As California continues to suffer through over twelve percent unemployment, new evidence has emerged that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s illegal furloughs are delaying the state’s ability to begin stimulus projects to get Californians back to work. “Laura Chick, state inspector general for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, said Monday that the California Office of Historic Preservation has a two-month backlog in approving federal stimulus projects, some as small as installing a heating and air conditioning unit,” the Bee reports.

Schwarzenegger has sat idly by as his irresponsible program has delayed or eliminated services to Californians suffering through the worst recession in generations. Will he take action and reverse course on this program that has failed to save California money, now that it is clearly impeding job creation, which he claims is his top priority?

Furloughs have been particularly harmful to the Sacramento region, where the bulk of state workers live. Ninety thousand of our region’s workers have seen their wages cut through furloughs, which has contributed to the housing crisis and local, job producing businesses.

It is time to end this failed program, which has failed to save the state the money Schwarzenegger promised. By every measure, it is bad public policy based on ideology, not evidence, The Governor should know better and California’s people deserve better.

As 2010 gets under way, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Happy, Healthy New Year.

2009 was filled with challenges but great progress. We saw the induction of our country’s first African American President, the nomination and confirmation of our first Latina Justice and the election of the first openly lesbian mayor of a major American city. We enjoyed yet another trip to the PCL Championship, an amazing Causeway Classic comeback and the brilliant play of an amazing rookie putting the Kings back on the map. Sadly, we also lost some of our country’s greatest entertainers, a number of fantastic local activists and the Lion of the Senate.

2009 has left us on the verge of the most significant health care reform in our nation’s history and have seen our country’s investment in its economic recovery begin to bear fruit. Despite that, far too many of our neighbors and our fellow Americans remain unemployed, uninsured and at risk of losing their homes. While 2010 saw great progress; it also showed us how far we have left to go.

We approach 2010 with an optimistic resolve and an assured knowledge that if we can come together as a community, a state and a country our best days remain in front of us.
Let us let President Obama’s words of hope and togetherness guide us in 2010. “Instead of giving in to fear and cynicism, let’s renew that timeless American spirit of resolve and confidence and optimism. Instead of succumbing to partisanship and division, let’s summon the unity that this moment demands. Let’s work together, with a seriousness of purpose, to do what must be done to keep our country safe.”

“As we begin this New Year, I cannot imagine a more fitting resolution to guide us -- as a people and as a nation.”

This morning, SAVE Sacramento held a press conference to announce its support for the lawsuit to remove the Boss Mayor Initiative from June's ballot. California's Constitution requires that wholesale revisions to city charters be drafted through an open, public process -- either by the City Council or a Charter Commission, established by the voters -- not by initiative, drafted in a backroom by ultra conservative lawyers and put on the ballot by strong arm, paid signature gatherers.

DPSC Chair, Anna Molander said, "This badly written measure was paid for with special interest money, and crafted in secret by developers and other special interests. This is not how most voters believe we should be making wholesale changes to the city charter and the fundamental principles under which decisions are being made."

Press Coverage:
Sacramento Press
Sacramento Bee
KCRA

On Saturday, over 30 Democrats and friends helped build a house for a Sacramento family. When the team arrived, they found an empty lot, with only a concrete foundation and piles of lumber that would soon become the walls of a home. By the end of the day, the structure of a home had replaced the empty lot. Event organizer, James Schwab said, "We helped to build a house but we also built friendships and relationships that will help us build a better Sacramento in the future."

Read the full story at Sacramento Press.

Compromise and consensus: Bringing together the diverse interests in our community to develop a common vision for our city and our future is at the heart of real leadership and effective government. Our community must always strive to be better. We must remember what makes us great but acknowledge where we can improve so that we can move forward together – move forward in search of a stronger community, not ideological doctrine.

Changing the city’s charter is a critical undertaking. The decisions we make today will affect our city for generations to come. It is our imperative and essential responsibility that we approach the process with diligence and an earnest commitment to our crucial charge. It is more important that we do the job right than that we do the job quickly.

Read on ...