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1 LOCAL UPDATE The League's Regional Representatives report continuing grassroots activities as part of the LOCAL coalition effort ( "Leave Our Community Assets Local ") to protect local services from state budget cuts. A few of these activities are described below. Cities in the League's Monterey Bay Division have updated the radio and print commercials they prepared and ran last year on the state's budget crisis and the risks that state cuts would have on local services. There are 5 radio and 5 print ads that will begin running this weekend on 7 radio stations and in 6 local papers. League Regional Representative Deanna Sessums reports that this year the sponsor- ing group includes not only the cities of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, but all three county governments and a few area special districts. • During the Inland Empire Division's May 22 Legislative Task Force meeting, cities shared ex- amples of how they are utilizing the League's recently released video, "Cloudy Skies over California Cities ". In each case, the city's mayor visited their local cable studio and taped an introduction to the video, sharing details about the impact that their individual city faces if the legislature adopts the cut proposals currently under consideration. The stations are showing the video on a regular basis. Other cities reported that they are showing the video at their council meetings, so the local television coverage on their public access channel includes the video. All speakers reported receiving positive public comments and interest, expressed by increased questions and awareness. "Cloudy Skies" a Hit: The League's new video, "Cloudy Skies Over California's Cities," has been received by city officals with glowing reviews. The six - minute video, which tells the story of how state budget cuts will impact local services, has been distributed in a variety of formats and been aired everywhere from Council Meetings to Cable Access channels. Please visit the "Cloudy Skies" link on the League's homepage to view the video or order copies online for your city! THE BUDGET STORY - SOME PRESS QUOTES Editorials The Los Angeles Times, 5/22103, By Digging In on Taxes, GOP May Dig Its Grave. "This small band of rigid ideologues may be in the process of doing in the only thing that currently makes them relevant in Sacramento: the two - thirds vote require- ment for passage of a budget or a tax increase." Sacramento Bee, 5/24/03, State Needs a Long -Tenn Solution. "Gov. Gray Davis made the rounds of newspaper editorial boards in recent days, urging papers to put the heat on anyone in the state Capitol, Democrat or Republican, who gets in the way of passing a state budget on time. Name names, the governor urged us." The Monterey County Herald, 5125/03, Bud- get Drowning in a Sea of Red Ink. "How bad is this sea of red ink? We could lay off every state em- ployee, but it wouldn't be enough. We could close every prison and end all assistance to higher educa- tion, but it wouldn't be enough. We could end medical assistance to low- income families and gut environ- mental protection, but it wouldn't be enough." The Orange County Register, 5/25/03, State Fiscal Situation Hardly Unique. "Since the release of Gov. Gray Davis' budget last January, the Register has printed numerous commentaries critical of the governor and his administration, particularly regard- ing fiscal policy. Those commentaries have often been laced with assertions that simply aren't true. As Ronald Reagan liked to say, facts are stubborn things." The Orange County Register, 5/25103, Sacramento's Profiles in Cowardice. "Covering the governor's May budget revision, and the goings - on on the Assembly floor, reminded me of those old "scared straight" programs police agencies offer to potential juvenile trouble- makers. The kids get taken to prisons, where they see where a life of crime will get them. Every California resident ought to watch their government in action, and see what their voting has gotten them." See Also: "The Budoet Story — Press Quotes for samples of press coverage over the past week. Sacramento Bee, 5125/03, Daniel Weintraub: In State's Time of Need, the Governor Fails to Lead. "Everyone is talking about California's $38 billion budget gap. But the state has another shortfall Continued on Page 5 Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS /PAGE 3