FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BURLINGAME – Thousands of Northern California teachers are preparing now to join a massive group of concerned citizens Wednesday for a rally at the State Capitol against the governor’s broken promises and his likely plans to call a wasteful special election in November that would cost as much as $80 million.
A Los Angeles rally is being held on the same day, and both rallies are sponsored by the Alliance for a Better California, a coalition of 2 million public servants, parents, community groups, and other working Californians. The Alliance website is www.allianceforabetterca.org.
“Teachers are joining with parents, firefighters, nurses and many others who are fed up with this governor's broken promises and his plans for a wasteful $80 million special election that favors special interests,” said California Teachers Association President Barbara E. Kerr. “These rallies in Sacramento and Los Angeles are sending the message that the governor isn't fighting special interests, he's fighting us.”
Assignment Editors: Check with your nearest CTA office for additional local stories related to the rallies and the impact of the governor’s broken promises on area schools. For media planning purposes, here is a sampling of Northern California teacher sign-making events, local contacts, bus boarding locations and Sacramento rally specifics:
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO: More than 120 teachers will board buses bound for Sacramento at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, corner of Westborough and El Camino Real. Contact Steve Savage: 415-706-3976.
FAIRFIELD: Tonight, about 100 teachers and parents will gather to make protest signs for the Wednesday Sacramento rally. They meet from 4:30-7 p.m. tonight (Monday, May 23) at the CTA offices at 4751 Central Way, Fairfield. Contact Patty Arvin: 707-694-3707.
SAN FRANCISCO: Hundreds of members of United Educators of San Francisco will board three buses at 1 p.m. leaving from the Marina and Everett middle schools and the Southeast Campus of San Francisco Community College on Evans Street. Contact UESF President Dennis Kelly: 415-956-8373.
FREMONT: Some 200 teachers will board four buses leaving at 1:30 p.m. from the parking lot of the Fremont Unified District Teachers Association, 39221 Paseo Padre Parkway, Suite J, Fremont, 94538. Contact FUDTA President Greg Bonaccorsi: 510-791-8366.
REDWOOD CITY: Members of the Redwood City Teachers Association will board two buses at noon in the Long’s parking lot on Broadway, near Woodside Road. Contact RCTA President Jenifer Charles: 415-867-4990.
SAN JOSE: San Jose Unified teachers will board at least two buses at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday leaving from these locations: The district offices, 855 Lenzen Ave., 95126, and John Muir Middle School, 1260 Branham Lane, 95118. Contact Gerie Bledsoe: 408-267-0411 or cell: 650-867-9488.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY: Hundreds of Mt. Diablo Unified teachers will be catching buses to the rally at 2:30 p.m. at four locations: Mt. Diablo Education Association offices, 2255 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill; Delta View Elementary, 2916 Rio Verde, Bay Pointe; Concord High School, 4200 Concord Blvd.; Clayton Valley High School, 1101 Alberta Way, Concord. Contact MDEA President Mike Noce on cell: 925-250-6557.
MONTEREY-SANTA CRUZ-SAN BENITO COUNTIES: Five buses depart at different times in this region Wednesday, starting at 9 a.m. from Salinas Valley Fair mall parking lot, King City; 10 a.m., K-Mart parking lot on Highway 1, Seaside; 10 a.m., Nob Hill parking lot, South Main Street in Salinas; 12:30 p.m., K-Mart parking lot on 41st Street, Capitola; 10 a.m. at Hollister Elementary School District Office, 2690 Cienega Road, Hollister. Contact Jim Gutman: 831-783-3200.
SANTA ROSA: Hundreds of Sonoma County teachers will be boarding four buses starting at noon in the Coddingtown Mall south side parking lot closest to Gottschalks, corner of Steele Lane and Cleveland Avenue in Santa Rosa. Teachers will be making signs in the parking lot before boarding. Contact Helen O’Donnell: 707-544-1075 or cell at 707-328-4416.
MENDOCINO COUNTY: A bus picking up teachers on Wednesday will make these stops: 10 a.m., Boatyard shopping center, Ft. Bragg; 11:30 a.m., Safeway shopping center, Willits; 12:15 p.m., Calpella Elementary, Ukiah. Contact Susan Savage: 707-468-8197.
THE MAY 25 ACTION DAY
FOR A BETTER CALIFORNIA RALLY
IN SACRAMENTO
WHAT: Teachers joining thousands of members of Alliance for a Better California for rally to protest the governor’s broken promises and $80 million special election.
WHEN and WHERE: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, on south steps of State Capitol. Entertainment starts at 3 p.m.
VISUALS: Thousands of people with protest signs united against the governor.