The check-in line was busy as citizens and representatives of dozens of organizations arrived in the hall to prepare for the evening's presentation. More than 100 people came to network together, hear the presentations and ask questions.
Supervisor Keith Carson, with SRN Co-Chairs Felicia Jordan and Max Anderson, greeted the crowd as they entered the hall for the program. The 2005 program was held at St. Paul AME Church, 2024 Ashby Ave, Berkeley.
Jordan welcomed participants and spoke about the history and activities of the Socially Responsible Network as she prepared to introduce Carson, initiator of the organization.
Supervisor Carson explained how the federal, state, county and local budgets all interact -- often to the detriment of progressive social causes and the environment. Many key parts of the budget are locked-in by structural requirements, voter limits, and the outcome of political battles at the state and federal level from which the local community is largely excluded. The alternative, he suggested, is for the local community to organize and empower itself to force politicians to do the right things.
Jean Ross, Executive Director of the CA Budget Project, on the far right, gave an overview of the situation and told how her organization hopes to reshape the budget.
The SRN draws its membership out of the community, so many people who listened were grassroots activists who have long been engaged in the process Carson described.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee's aide Jeffrey Thomas explained how a right wing stranglehold on the federal government has caused undue hardships for the people of the East Bay. He said that to represent a constituency that is "light years ahead" of much of the nation is both empowering, because Lee has their solid support, and frustrating, because the Bush administration relies on short-term political opportunism rather than scientific facts and beneficial long-term outcomes. Changing party leadership in the next Congressional race would improve the chances of solving critical problems.
Assembly member Lonnie Hancock discussed how the interplay of federal requirements and political posturing in Sacramento turn the process of writing and adopting any budget into a giant compromise in which there are few winners. The governor relies too much on showmanship and not enough on working with the legislature. She pledged to continue her efforts to get adequate funding for education and other public service needed by East Bay communities. She urged everyone to take action by visiting the websites www.speakoutcalifornia.org and www.californiafordemocracy.com.
Alameda County Administrator Susan Muranishi told where the budget comes from ...
... and where the property tax-generated part of it ends up going.
Attendees then had the opportunity to address their specific concerns as questions to the panel.
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