 |
| Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg |
“Budgets, Bonds, and Bottom Lines” was the theme for the fourth annual California Budget Training held March 2006 and cosponsored by the UCLA Labor Center, the Liberty Hill Foundation, the California Partnership, and SEIU Local 660.
After Jeffrey Richardson, executive director for the Liberty Hill Foundation, opened the program, Nancy Berlin from the California Partnership and Saira Soto from SEIU Local 660 provided an overview of the basics component of the state budget process and how advocates can get involved in addressing their issues. Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg then gave a presentation on this year’s budget situation, Jean Ross from the California Budget Project focused on how the governor’s proposed 2006–07 budget prepares California for the future, and finally, Nancy Berlin facilitated a timeline budget action activity.
The afternoon session focused for the first time on the Los Angeles City and County budgets. Chris Espinoza from the Mayor’s Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, broke down the city budget process and some of the major budgetary issues facing Mayor Villaraigosa today. He was followed by a presentation on the Los Angeles County budget process by Kathy Ochoa, Lilian Coral, and Jenny Yang of SEIU Local 660. They focused on the county’s social safety and what Local 660 is doing to ensure a fair and equitable budget. Michele Prichard, from Liberty Hill Foundation, provided the closing remarks.
|
