Sanchez: "State is having a meltdown"

The state budget, or lack thereof, was very much on the minds of delegates and CTA President David A. Sanchez when State Council met in Los Angeles April 1-3.

Unlike the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Sanchez told Council that the emergency we’re facing is very much man-made, “and that is a state budget that could result in another 19,000 educator lay-offs and the further erosion of our public schools and colleges. It’s like our state is having a meltdown right in front of us.”

Although CTA and Californians throughout the state supported Gov. Brown’s budget plan of $12.5 billion in cuts and $12.5 billion in revenue extensions, it became clear that Republican lawmakers “have no real interest in solving this budget crisis without destroying public education and other public services,” Sanchez said in his remarks.

Instead of striking a budget deal that would have allowed the public to vote on tax extensions, the lawmakers presented a list of 53 different demands, some of which made the deficit even bigger.

“Their other demands included a host of so-called education reforms and attempts to dismantle the secure retirement system for teachers, nurses, firefighters, and other public employees. Governor Brown said NO.”

He continued, “We are in a state of emergency, and we need to take bold action that sends a crystal clear message to Sacramento. “We aren’t going to sit back while the negligence of some lawmakers bankrupts our schools, closes our parks, abandons our sick and elderly, and puts entire communities at risk.”