DAS WILLIAMS

Outstanding Public Official

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Thu, 24 May 2012 02:56:00 +0000

Das Williams honored as Outstanding Public Official

Over the weekend, Assemblymember Das Williams was honored by the California Teachers Association (CTA) with a “Gold Award” for being an Outstanding Public Official in his leadership and support of teachers and education in our area.

Williams, a former educator at both the junior high school and university level, was honored at a ceremony held at the Ventura Beach Marriott Friday. Several educators from the area were also honored by the Channel Islands Service Center Council of the CTA, including:

Aline Grossman, a teacher at Ventura High School: Outstanding Educator, Ventura Unified
Education Association.

Ruthann Burnell, a teacher at Serra Elementary School and retired executive board member of the Ventura Unified Education Association (VUEA).

Rae Stevens, site representative from Portola Elementary School and various VUEA committees.

Kathy Riley, with the Hueneme Education Association.

Sandra Kelble, with the Oxnard Educators Association.

Ray Bedoy, with the Ventura Classified Employees Association.

“As we are staring at fiscal Armageddon for the state, there is no group of workers that I am more honored to stand with than our teachers,” said Assemblymember Das Williams.

Website for Assemblymember Das Williams: http://assembly.ca.gov/Williams

Reposted from Jill's blog about Das at:

http://daswilliams4sb.blogspot.com/2012/05/das-williams-honored-as-outstanding.html

Sowing Environmental Seeds

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Sun, 20 May 2012 02:14:00 +0000

Reported in the Santa Barbara INDEPENDENT:

http://independent.com/news/2012/may/16/sewing-environmental-seeds-success/

Super Heroes

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:08:00 +0000

Superhero Teens

Students Honored at 11th Annual Youth Awards Banquet

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

by ALLIE COLE

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Dozens of Santa Barbara–area teens were crowned as “superheroes” as part of the 11th Annual Youth Awards Banquet, where 49 young students were recognized for their superhero-like qualities and accomplishments by the City of Santa Barbara in association with the Santa Barbara Teen Coalition.

“We’d all like to believe that there’ll be somebody else who will save the day,” said State Assemblymember Das Williams in his address to the students last Friday, May 11, at the Carrillo Recreation Ballroom, “but it’s you who are going to save the day, and I’m proud to represent and work with all of you.”

Three honorees, Sandee Taylor, Adrian Alcala, and Marino Duarte Munoz, were finalists for the 2012 Youth Leaders of the Year. The winner, Taylor, and runners-up, Alcala and Munoz, each received scholarships for their academic achievements in the face of difficult obstacles. Mayor Helene Schneider described each student’s achievements while presenting the awards.

Taylor earned above a 4.0 grade point average while financially supporting herself, at one point living in a trolley car before moving in with a friend. She fell off a 40-foot cliff in an accident but continues to thrive in and out of the classroom. In addition to working at the Farmers Market and at a yoga studio, Taylor is president of Santa Barbara High School’s Green Club.

Alcala was raised by his siblings after losing his mother to domestic violence and being separated from his father. He is the first in his family to attend a four-year college and plans to counsel youth like him after graduation.

Munoz emigrated from Mexico and is separated from his family, but he has maintained a high grade point average and is graduating with honors. “I’m just happy and very proud,” said Munoz when receiving the award.

Guest speaker Davies Kabogoza, who lists “faith, hope, and love” as life’s strongest pillars, gave an inspiring talk to the students. A gifted soccer player and outstanding student, Kabogoza received a scholarship to play soccer for Santa Barbara City College.

“My life has been crying and sorrow most times,” Kabogoza said. He grew up in a small Ugandan village with his mother, two brothers, and sister, usually eating only one meal a day and working for 25 cents a day to support his entire family.

“Life is like a book,” Kabogoza told the audience. “It always takes someone who is brave enough and patient enough to finish, but it’s always joy at the end.”

---- SB INDEPENDENT, 5/15/3012

Remembering Selma Rubin

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:46:00 +0000

Nick Welsh's obituary of Selma Rubin's passing has been published in the SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT and now THE NATION:

Remembering Selma Rubin | The Nation

Selma was a big supporter and campaign(s) volunteer for Das. We miss her spirit and energy every day.

Green Jobs Summit

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 03:15:00 +0000

Green Jobs Summit

Please join Assemblymember Das Williams and the City of Ventura, the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and the Ventura County Community College District for a Green Jobs Summit. This event will feature educators, innovators and government officials. Learn about the vital links between a robust education system, legislation and the emergence of new technologies.

SATURDAY, MAY 19TH
10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Ventura City Hall
501 Poli Street, Ventura

Go to Das's Assembly page to sign up:

Green Jobs Summit - Assemblymember Das Williams Representing the 35th California Assembly District - AD35

Toxic Trade to Asia

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:21:00 +0000

Das Williams Sounds Alarm on Toxic Trade to Asia The Santa Barbara Independent

Supporting Cancer Patients

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Santa Barbara’s Das Williams shaves head to show support for cancer patients (PHOTO GALLERY)

BY JOSHUA MOLINA · MARCH 14, 2012 · LOCAL NEWS · TAGGED: DAILY SOUND, DAS WILLIAMS SHAVES HEAD, JOSHUA MOLINA

Assemblyman Das Williams shaved his head to show support for children with cancer.

Williams, who was elected the 35th District Assembly Seat in 2010, shed the hair during St. Baldrick’s Day event in Sacramento.

“Everyone deserves a shot at life and happiness,” said Williams, who grew up in Isla Vista. “That is why it is especially tragic when a child faces the prospect of a terminal illness. Instead of playing soccer, they make trips to chemotherapy; instead of school dances, they face baldness and surgery. But we can help them beat it. Treatments for people who cannot afford them and research for life saving technology are expensive, so every bit helps. By shaving your head, you give them kinship. By donating, you give them hope.”

Assemblymember Williams is asking you to make a donation in support of his efforts on St. Baldrick’s Day. To Donate, go to: http://www.stbaldricks.org/teams/mypage/76048/2012

Williams was elected twice to the Santa Barbara City Council.

Sugary Sports Drinks in Schools

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:55:00 +0000

Das has introduced a Bill that Supports the Nationwide Movement Against Sugary Drinks to Fight Childhood Obesity

Details about the Bill and Links to multimedia are here:

Proposed Legislation to Ban the Sale of Sports Drinks in Schools - Assemblymember Das Williams Representing the 35th California Assembly District - AD35

Income Inequality Drags Down Our Economy

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:02:00 +0000

Recently, Das and members of the assembly Democratic Caucus heard a discussion by Robert Reich on why income inequality drags down the economy:

State of The State

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:02:00 +0000

(Sacramento, 1/20/2012) – The Governor’s State of the State Address was a tough, but fair place to start getting California’s budget in order. California State Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) was proud of the Governor’s courage to ask all citizens to be part of the solution. Assemblymember Williams says he wants to start immediately addressing the state’s $9.1 billion deficit, and get California working again:

‘Stuff the Bus’ Campaign

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:41:00 +0000

‘Stuff the Bus’ Campaign Deemed a Success for Peoples’ Self-Help Housing - Noozhawk.com

Climate Conference 12/15/2011

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:35:00 +0000

Gov's conference live on EXTREME CLIMATE RISKS AND CALIFORNIA'S FUTURE, Thurs. Dec 15Th:

Governor Releases Additional Details on Climate Conference

Das is attending

Streaming live: www.gov.ca.gov

SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.... released additional details on panel participants and the issues that will be covered at the Governor’s Conference on Extreme Climate Risks and California’s Future.

The conference will be held this Thursday, December 15, 2011 at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Due to space limitations, attendance is by invitation only. The entire conference will also be webcast live on Governor Brown’s website at www.gov.ca.gov and conference viewers can submit questions to conference speakers through this site.

Event registration will open at 8:30 a.m. and the conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. See below for additional media information.

The Governor’s Conference on Extreme Climate Risks and California’s Future Participants (partial list):

• California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.
• Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group
• Nancy Sutley, Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality
• Other participants include public safety, insurance industry, public health and climate change experts, emergency response officials, public utility experts and farmers.

Das is attending, as well.

Topics:

• California and the Global Climate Challenge
• Climate Change’s Human and Economic Impacts on California
• A National Perspective on Climate Action
• Climate Solutions to Protect California Communities and Help our Economy

For additional information on the event and participants, please visit http://www.gov.ca.gov/ecrcf.php

Safe Parking Program

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:56:00 +0000

Das spoke about the Safe Parking Program from his office in Sacramento, November 2011:

A+ for Seniors

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 16:25:00 +0000

Local Assemblymember Receives Perfect Rating from Seniors

SACRAMENTO — First term Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) received a perfect score from the California Congress of Seniors on their annual legislative report card.

Each year the state's leading senior citizens group analyzes and reports the voting records of California Legislators on bills affecting the lives of millions of senior citizens throughout California.

"Great leaders like Hubert Humphrey have said that the moral test of government is how it treats the aged and children. For us to be a just society we must respect and support seniors," Assemblymember Das Williams said.

The report card is aimed to help seniors understand how their elected officials have responded to the issues facing our families and communities. The CCS works with others in the senior network to analyze bills, write letters of support or opposition and more to advocate on the behalf of California's seniors. The report card is an analysis of lawmakers votes on several key bills identified as important for seniors.

"Das Williams typifies the kind of legislator we as seniors should look to as an example of a lawmaker that genuinely has the interests of the seniors in California in mind," said Hank Lacayo, State President of California Congress of Seniors.

"It was Das' first shot at a report card and he got an A-plus from us. That is a very good beginning for a real friend of the seniors in California."

To view the entire 2011 Legislative Report Card for the California Congress of Seniors, visit www.seniors.org

http://www.seniors.org/godocuserfiles/2413.29837_R2_Report.pdf

Pesticides in the Watershed

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:24:00 +0000

Das talks about Pesticides in the Watershed

on the "Surf and River Report," October 2011

The Destiny of Das

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 02:56:00 +0000

The Destiny of Das: How a kid from Isla Vista became Montecito’s Assemblyman

BY JOSHUA MOLINA · OCTOBER 14, 2011
NEWS · TAGGED: CALIFORNIA, DAS WILLIAMS, JOSHUA MOLINA, MONTECITO, SANTA BARBARA

Five purple dreadlocks dangled from his clean-shaven head.
And he stunk. The smell of stale beer and old sodas exuded from his
pores.

But a 16-year-old skinny kid named Das Gault-Williams was undaunted.
He was determined.

He earned money every weekend sorting recyclables at the Community
Environmental Council’s collection center at Montecito Union School.
Das figured out a way on weekends to get from Santa Barbara’s Pershing
Park, where he lived — in his Volkswagen van — to the collection center.
But on this otherwise perfect day in Montecito, Das was unusually
vexed. He needed to make a telephone call to the CEC’s main
headquarters.

It was the early 90s, and Das didn’t carry a cell phone. He wouldn’t
have wanted one anyway at the time, even if he could have afforded it.
They just weren’t cool gear for the skate-surf-kid, heavily influenced
by the punk street and surf culture.

So dreadlocks, sweat, smell and all, Das trekked up San Ysidro Road
into the upper village and the heart of Montecito. It was the first
time he had ever ventured that far. People stared. And glared.

“I got some strange looks,” he said. “I totally don’t blame them. I am
thankful that the people of Montecito don’t hold their first
impression against me.”

More than 20 years later, Das still turns heads when he walks. But he
doesn’t need the flamboyant dreadlocks, or skater-garb anymore.
When he goes to Montecito, he’s just a grown Das Williams, a two-term
former Santa Barbara City Councilman and now a first-term California
state Assemblyman, representing Montecito and half of Santa Barbara
and Ventura Counties.

And he smells good now, especially when he occasionally attends
Montecito Covenant Church or rides a wave at a secret surf spot near
Butterfly Beach.

The Assemblyman

When he is home on the South Coast, life is scheduled in 15-
minute increments. The idea of not having a telephone seems almost
other-worldly. He lives on his Smartphone. Talking. Text-messaging.
Emailing. Researching.

“The pace is so much different,” said Williams, recently from his
downtown Santa Barbara office. “On the City Council, my life was
scheduled in hour increments. Meetings lasted two hours. Now, I need
to get things done in 15 or 30 minutes. I just have so much more to do.”
Since taking office last December, after defeating Republican Mike
Stoker, the whirlwind that had always been Williams only spun faster.
He’s never been a guy who could sit still very long.

He’s always on to the next thing.

Since taking office last December, 10 of Williams’ bills have become
law. He added a fee to every DUI in the county – money that goes to
Cottage Health System’s Level 2 Trauma Center. Over two years, that
amount will reach $1.4 million. He helped the Santa Barbara Unified
School District maintain nearly $2 million in parcel taxes after the
elementary and secondary districts unified.

In the Assembly, his biggest focus has been education. One of the
bills that stalled in the legislature was a proposal to double fines
of motorists speeding in school zones.

He also fought for the rights of schools to take back redevelopment
money gained from property taxes, most of which currently goes to
cities to clean up blight or build affordable housing.

He’s most proud that the state spared deep budget cuts to K-12 as
it was looking to make up a $20 billion deficit. On the table was a
proposal to cut three weeks out of the school year.

Williams said he couldn’t let that happen.

“I felt schools had been savaged too much in previous years,” Williams
said. “If you look at the biggest indicators of performance, it’s
length of instruction, not quality of instruction. The worst thing you
can do is cut the amount of time students spend in the classroom.”

Isla Vista kid

The idea that school is Williams’ No. 1 issue as an assemblyman is
more than a bit ironic, considering his own battles with the public
school system as kid.

Williams attended seven different elementary schools, bouncing around
between divorced parents. He grew up mostly in Isla Vista, but also
went to schools in Ojai.

The son of Malcolm Gault-Williams, a famed writer and surf historian,
Williams practically lived on a surf board as a kid and teen, catching
waves at Sands Beach, Hammonds, anytime he could get a free moment to
break free.

As a teenager, Williams fled to the ocean to escape a world around
him where he never felt like he truly belonged. A self-described former
“teenage alcoholic” Williams struggled to find his sense of purpose.
When he wasn’t on a surfboard, he was on a skateboard, rolling all
over Isla Vista, with his sometimes shaved head, or long hair,
depending on his mood.

Wildy curious, Williams had problems with school. He liked to be
outside, and he rejected structure.

“When I was moving around in elementary school between Santa Barbara
and Ventura County, I always felt like a perpetual outsider,” Williams
said. “I was an introvert who brought big books with me and read them
everywhere I went.”

He dropped out of Dos Pueblos High School at 16. And when his father
moved out of town for a job, Williams, refused to go. He pulled
together money and bought a Volkswagen van, parked it at Pershing Park
— and lived in it.

He enrolled in political science classes at Santa Barbara City
College. He washed up in the bathrooms and couch-surfed at friends’
house. At SBCC, he was finally able to channel his energy and activist
spirit in a positive way; he was deeply affected by his political
science instructors, such as Dr. John Kay.

He took an interest in social and global issues. By the time he was
17, Williams had figured out how to transform his fearlessness and free-
spirit attitude into action. He was accepted to UC Berkeley.

He earned a political science degree from Cal, and volunteered in
Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress for a year.

With his confidence high, Williams returned home — to Santa Barbara,
where he enrolled and earned a master’s degree in Environmental
Studies at UCSB.

City Hall

Even though Williams has been gone from Santa Barbara City Hall for 10
months, his presence – or lack of it – can be found every day in De la
Guerra Plaza.

At 29, Williams stunned political insiders by announcing that he would
run for City Council. He had some name recognition in town because he
worked on former Assemblywoman Hannah Beth-Jackson’s campaign and had
been the No on Recall manager for the attempt to recall former Santa
Barbara County Supervisor Gail Marshall.

But he was an activist, and the idea that he would run without being
groomed by the liberal Democratic power elite seemed laughable;
certainly no one though he could win.

But this was the same scrappy kid who lived on the streets as a
teenager, who overcame his alcoholism and rebellious nature; Getting
elected was a far easier battle than what he had already experienced in
his life.

If he organized people to vote in South Africa, he certainly could
rally a new generation of liberal activists in Santa Barbara.
And that’s what he did. Pushing the then-radical idea of a living wage
ordinance, Williams swept into City Hall.

As a councilman, Williams successfully and simultaneously navigated
both worlds: he could wear hooped earrings with a shaved head while
appealing to young progressives, or slap on a perfectly fitting suit he bought at the
thrift store and mix it up with the business community. He could pull
both looks off convincingly.

When he ran for re-election four years later, he was the top vote-
getter, getting more votes then current Mayor Helene Schneider.
With a handsome face, a charismatic personality, and an unparalleled
work ethic, Williams quickly became bigger than Santa Barbara City
Hall.

And those same cynics were now jumping on his bandwagon.
The young man who critics, both liberal and conservative, dismissed as
too idealistic and reckless to get elected, now finds himself perhaps
the second most powerful elected official in the region, behind Rep.
Lois Capps.

He hears from constituents in Montecito, mostly about land use
matters. He works closely with his friend County Supervisor Salud Carbajal.
He has strong feelings about Montecito’s biggest
embarrassment — the once-mighty Miramar. He thinks owner Caruso should
figure out a way to demolish it.

Now, at just 37 years old, the college dropout who nobody took
seriously in 2001, seems destined to always shake up the world around him. Once
a divider of the liberal left, he’s now a unifier.

He’s come so far that when he ran for state Assembly last year,
liberals united behind him, rather than Susan Jordan, the wife of the
then-sitting Assemblyman Pedro Nava.

The Santa Barbara resident is already planning for a second term in
the Assembly.

“You can make a big difference, in even small ways,” Williams said. “I
take my job seriously. I love it. I feel useful. There’s a tremendous
amount that I can accomplish.”

And Montecito is in part of his plans, both politically and personally.
You won’t catch him in dreadlocks wandering around Montecito anymore.
But on any given Sunday, you might see Williams, a born-again
Christian, enjoying fellowship at Montecito Convenant Church.
Or near Butterfly Beach in the ocean.

The water is the only place that connects the old Das and the new Das;
It’s where he escapes and where he returns. It’s the one place on
earth where the boy rebel and the grown-up lawmaker have always
been welcome.

Das Williams/Photo by Gary Lambert/Daily Sound

KADY-TV Interview

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:07:00 +0000

Recently, Tracy and Ross interviewed Das on a wide range of issues affecting the 35th District.

To view and listen, please go to:

http://www.kadytv.com/Archives/Tracy&Ross/110915daswilliams.htm

First Year Legislation

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 21:45:00 +0000

Paul Wellman (file)

Das Williams

Das Doing Work

Assemblymember Williams Closes out Summer Session with Flurry of Legislation

Thursday, September 15, 2011

by ETHAN STEWART (CONTACT)

Article Tools

The legislation session wrapped up in Sacramento last week, and, for the 35th District’s Das Williams, a State Assembly greenhorn, the annual post-Labor Day whirlwind that marks the close of our capital’s legislation season proved to be a most productive one. The once-upon-a-time Santa Barbara city councilmember saw no less than a dozen pieces of legislation authored by his pen pass the Assembly floor — many of which have already been green-lighted by Governor Jerry Brown — along with a handful of coauthored affairs. Back home here in Santa Barbara this week, Williams summed up his maiden legislative adventure: “The session always has the good, the bad, and the ugly, but I like to think we got some real important work done, and I certainly felt very useful to our community.”

In that S.B.-centric vein, Williams accomplished two separate pieces of what he described as “nuts and bolts” district legislation. The first, AB 504, is an education unification bill that specifically paves the way for the newly unified Santa Barbara School District to continue receiving the various voter-approved parcel-tax revenues that the district got approved before its name change. The second,AB 412, is a Maddy Fund bill that looks to help cover emergency medical expenses here in the county. The legislation calls for a new $5 penalty assessment on all area DUI and DUI-related tickets, which will generate an estimated $540,000 annually for emergency rooms and various related services.

Interestingly enough, though the legislation will go into effect in 2012, Governor Brown opted not to sign the bill (he also opted not to veto the bill) when it came to his desk late last week. The reason, explained Brown, was that the bill, though providing much-needed cash for a more-than-worthy cause, was on a slippery slope of unfairly subjecting lawbreakers to ever-increasing costs. “Sooner or later we must find better ways to pay for the public goods we need,” said Brown in a memo.

On the broader legislative tip, Williams counts AB 438 and the very late-hour AB 1392 among his victories. The former is a mildly controversial bill that requires cities — starting in 2012 — to go through a series of financial audits and various other public transparency

-inspired hoops before they can privatize a previously public library system. The latter, 1392, which Williams coauthored with fellow Democrat Assemblymember Steve Bradford (Inglewood), works to capitalize on several million dollars’ worth of federal use-it-or-lose-it money targeting energy efficiency in state-owned buildings. As per the bill, some $50 million will be spent over the next two fiscal years on retrofitting state buildings with more energy-efficient technology.

Also on the victory front, Williams explained this week that he considers the bipartisan passing of a loophole-closing portion of Governor Brown’s Jobs First initiative (AB 40x 1) to be one of the session’s greatest successes. By applying a mandatory single sales factor to all California businesses, this bit of legislation — which was made possible, in part, thanks to the vote of support from two Republican members — closes a roughly $1.1-million loophole that was essentially rewarding multistate companies, via a tax exemption, for moving jobs out of California. Even better, says Williams, this bill, thanks to the influx of cash it will generate, works to increase the maximum standardized tax deduction that can be claimed by individuals or families on their income tax returns by approximately $1,000. “This gives the average Santa Barbara or Ventura County resident $1,000 more in their pockets by simply closing a loophole for out-of-state corporations. That is a no-brainer for me.”

It wasn’t all good news, though, in Das’s esteem. The first-year assemblymember lamented both the legislators’ inability to reauthorize a Public Goods Charge — something that directly helps fund research and development for energy efficiency and various other green jobs — as well as the overwhelming beat-down that state-funded higher education, child care, and welfare took during the session’s reconciling of California’s $20-billion structural deficit. “I expected this to be a year of carnage, and it was.” summed up Williams. Speaking specifically about the hit that higher education took, Williams was defiant. “Our greatest resource is our students, and our

higher-educational system is the greatest strength of economic development. We cannot afford to price them out of our own school system …. Next year, that will be one of my top priorities with new legislation.”

Save McGrath State Beach

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:53:00 +0000

The Privatization Beast

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:37:00 +0000

AP Photo / Rich Pedroncelli

Das prepares to battle the "Privatization Beast" to promote his measure that would place restrictions on the privatization of Public Libraries.

For the full story, go to: Library Bill Gains Support by Timm Herdt

Summit on Green Jobs

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 22:56:00 +0000

Das hosted the Summit on Green Jobs, Saturday, 8/13, at Ventura College:

Video streaming by Ustream

Regents Deliberate New Increases

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:41:00 +0000

Regents Deliberate New Increases

By Michael Dean

Published on July 13, 2011, DAILY NEXUS

The UC Board of Regents met yesterday in San Francisco to discuss potential increases in tuition for the 2011-2012 academic year following California Governor Jerry Brown’s state budget approval last week.

The Board of Regents will deliberate on several agenda items through Thursday at the UC San Francisco Mission Bay Community Center, including a vote on an additional 9.6 percent tuition raise to offset nearly $140 million of the approved budget’s $650 million state funding reduction. The newest fee hike proposal is in addition to an 8 percent increase the Regents approved last November for Fall 2011.

According to Steve Montiel, media specialist for UC Office of the President, the fee hikes are necessary in lieu of state financing to maintain the university system’s educational standards.

“We wish there was a level of funding from the state that would not make these increases necessary, but unfortunately there has been steady state disinvestment in higher education over the past twenty years,” Montiel said. “Our priorities are quality, and to preserve access to our UC-eligible Californians regardless of their income. It’s a tough situation and no one likes it.”

California 35th District Assemblyman Das Williams said the significant cut in state funding is partly attributable to bipartisan disagreements over Brown’s plan to extend expiring taxes through a statewide vote.

“I am so angry about the state being forced into this situation, I can hardly describe it to you,” Williams said. “The fact that the Republican Party continues to prevent a vote by the people to be able to maintain the existing tax rate; to think that one cent of sales tax is more important than the future of public education in the state makes me very angry and very disappointed.”

Williams said students must reach out to the public for support in increased state financial aid for the UC system.

“What usually happens is that the cuts come and [UC President Mark] Yudof tries to raise fees and then the unions and the student groups direct their energy toward fighting the administration,” Williams said. “What we should do instead is dedicate that energy to bringing the message of higher education to the public to approve a tax for higher education.”

In addition to voting on tuition increases, the Regents will review project reports on the Working Smarter initiative — a program improving the UC payroll system’s administrative efficiency within five years to save $500 million annually — and the annual accountability report of the UC’s use of taxpayer money.

Montiel said the UC system faces a total $1 billion budget shortfall due to unfunded cost increases from factors such as increased financial aid for low-income students and expanded employee retirement plans and health benefits.

“Cost-cutting and revenue-generating measures are a place to fill three quarters of the billion-dollar budget gap and President Yudof is recommending to the Board of Regents that roughly one quarter of the shortfall be offset with tuition and fee increases,” Montiel said.

The 2011-2012 academic year will mark the first time students provide more funding than the state towards the UC system, effectively privatizing the institution.

According to Ahmed Mostafa, Associated Students external vice president of statewide affairs, Regents’ decision to implement greater tuition costs reflects a lack of prioritization toward affordable higher education.

“The problem is that [the Regents] are treating the UC like a business,” Mostafa said. “They are sacrificing access and affordability in exchange for quality. They are treating the UC like it’s a business, not a service to the people of California. Education is no longer a right — they want to make education a privilege.”

For more information about the agenda for the Regent’s upcoming meeting, visit

www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/meetings.html.

A version of this article appeared on page 3 of July 13, 2011's print edition of the Nexus.

Independence Day 2011

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Happy Independence Day!

(photo courtesy of Deana Rae McMillon)

Vibrant Downtowns

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Das recently spoke at the Cabrillo Economic Housing Corporation's 30th Anniversary celebration, with the theme: "Building Strong Communities." Das spoke to the need for a vibrant downtown...

June 30th Fundraising Goal

daswilliams.com@gmail.com (daswilliams.com@gmail.com) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:47:00 +0000

Dear Friend,

I know it may be hard to believe, but another election season is just around the corner. We are gearing up to run yet another winning campaign and preparing to take on the many new challenges we will face next year.

The first fundraising deadline of the election season is Thursday, June 30th. This is a critical deadline, as this fundraising report will be widely used by both opponents and allies alike as a key measure of the strength of our re-election effort.

Your past contributions made it possible for us to win two competitive elections in 2010. With new district lines and an open primary system, this election will be another difficult one full of new challenges. That is why at this early stage of the campaign it is important to put together the financial resources it takes to run a winning campaign.

I have set the goal of raising $20,000 between now and midnight on June 30th. Here are three things you can do to help us reach that goal:

Make a contribution online of $25, $50, $100, $250 or more today.
Help grow our network of supporters by forwarding this email to 5 friends.

To also help in our fundraising efforts, I invite you to join me on July 9th to help celebrate my birthday at the same time as you support the campaign. Details are below.

This year has been filled with many great successes thus far. Since arriving in Sacramento, I have helped pass landmark clean energy legislation that will create jobs and protect the environment, made it easier for our local schools to raise funds and direct more dollars into the classroom and took steps to ensure our local communities are safe. We have made huge strides on many important issues, but there is much more to be done. Your support is critical to ensure that we continue to make progress in Sacramento and solve some of the state's toughest challenges.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Das

Save the Date - Das is turning 37

Join Das on an evening cruise of the Santa Barbara Harbor in celebration of his 37th birthday

Saturday, July 9th 2011, 4PM to 6PM, aboard the Condor Express

Sponsorship Levels:

$3,900 Admiral - $2,500 Captain - $1,000 First Mate - $500 Mate - $250 Sailor - $75 Passenger

RSVP by June 29th to das.williams2012@gmail.com or (805) 616-2594

Make checks payable to Das Williams for Assembly 2012

915 L Street, Suite C415 Sacramento, CA 95814 #ID 1333959