September 23, 2004
| TO: | CLA Members/ Systems/ Network Contacts |
| FROM: | Mike Dillon, Lobbyist Christina Dillon, Lobbyist |
| RE: | GOVERNOR SIGNS LIBRARY BOND BILL |
THANK YOU, GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER!
Late yesterday afternoon, Governor Schwarzenegger's legislative unit notified Senator Alpert's office, who in turn called us, with the great news that the Governor had signed SB 1161-Alpert, the Library Construction and Renovation Bond bill. All of the hard work by the library community in generating support letters to the Governor's Office evidently had an effect on his decision to sign the bill. In addition to all of the support from boards of supervisors, city councils, mayors, and others in the library community, we were also able to get the support in recent days from the California Building Industry Association, the Architects Association, and other similar organizations outside of the library community.
Earlier in the week, Senator Alpert's office called us to ask our thoughts on holding a press conference to generate editorial support, which we heartily endorsed. During the last several days, members of the CLA Bond Task Force, including Contra Costa Library Director and Legislative Committee Chair Anne Cain, Solano County Library Directory Ann Cousineau, Sacramento County Library Directory Ann Marie Gold, Senator Alpert's staff and ourselves, together with newly-appointed State Librarian Susan Hildreth, and Richard Hall of the State Library, to extent they felt they could be involved, worked to develop the necessary information and speakers for the press conference, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. this morning. We put together press packets containing all of the pertinent information, while Senator Alpert's staff notified the press of the time and place of the press conference.
Now with the good news of the Governor's signature on SB 1161, the press conference will still go forward, but with a different flavor. The original purpose of the press conference was to demonstrate the need for library construction and renovation and generate editorial support for SB 1161. Today, we will use the press conference as an opportunity to thank the Governor for his actions in signing the library bond bill and emphasize how the additional funding will be of assistance in meeting the huge backlog of needs. Slated to speak at the press conference are Senator Alpert, Assembly Member Lois Wolk, one of the principle co-authors of SB 1161, CLA Legislative Committee Chair Anne Cain, Sacramento County Supervisor and Assembly candidate Roger Neillo, and Kathy Geppert of the Sacramento Chapter League of Women Voters.
The Governor's signing of SB 1161 is a huge victory for the library community. Special thanks to Senator Alpert's extraordinary efforts. We have never worked with an author who has made such a personal investment in their legislation and gone to extraordinary lengths to secure passage and the Governor's signature. Lastly, we want to especially thank Governor Schwarzenegger, who despite the State's current fiscal dilemma, has recognized the important role libraries play in our communities. Please take a moment today to write a "thank you" to the Governor.
Letter Options
OPTION #1 – Mail your letter to the Governor (still the favorite preferred method)
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor, State of California
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA. 95814
Attn: Pam Oto, Office of Governor Schwarzenegger
OPTION #2 – Fax your letter to the Governor
Office of Governor Schwarzenegger
Attention: Pam Oto
(916) 445-4633
OPTION #3 – E-mail the Governor
You may e-mail the Governor at:
- governor@governor.ca.gov or
- www.govmail.ca.gov (At "govmail" you may insert a text of up to 6000 characters.)