We urgently need your help. The mayor and his downtown
backers once again are on the verge of outsmarting the Board of
Supervisors and raiding the public financing fund. We need you to
contact Budget Chair John Avalos and Board President David Chiu right
away.
HERE IS THE BACKGROUND: The
Board of Supervisors Budget Committee, led by Supervisor John Avalos,
passed the full budget out of committee last week, WITHOUT restoring
the mayor's secret $2.3 million raid on the public financing fund – http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/10/BA1418409G.DTL
This
was in direct contradiction to the pledge Avalos and other Supervisors
had signed, and had reiterated in public meetings, in private
conversations and to the media – http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/politics/2009/06/newsoms_shell_game_part_i_publ.html
If
this money is not restored, there are not enough funds to cover public
financing for the 2011 mayoral race, and possibly the 2011
Supervisorial races as well.
The good news:
Fortunately, Avalos and the other Supervisors are now saying that they
are trying to figure out how to restore the funding at the full Board
meeting next Tuesday. But their commitment has already been shaky. And
since this already has passed the Budget Committee without being
restored, we know that we can't take this outcome for granted.
What you need to do: Call
and write John Avalos & David Chiu right away (see sample letter
below). Ask them to fulfill
the campaign pledge that they signed to restore the $2.3 million that
the mayor raided from the public financing fund. Your voice is the only
thing protecting public financing right now! And if you can make the
Board meeting next week and voice your opinion, please do.
HERE IS THEIR CONTACT INFO:
Budget Chair John Avalos
john.avalos@sfgov.org
415-554-6975
Board President David Chiu
david.chiu@sfgov.org
415-554-7450
SUBJECT: Restore public campaign financing funds!
Dear Supervisor [__________],
Public
campaign financing is the only the thing that can bring our democracy
into the 21st Century – a democracy based on who has the best ideas,
not who can raise the most money.
Please fulfill the pledge you signed during your campaign last year to
ensure full funding for this crucial program.
While
public financing costs a very small amount of money in the short run,
it saves far more, in the long run, by ensuring a government that acts
in the best interests of the majority, rather than a small group of
donors.
Thank you,
[Your Name]
------------------
Rob Arnow
San Franciscans for Voter Owned Elections
www.voterownedelections.org
415-552-2229