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LOCAL UPDATE The LOCAL coalition ( "Leave Our Community Assets Local ") continues in 2003 as an umbrella organization through which city officials work with their local government partners in counties and special districts, and a powerful, growing list of other organizations, to educate legislators and the media about the impact of proposed state budget cuts on local services. Below are some recent results of these efforts. (To see a list of the more than 350 individuals and organizations who have joined the LOCAL coalition, visit the LOCAL website at www.calocal.org.) Grassroots Activities Monterey Bay and East Bay Divisions Send City Officials to Capitol. City officials from both divisions came to Sacramento this week to meet with their legislators, key legislative staff and a top Administration official to discuss their concerns with state proposals that would hurt city services. The meetings were organized by League regional representatives for both areas (Deanna Sessums and Stacey Wells). (See related article: "Monterey Bay and East Bay Divisions Press Their Case With Legislators'. Assembly Member Joe Canciamilla Speaker at East Bay Division Meeting. Canciamilla told the group that: 1. The Senate will pass a bill with FY 2002 -03 cuts on Monday, February 25 and the Assembly will take a shot at it Thursday, February 27. This will be an attempt to separate out VLF from the Gov's original budget proposal and focus on what's left. 2. Look for some bipartisan effort coming out of the Assembly next week that moves the budget discussion forward. 3. The idea of a temporary sales tax hike to cover the budget shortfall (the non - structural portion) as we move ahead in the next few years is real. 4. Cities and counties will probably keep VLF (one way or another) but will possibly lose other funding (unspecified), and that Californians will experience higher fees in general. 5. There is a group of folks who believe a budget is possible by June 15, and that's what they're working toward. He also said the talk about "no budget until fall" removes any urgency to pass a budget. Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce luncheon. League regional representative Rebecca Elliot reported on this event, where State Controller Steve Wesby was the keynote speaker. "Westly is a good speaker and evoked many laughs. He became quite serious when talking about the budget. Is taking the lead on an internet sales tax, had the business folks upset when talking about split roll possibility. Said state revenues are up for the first time in months; but unemployment in Silicon Valley went from 1.3% to 7.5% in less than 2 years. His main message was that we must pre- serve job growth and protect the business base if the state is to survive the crisis. Believes that for every $1 in tax increases, there must be $2 in cuts." San Francisco Chronicle Editorial Board Meeting. LOCAL's first editorial board meeting of the year was Monday, Feb. 3 w/ the San Francisco Chronicle. League regional rep Stacey Wells worked with the LOCAL consultants (Bicker, Castillo and Fairbanks) to arrange for and prep speakers. On hand: League President and Oakland City Attorney John Russo, CSAC President and Sonoma County Supervisor Tim Smith; Fremont Police Chief Craig Steckler; Fire Chief Craig Bowen, from the San Ramon Valley Fire District; CSAC Lobbyist Pat Leary and Stacey. The Chronicle staff included five editorial writers and a columnist. "Everyone did a great job and the editors seemed engaged." The result: a terrific editorial, which ran February 10. League Regional Rep Stacey Wells Hits Talk Radio (KGO). "Talk about blind luck. Me in the car. KGO decides, off the cuff, to do an hour on VLF backfill. The host is ... praising Lafayette City Manager Steve Falk, who (had just written an op -ed that ran in the SF Chronicle) on the effects of the Gov's proposed VLF backfill raid. I called (several city officials who were not available to call in). So I just called in myself and was on as the last caller, for about five minutes. My new motto: Everywhere, all the time. " For more, see page a. Visit the League's Official Web Site " "%&. vxacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS /PAGE 3