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i1 -A -�' <br />VLF from page 4 .................. <br />CITIES TAKE ACTION ON THE VLF <br />backfill amount to be dispersed to cities that meet <br />certain requirements relating to expanding housing <br />production. <br />The League will strongly and categorically <br />oppose this and other "gimmicks" that may be tied <br />to restoration of the VLF — and we have commit- <br />ments from our partners at the California State <br />Association of Counties (CSAC) to do the same. <br />Both the League and CSAC have come a long way <br />from the days when the legislature could prevail <br />with "divide and conquer" tactics. Both partners <br />are committed to holding the line for a "clean" <br />restoration of VLF, without gimmicks that would <br />harm either cities or counties. City officials are <br />urged to continue to work with their county and <br />other local government partners through LOCAL to <br />press their legislators to vote for a VLF restoration <br />bill. <br />THE VLF: WHAT'S HAPPENING <br />NEXT WEEK <br />The schedule for next week is still evolving. <br />Here's what we know now: <br />Tuesday, January 21 — Speaker Wesson will <br />hold a press conference in the Capitol to an- <br />nounce the introduction of legislation to restore <br />the VLF. Sheriffs, police and firefighters have <br />been invited to participate, both the chiefs and <br />the rank and file. <br />While the schedule to hear and move the bill <br />is unclear at this time, the Speaker and Assembly <br />Democrats have indicated that they want to <br />quickly pass the measure and send it to the <br />Senate. They appear to be coordinating their <br />approach with Senate leaders. <br />Other related activities: <br />Wednesday, January 22 — The Senate <br />Local Government Committee will hold a hearing <br />to examine the impacts of the Governor's pro- <br />posed cuts on local government with the primary <br />focus being VLF. <br />Reports are flooding in to the League about <br />cities' rapid response to the request to contact <br />legislators and pass resolutions supporting resto- <br />ration of the VLF. Many city officials are finding it <br />convenient to use the League's Website <br />(www.cacities.org) to access a sample letter, <br />sample resolution and talking points. <br />Visitors to the League's online Advocacy <br />Center at www.cacities.orc /advocacvicenter can <br />generate their letters to legislators online, and <br />either email them, fax them, or download them for <br />printing and mailing. <br />Resolutions will still be needed several weeks <br />from now. The passage of legislation to restore <br />the VLF funding is not the last step in the process. <br />Depending upon how the legislation is crafted, <br />someone — possibly the Director of Finance — will <br />still have to "pull the trigger" to reinstate the VLF, <br />following a finding about the condition of the state <br />general fund. City officials should assume that <br />they must keep the pressure up to see this matter <br />through to the end: the restoration of funding that <br />the voters of California constitutionally designated <br />for local purposes. <br />Please be sure to send copies of mailed or <br />faxed letters to League Lobbyist Jean Korinke, <br />email ikorinkefi2icacities.oro. fax: 916.658.8245. <br />(The League will automatically receive a copy of <br />any letter generated through the League's online <br />Advocacy Center.) <br />Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS /PAGE 5 <br />