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1�� SIGNATURE STARS! CITY O�ICIALS AND VOLUNTEER SIGNATURE GATHERERS HIT THE STREETS As signed petidons for the Laal Taxpayers and request a peMion there too. Public Safety F!otection Act pour in from across the "When I shared that I was a vdunteer working state, the Leagu. has begun to identify its "SignaWre to p-otect cities, coun6es and special districis and Stars," city official:, coalition partners and other need:d their signature to get this ballot initiative volunteers who have disfinguished ihemselves and qualfied for November, they were very interested their ciry or organization in the sgnature gathering and as they asked for rtwre, usuaily had the pen in eflort. All of the activities by city officials occurred on their hand and were signing as I answered the their personal time, without the use of public re- question. The majority ...liked the empowermeM of sources. the bcal vote needed befpre }he state pn take any more bcal money." Mayor Pro Tem of Fontana Janice Rutherford leads the way in the Inland Empiie Division, pro- In ihe Sadamento VaBey Dhrision CoFFax Vice nouncing, 'This is the easiest balbt measure I've ever Mayor Sharon Gieres agrees ihat iCs "not too hard collected signatures for!" Observing that "People tp gather the signatures, most people undersfand continue to be frustrated with the legislature," Rufher- the idea rather quickly and say'1'll sign!'" Vice ford believes the public sees "our initiative as their Mayor Gieras has consistently exceeded her cit�s way to express that ange�'. As to how she manages weekly signature goals, simply by haking the peti- to meet and exceed her goals, Rutherford says: "I just tions abng on her "daiy rounds," to businesses, ihe keep the petitions in my car and take them with me 9�ry �� and just'Walking down the street" wherever I go, collecting signatures in elevators, parking lots, stores, sporting events, the hair salon, — In ihe Penlnsula Division, Saratoga Mayor everywhere. And once I explain that we want the q�� yy�p�ry� and her city manager, Dave legistature to stop stealing our tax money, people ask Anderson, work as a team to promote the signa- me if riiey can take petitions and collect signatures ture geyiering effort. In add'Aion to Taking petiYtions themselves." wherever they go on their personal time during the week, the team sets up a card table in front of local Inland Empire Regional Representative groceery stores every Saturday, and has consistently Nancy Cisneros reports that Teamsters 911 Legis- met and exceeded their goals. lative Liaison Melissa Omelas is also a Signature Star. "She is submitting a good flow of signed peti- Also in the Peninsula Division, Los Gatos tions, and she is working with many of the League's Councilmember Sandy Decker has been dedi- So. Cal. reps. I have seen her mapping out her daily cated to the cause since day one. She too has meetings and business travel around where she teamed with her city manager Deb Figone, and needs to introduce the signing of the petition with her together they have given public presentations all membership." over Los Gatos on their own time. Thursday night, Dedcer hosted a"pep" rally for several cities to get RepoRing on her own experience, Nancy wrote, "I them on board and charged up for Super Saturday. stood out in front of a retail store one aftemoon by myself and reaped 300 signatures." Some "folks are And in ihe Sacremento Valley, Division skittish when approached this way, bepuse there are President Mary Fahlen weighs in on the popular so many 'paid' gatherers that they suspect when we resppnse to }he peq�on: "Most people that have approach that they are gang to have to hear about 8 signed the petitions have very strong feelings about more petiGons we are holding behind our back. keeping bcal control over local funds. They do not (People) were very pleased as we provided the one like the fact that legislators appear to be unaware of page information sheet and the campaign website the local services being provided by cities and how address, (www.protectlocalservices.com ) for them important those services are " Fahlen also added to confirm the effort's intent. I always share they could Continued on Page 9 PAGE 6/PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org