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VLF from page 8 The urgency measure does not address the question of cuts. Next Steps for Californ,a Cities It is vitally important for city officials to contact their legislators and the Governor, and remind them of what an almost 70 percent cut in VLF would mean in lost city services. Please share information with the League about where your city would cut personnel or services; we are using this information in responding to press calls and it's very helpful in discussions with legislators and the Administration. The League is working with our LOCAL coali- tion ( "Leave Our Community Assets Local ") to organize a press conference in Sacramento, possibly timed to coincide with key actions on Senator Brulte's SB X5 1. Participation by police and fire chiefs and officers is particularly impor- tant. You will hear more about this press confer- ence through your League regional representative in the days ahead. Local Actions Urged It is vitally important during this period for city officials to tell their city story at the local level. The voters strongly support rolling back the VLF. They support Governor Schwarzenegger's action, and will continue to do so. Our goal at this time is to urge legislators and the Administration to keep the promise made to local government in 1998, by appropriating the funds needed to protect local services. City officials can help deliver this message, by educating their employees, citizens and the press about cuts the city would have to make if the state fails to keep its promise on the backfill. services funded by passing SB X5 1. (Visit the League's website at www.cacities.ora for a city - by -city chart showing the monthly VLF losses to your city. Need a sample letter? Visit the League' Advocacy Center at www.cacities.org/ advocacycenter.) 2. Arrange a meeting with your employees to inform them of what the loss of VLF will mean to your city. Inform them of the city's and League's efforts to educate legislators about local services and the possible implications of the cuts. (Remember to keep these sessions informational; you may not ask employees to advocate by contacting their legislators, the Governor, or engaging in other advocacy activities.) 3. Organize a public forum or emergency council meeting to educate your citizens and the press about what the loss of VLF will mean to your city. Explain what cuts the city is forced to consider. Take public comment, and encourage public discussion. As with the employees, inform the public of your city's efforts to educate legisla- tors about the impact of the loss of VLF. Local press coverage can be very important in telling the story about how important it is to keep city ser- vices funded. (Remember that you can only inform and educate citizens; you may not ask them to write or call their legislators.) 4. Organize a local press briefing to explain the cuts the city is facing. Have a thought- ful, candid, factual conversation; we need report- ers and editors to understand what's at stake for city services. Include public safety officials and other department heads to help explain what the cuts mean in terms of specific programs and services. Specifically, we ask city officials to do the following: 1. Contact your legislators and the Gov- ernor immediately. Tell them what VLF funds in your city, and the cuts that you will be forced to make – or are making — if the legislature does not act quickly to keep its promise to keep these 5. Keep the League informed of cuts that your city is considering. We are attempting to accumulate this information to share with the press, legislators and the Governor. Email infor- mation to Megan Taylor, League Communications Director, at mtavlore.cacities.ora (telephone: 916.658.8228). Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS /PAGE 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .