Several Hundreds In Sacramento & Los Angeles Rally For Disability Rights & Opposition to Governor's Proposed Cuts To In-Home Services For People With Disabilities, Cuts To Regional Centers, SSI/SSP, Medi-Cal

SACRAMENTO -  Several hundreds in Sacramento and Los Angeles marched and rallied for disability rights and in opposition to Governor Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts to in-home services for people with disabilities, cuts to regional center funded  community based services, cuts to SSI/SSP and Medi-Cal, and other cuts that will impact special education, accessible housing and transportation and other needed programs that serve people with developmental and other disabilities, seniors, people with traumatic brain injuries and mental health needs.  Advocates claimed that the Governor's proposals cover a "wide range of cuts hurting the same children, adults with disabilities over and over".

In Sacramento, over 250 people with disabilities and other advocates marched 10 city blocks from the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza, through the busy K Street Mall to the Sacramento Convention Center, where the California Health and Human Service Agency was hosting a Medi-Cal Reform Work Group meeting on Disability and Aging Issues.  The Sacramento Police Department stopped traffic at 5 different streets to let the large crowd cross, including many people in wheel chairs.  The Sacramento march was held in part to coincide with the Medi-Cal meeting, with advocates saying that they will fight any reform that sacrifices the rights of people with disabilities, including access to health care and in-home services. The Medi-Cal Disability and Aging meeting is part of the Governor's larger proposal to restructure the state's Medicaid program and advocates fear major reductions in services to people with disabilities and seniors.

The marchers included two young brothers with disabilities - Nick and Gregory Duff.  Nick Duff, 9 years old spoke outside the Sacramento Convention Center about his twin brother Gregory, who has developmental disabilities who he said desperately needs regional center and in-home services (Gregory Duff participated in the march in his wheelchair).

The Sacramento march also was held to draw attention to the Governor's newly revised proposal to impose statewide standards that would limit community-based spending and services for children and adults with developmental disabilities, which was released April 1.  Another proposal that was required to be released as part of the 2003-04 Budget, was a parental co-payment or share of cost plan for regional center funded services, which was held up by Governor Schwarzenegger's Department of Finance for further review.  Advocates who marched called the Governor's proposal an "attack on the rights of people with disabilities" and claimed it would have the impact of "reversing" the state's civil rights act for people with developmental disabilities, the Lanterman Act.

In Los Angeles, a similar large noisy crowd estimated at over 200 rallied outside Governor Schwarzenegger's field office in the  Ronald Reagan State Office Building.  The demonstration, coordinated with the Sacramento event, included persons from community organizations, families, people with disabilities, independent living centers and other advocates, protesting especially the Governor's proposals to eliminate in-home services for children and adults with disabilities, and seniors where a parent of a minor child, or a spouse is the support person.   The crowd also protested other major cuts in funding to in-home services for people with disabilities, including a proposal that would have the impact of rolling back in-home service worker salaries to minimum wage.  The rally also protested other major cuts to that advocates said "violate the rights of people with disabilities".

Both events were held to kick-off what will be a long month of protests that advocates predict will draw thousands of people with disabilities, their families and other advocates to the State Capitol for budget hearings scheduled for April 19, 22, 26 and 28 on the Governor's proposed cuts.  The California Disability Community Action Network, which planned massive protests in November, December and January, is organizing voter registration and awareness, legislative voting record reports,  major rallies, marches and protests on all four days - with a major rally set for April 19 at the Crest Theater, Monday morning in Sacramento, followed by a march to the State Capitol to attend the Senate Budget Subcommittee hearing.  Simultaneous protests are planned to link with the Sacramento demonstrations in April in dozens of cities across the state.

NEXT STEPS - CRITICAL HEARINGS AHEAD
* Assembly Budget Committee Special Meeting - A special panel of the Assembly Budget Committee, chaired by Assemblymember Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) will hold its second meeting (not a hearing) on budget oversight issues related to regional center services on April 15, Thursday, upon adjournment of the Assembly floor session.  The panel, which will not vote on any issue, will pass on information and recommendations to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services.  The April 15th meeting is expected to follow-up on detailed discussions on the Governor's proposals to impose statewide standards for community-based services, family share of cost plan, and also regional center director salaries and operations and also hear back from the Department of Developmental Services on requests by the committee for specific information.
* Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 on Health, Human Services, Labor and Veterans will hold a hearing to consider the Governor's proposal impacting developmental services - including regional centers on April 19, Monday at 1:30 PM.  A protest rally and march is planned to bring hundreds of people to the hearing.  The same subcommittee will hold a hearing on April 22, Thursday morning (exact time not set - but could be as early as 9 AM though likely later) on in-home services for people with disabilities and seniors (IHSS).  A protest rally is planned in the morning before the hearing.
* Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1 on Health and Human Services will consider developmental service budget issues on April 26 at 4 PM.  Another rally is planned to bring hundreds to this hearing.  The same subcommittee will hold a hearing on April 28th at 1:30 PM to consider the Governor's proposal regarding in-home services for people with disabilities and seniors, and also senior programs under the Department of Aging.  A march and protest rally are planned at the Capitol.
* The Governor will release, tentatively on May 14, Friday, his revisions to his proposed budget for 2004-2005 (referred to as the "May Revise").  The California Disability Community Action Network is planning major demonstrations and protests in 40 cities, including the Capitol if proposed cuts are not rescinded on May 14 to coincide with the Governor's press conference.
* The Governor's proposals require approval of the budget subcommittees, then the full budget committees - and the 2/3rds approval on the floor of both houses

URGENT - CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED TO CONTINUE EFFORT
VERY VERY URGENT!!!! As  of 4/1/04, many many, thanks again,  to the friends, people with disabilities and their families, community organizations and others who have sent in generous and needed contributions and donations (individual thank you letters will be coming soon, due to workload have been delayed!). However, until grant funding is finalized, contributions from people and organizations is still very urgently needed to keep the advocacy efforts going for the next several months. Please make check or money order  to:  California Disability Community Action Network  (or abbreviate CDCAN). CDCAN is not yet a non-profit organization (work on this will have this happen in within the next few months) Send contributions to: California Disability Community Action Network,  1225 8th Street Suite #480, Sacramento, CA  95814.  A method to contribute by credit card (through Paypal) is being set up on our website, at www.cdcan.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CDCAN CAPITOL NEWS REPORTS
* This is a news report of the non-partisan California Disability Community Action Network, a link to thousands of Californians with developmental and other disabilities, their families, community organizations and providers, direct care and other workers, and other advocates. These reports (formerly the CA UCP Capitol Reports) is for all of them.  These reports goes to thousands of people with developmental and other disabilities, their families, community providers and organizations, direct care and other workers and advocates across California. In addition it also goes to news organizations, state and local government officials and staff.
* If you would like to get on this distribution (and conversely, get off of it) please send an email with that  request to:  martyomoto@rcip.com. Sharing information is part of our organizing effort. Please feel free to forward or copy  this (attribution is nice). We're all in this together!
Marty Omoto, director/organizer
California Disability Community Action Network
1225 8th Street Suite 480 Sacramento, CA 95814   VOICE PHONE: 916/446-0013
FAX number: 916/446-0026        email: martyomoto@rcip.com
INFO HOTLINE TOLL FREE NUMBER: 1-877-260-0267 (cannot leave messages)
SAME INFO HOTLINE FOR SACRAMENTO AREA:  486-4652
WEBSITE: www.cdcan.org