billion in “solutions” are not more than deep cuts to schools, health care, and human services, including $1.1 billion in cuts to Medi-Cal spending and $4.8 billion in cuts to K-12 education.

“A budget is supposed to reflect what is important to us,” said community member Angelica Ceballos. “We need to invest in our children and families, not just make cuts to valuable services. The real budget emergency is that families are becoming homeless and can't put food on the table.”

California faces a $14.5 billion gap between the cost of providing the current level of public services and available revenues. Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed a plan, with no heart, that would result in cutting hundreds of dollars in classroom spending for every California student, more than 75,000 families losing assistance for food and housing, and over 600,000 people statewide losing access to medical care. The real solution includes revenue raising options and refocusing on state priorities such as protecting poor children, seniors and people with disabilities.

“A budget is a reflection of what we value and love. Let our state budget show that we value people by prioritizing assistance to the most vulnerable,” said California Partnership Director Nancy Berlin. “This Valentine’s Day, let’s give opportunity and hope to those most in need by proposing real revenue-building solutions that will remedy our state’s structural budget problems.”