Action Alert from our friends at the Sierra Nevada Alliance
If you have not already, please Write, Call and/or Email the Governor and Legislators
To Pass a Budget and Save the Sierra
Dear Friends of the Sierra,
The ongoing financial situation of the State and the Legislature and Governor's failure to agree on a budget has had many deep and disturbing impacts to the people and environment of California. In addition to furloughing State employees, the State has now suspended all state contracts funded under the voter passed conservation bonds. This has grave impacts for the entire Sierra Nevada.
Important work funded by the bonds to restore Sierra rivers, lakes and streams has been halted. Critical acquisition and easement purchase projects that protect Sierra water quality and important habitat have been stopped. Funding for essential environmental education to help people understand Sierra conservation issues and inspire their good stewardship has ceased.
Important points that our conservative legislators and Republican Governor need to know:
The layoffs made due to the state freezing contract work and reimbursements negatively impact our rural and low-income Sierra economies. The suspension of bond funding has resulted in organizations laying off skilled, talented and committed experts. Good year-round jobs with health benefits are a prize in the Sierra. There is a lot of attention these days on creating "new" green jobs and putting people back to work on 'shovel ready' projects. This freeze on state contracts just ripped the shovels out of people's hands on 'shovel happening' projects. This freeze on contracts took away good, year-round jobs with benefits. This action is clearly in the wrong direction to help rebuild and revitalize our local Sierra economy.
In addition, past work performed under state contract is not being reimbursed. This action jeopardizes the financial sustainability of conservation organizations. Not only will work stop, but the capacity to do future conservation work in many critical areas of the Sierra is in danger of disappearing completely.
Another matter for consideration is that if this situation is not resolved quickly,the state will waste their limited funds in having agency staff renegotiate contracts. Once contractors are authorized to begin work again, if a significant amount of time has passed, contractors will need to renegotiate the timelines of their contracts in order to be able to complete the work as planned. They will need to rehire and retrain staff - delaying project work. This will require state agency staff time to redo the contracts. If the contracts were authorized to move forward sooner than later, contractors could rehire already trained staff quickly and complete work without having to renegotiate timelines.
Please write, call and/or email Governor Schwarzenegger and your State Senator and Assembly Member and tell them to pass a budget. This will help restore California's credit and encourage the administration to pay past invoices funded by bonds, as well as authorize work to start again on existing conservation contracts.
This matter is beyond politics - beyond Democrat vs. Republican - it is common sense. Other organizations, states and nations create and balance budgets. California and the Sierra can not afford for our leaders to continue to fail to adopt a budget. Our leaders need to know they should pass a budget or expect to lose their re-election or election to other leadership positions.
Feel free to use the points made above in your letter, call or email.
Please visit the following websites for phone, mail or email contact information:
1107 9th Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814 • Phone (916) 444-8726 • Fax (916) 448-1789 •
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