There is no doubt that we need to Rebuild California. That's why SEIU 721 members have endorsed Jerry Brown for governor.

And we want to hear how you would do it.

Visit www.LetsRebuildCA.org to send us a story telling us what kind of California you want to build for yourself and the next generation.

"Our number one job as adults is to build and maintain a good society for our children and their children," said Marlene Allen, a GAIN Services Supervisor for LA County. "The only way to do that is to invest in our recovery -- in our schools, colleges, workforce, infrastructure, and communities."  

Last year Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger cut the budget for Child Welfare Services imperiling thousands of vulnerable children. 

The loss of $80 million in funding has decimated services to abused and neglected children and more and more are in limbo - their needs unmet. And, the Governor has proposed to extend the cuts in his 2010-11 budget. 

You can make a difference : 

Please take a minute to send your own message to the Governor telling him to restore these funds.

Families across California will deliver invoices to major banks Tuesday, Aug. 10 calling on banks to pay up.

Community residents and education leaders armed with a giant bill itemizing some of the ways in which Wall Street banks are cheating California residents will deliver it to a major bank in Downtown Los Angeles while simultaneous events happen in Sacramento, Richmond, San Francisco, San Jose and Fresno.

New research, which will be made available Aug. 10, details the millions that major banks and private equity firms owe California. It's money that could help fund education and other public services. 

Banks must: 

• Renegotiate toxic interest rate swap deals that cost California cities and state agencies a total of $500 million annually;
• Increase lending to small businesses to aid in job creation; and
• Change loan modification policies to reduce foreclosures that are costing the state billions in lost wealth.

Take Action!

Call on banks to join the rest of Californians in paying their fair share and help fix the state by paying correct property taxes!

WHERE:               Meet at California Plaza                                                           
                            350 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown Los Angeles

 WHEN:                11:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 10, 2010            

By Marlene Allen
LA County GAIN Services Supervisor

This article appeared on July 27 at the California Progress Report, an online journal of issues facing our state.

Last week I joined hundreds of other Californians -- college students, school employees, social workers and other community members in a march to Occidental Petroleum's offices in Los Angeles. We carried a simple message: closing a $1.2 billion tax loophole that giant oil companies take advantage of each year could save our schools and vital social services from deeper cuts.

Click here to see pictures from the march.

Click here to view more photos from the march.

More than 1,000 Californians marched on the headquarters of one of the world's biggest petroleum companies to demand that Big Oil do its part to fix the state budget crisis.

"We all know about the disaster happening in the Gulf of Mexico. But there's a disaster happening right here in California - that's the huge budget cuts to social services and schools," said Marlene Allen, GAIN Services Supervisor who talked to the crowd.

The marchers poured fake oil on the sidewalk outside Occidental Petroleum and left a memo to the legislature to end the 'free ride.' California is the only oil-producing state that does not tax oil drilling off our shores or beneath our ground. They also launched a new website -- www.letsrebuildca.org -- where people can pledge to rebuild California.

Click here to view more photos from the march.

Los Angeles - Hundreds will descend on the offices of Occidental Petroleum in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 22, calling on Occidental and other large California oil producers who exploit a $1.2 billion annual tax loophole to do their part to rebuild California.

Eliminating the oil drilling loophole would raise $1.2 billion to help fill state budget gap and save jobs and vital services.

This election year, Desert members poured their energy, time and effort to electing John J. Benoit and it was all worth it on June 8.

After being appointed in November, Supervisor Benoit will continue to serve the residents of the 4th district, which includes most of the Coachella Valley.

SEIU members and staff braved triple digit heat to walk precincts and get the word out about Benoit. Our efforts included knocking on doors, calling residents and holding town halls to inform the community of Benoit's commitment to support public services, create green jobs and rebuild our local economy.

"Our goal is to strengthen relationships with our elected leaders and establish open lines of communication and understanding to fulfill our mission of serving the public," said Alia Paula, a clinical therapist in Indio.

Above: Assembly primary winner Das Williams with SEIU 721 members in Ventura County

Santa Paula's City Council held an emergency meeting on May 13 to announce they were facing a $1.2 million budget deficit for the 2009-10 Fiscal Year.  The City is currently in negotiations with the police and fire departments but they told SEIU 721 members that they needed cuts from them or they would have to proceed with laying-off workers and privatizing services.  Workers asked the Council for time in order to present their ideas and alternatives to cuts in services.

"The City has not asked the frontline workers that perform city services if we have ideas on how to reduce costs, streamline services or even ideas about increasing revenue.  We urge the Council and the City to meet with workers and SEIU before making any decisions" said Denise Cervantes, Public Works/Secretary for Santa Paula.

The City Council agreed that it would be important to hear ideas from city workers and directed the staff to coordinate the meetings and to include two city council members in the meetings.  The Council approved postponing the discussions about "cuts and lay offs" in order for SEIU members to present their ideas and have them evaluated.

Last year the governor eliminated key funds for child welfare. We helped win it back, but we must continue to hold the Legislature accountable to stop future cuts.