But wait, there's more:
--> Front page story in the Selma Enterprise covering the impromptu protest of more than 20 seniors in Selma (Fresno County).
--> Stockton Record covers the statewide day of action and the impact of the veto on blind and senior renters.
--> TV Coverage (in Spanish), Channel 62, of Los Angeles Press Conference.
Yesterday was an exciting day, kicking off the campaign to save the renters' rebate. Here's some more the coverage we found today:
--> Radio coverage of the SF Rally on KPFA evening news this evening. Coverage starts about 47 minutes into the show. Assemblymember-elect Tom Ammiano vows to join with his colleagues in Sacramento and say to the Governor, "you may be a movie star and you may be an action hero, but we're going to kick your ass on this one, pal."
--> Live TV Coverage from KRON4 news in San Francisco.
--> Article in Lake County News, entitled "Coalition acts to save tax rebates for low-income seniors, blind and disabled Californians."
--> From today's San Francisco Chronicle:
--> From the San Diego Union-Tribune:Watch out, Arnold, here comes Tom: Supervisor Tom Ammiano is headed to the state Assembly, and the stand-up comic is determined to be a big, amusing thorn in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's side.
Along with scores of renters, housing rights activists, Supervisor Aaron Peskin and other city leaders, a fired-up Ammiano stood on the steps of the state building Wednesday in San Francisco to blast the governor for eliminating $191 million in funding for low-income seniors.
At the end of every year, they receive a renters' rebate of $347, money that the governor vetoed. Ammiano said he showed up at the governor's office to complain about the elimination of the decades-old program.
"He wasn't there. I suppose he was having his legs waxed or something," he told the crowd, saying he was taken aback by the governor's smoking tent, set up outside his office to get around the state's smoking ban. He said the governor smokes cigars in there that probably cost as much as the $347 rebate.
"He lives in that tent like it's a bubble," Ammiano said, adding the governor seems to think all Californians are healthy, young and have a trust fund. "Wake up, Arnold, that ain't the truth. You may be a movie star and you may be an action hero, but we're going to kick your ass on this one!"
Ammiano says the vehicle license fee should be reinstated instead of money being taken from the poor.
--> Story in Beyond Chron, "Momentum Grows to Save the Rent Rebate" notes the importance of the Speaker Bass statement read at the LA press conference.DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO: Advocates for elderly and disabled people denounced recent state cuts to housing benefits yesterday at a news conference outside the state building.
The state budget crisis should not be shouldered by "its most vulnerable citizens," said Ann E. Menasche, an attorney for the San Diego office of Disability Rights California.
Speakers at the event, part of a statewide effort to bring attention to the issue, attacked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for using a line-item veto to kill tax rebates for low-income and disabled Californians.
The Senior Citizens Property Tax Program - also known as the "renters'rebate" - allows qualifying people to recoup some of their rent.
6:01 p.m.: Our online petition to save the renters' rebate just hit 1250 signatures. The response to the petition has been amazing. Spread the word!
5:05 p.m.: We've obtained an email copy of Assembly Speaker Karen Bass' statement that was read at the LA rally. The Speaker directly addresses the rebate program. Here's what the statement says:
"The Renters and Homeowners Assistance Program is designed to assist seniors, the disabled and low-income citizens; all of whom are among the most vulnerable. The Governor's decision to eliminate funding from the Homeowner/Renter Assistance Program has left individuals on limited fixed incomes with difficult choices. What do you eliminate from a budget that barely allows for food, medicine and shelter?"
"Californians expect thoughtful leadership when it comes to balancing our budget. The state requires increased revenues in order to prevent cuts to such critical programs as the Renters and Homeowners Assistance Program. California must balance raising the revenue it needs while making sensible cuts that do not punish those in greatest need of assistance."
4:40 p.m.: More pictures roll in from the San Francisco rally.
Aaron Peskin, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party
Assemblymember-Elect Tom Ammiano
2:50 p.m.: San Diego reports successful press conference. Speakers included representatives from California Alliance for Retired Americans, Golden State Manufactured-home Owners League, Access to Independence, Disability Rights California and Affordable Housing Coalition. Extensive media interest, with three separate TV stations there as well as the Union Tribune. TV media says they are heading from the press conference to a senior center and mobilehome park for more interviews.
2:15 p.m.: Los Angeles press conference participants report that a representative from Speaker Karen Bass' office is reading a letter from the speaker objecting to these cuts. We'll post the letter when we get it.
1:20 p.m.: Seniors in Selma (Fresno County) decide to stage impromptu rally at Veteran's plaza in Selma. This was not part of the planned Day of Action events, but seniors in Selma are so upset about the rebate veto that they are pulling together this small rally at 2:00 p.m.
12:15 p.m.: Big rally in San Francisco. Over 150 people. Many senior and disabled folks impacted by the loss of rebates spoke, as did community leaders. Assemblymember-elect Tom Ammiano and President of the Board of Supervisors Aaron Peskin spoke at the rally.
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10:15 a.m.: More media coverage. Monterey Herald; Beyond Chron
8:30 a.m.: Front page story in Contra Costa Times on the day of action. Senior renter John Melone is interviewed: "We're catching it from every angle, particularly seniors and the disabled," said Melone, a former medical social worker who pays $500 a month for a room in a friend's Richmond home. "This is ridiculous, that people in their 70s have to decide they have to take a pill every other day so they can make rent."
