SIREN Supporters Attend California Shared Prosperity Forum

Over 1,000 people filled the Pacifica High School gym in Oxnard, California on August 7 for the California Shared Prosperity forum where advocates from SIREN and community supporters expected to hear from gubernatorial candidates Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman.  The audience consisted of low income working families, community advocates, service providers, and students.  Testimony from people deeply impacted by budget cuts in previous years moved the audience.  They are living in fear of the Governor’s current proposed cuts to balance this year’s $19 billion budget deficit. 

One woman talked about the potential cuts to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and how that would impact the well-being of her grandfather and his ability to survive.  Assemblywoman Fiona Ma  made welcoming remarks about budgetary impacts on low income communities and how the Democrats’ budget proposal would save many of the programs the community depends on.  Larry Aceves, candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, also attended the forum and expressed his support for taxes in order to prevent severe cuts to education. 

However, this was a missed opportunity for California’s potential leadership.  Over 1,000 people were ready and waiting to hear about how Gubernatorial candidates would solve the state fiscal crisis.  Although participants did receive candidate Jerry Brown’s statement thanking community leaders for putting the event together and making a commitment to solve the state’s problems, neither he nor candidate Meg Whitman attended.  State Controller Chiang and Speaker Perez also canceled their appearances at the forum due to conflicting schedules and “critical negotiations” in the capital.