Saving California Communities: What Next?

2^nd Annual Davis Conference on Government Reform

Saving California Communities first met a year ago. We saw that the crisis in school funding was just one piece (albeit a crucial piece) of a state budget system that was collapsing and taking local communities with it.

We began work, then, to build and advocate for reforms to help sustain our community and our state.  The crisis hasn’t flagged; cities, counties, and school districts continue to cut essential services and layoff employees.

The underlying causes for ongoing stalemates at the state level go beyond intransigence of factions and ideological differences.  Good intentions are repeatedly hampered by flaws in our budgeting process that have built up over the decades.  The events of this past year have only reinforced our belief that we must fundamentally reform our systems of state governance.

We are a local coalition of elected representatives and a wide cross section of community members.  We are united voices for strong, healthy communities in Davis and throughout California. 

Saving California Communities supports clear alignment of resources, authority, and accountability.  We seek stable revenue for services that respond to the needs of all Californians, and we believe that only public engagement in the problems of our day will generate the momentum needed for meaningful reform. 

Driven by the desire for change, our group hosted a one-day forum in May 2009 to increase awareness of the local impacts of state dysfunction; to build knowledge and understanding of reform efforts underway; and to explore opportunities for collaboration among communities.  One hundred and fifty people joined this discussion.

Participants identified two key goals: deepening our understanding of various reform proposals and linking the Davis effort to groups within Yolo County and around the state.

In response, SCC has sponsored free public forums throughout the year, often in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Davis.  Past speakers include:

• Jim Wunderman from the constitutional convention movement
• Rich Gordon of the Cities, Counties, Schools Partnership
• Kimberly Nalder, political science professor at Sac State
• Christopher Elmendorf, UC Davis law professor
• Senator Mark DeSaulnier
• Senator Loni Hancock
• Eric McGhee, policy analyst for the Public Policy Institute of California
• Fred Keeley of the California Commission on the 21^st Century Economy
• Bob Hertzberg and Heather Fargo from California Forward

SCC also participated in and facilitated gatherings of Yolo city, county and school elected representatives working together to identify key areas of common interest and cooperation.  Most recently we have begun to link our efforts to groups with similar interests in the Bay Area. But despite this progress locally, the statewide effort for reform is faltering. 

On Saturday, May 15 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, we will sponsor a second day-long forum, Saving California Communities: What Next?, to assess the current state of affairs and to help chart a course for the future of communities.  Speakers include:

• Mac Taylor, Legislative Analyst, looking to the future of California without reform
• Peter Schrag, writer and former Sacramento Bee columnist providing historical and political context for the reform effort
• Jim Mayer, executive director of California Forward, updating the group’s effort, which we have formally endorsed
• Delaine Eastin, former Superintendent of Public Instruction, on the continuing need for courage, vision and heart

The League of Women Voters of Davis joins us in sponsoring this event at the new UC Davis Conference Center at the Vanderhoef Plaza near the Mondavi Center.  It is free and open to the public.  Continental breakfast and lunch are included.   Free parking is available in the Mondavi lots.    

Space is limited.  To be included in the lunch count, please RSVP by May 12.  For more information, contact info@savingCA.org, visit www.SavingCA.org, or call (530)304-6360.

We can no longer wait for others to offer solutions.  The status quo is unacceptable.  Join us on May 15 to build our grassroots action plan.

Jan Agee, Bob Agee, Sheila Allen, Janet Berry, Davis Campbell, Delaine Eastin, Lucas Frerichs, Jackie Hausman, John Hills, Susan Lovenburg, Betsy Marchand, Karen Mo, Don Palm, Richard Reed, Jim Rodgers, Don Saylor, Bob Schelen, Daniel Sharpe, Dan Wolk, Jay Ziegler