Local officials kickoff drive to stop state raids

San Mateo Daily Journal

January 8, 2010

Bay Area local government, transportation, business, public safety, labor and public transit leaders will hold a news conference Monday, Jan. 11 outside the Foster City Fire Station to kick off a statewide signature-gathering campaign to qualify the Local Taxpayer, Public Safety and Transportation Protection Act of 2010 for the November ballot.

The measure aims to close loopholes to prevent the state from taking, diverting or borrowing local government, transportation and public transit funds, according to Californians to Protect Local Taxpayers and Vital Services, the coalition backing the effort.

Bay Area cities will be passing resolutions of support in the coming weeks. The event in Foster City is one of more than a dozen similar rallies held statewide in January. Hundreds of local government, public safety, business and labor leaders have signed up to assist in a massive volunteer signature gathering effort, according to the coalition. More than 1.1 million signatures will be needed to ensure it meets the required 694,354 valid signatures needed to qualify a constitutional amendment for the statewide ballot, according to the coalition.  

The event takes place 10 a.m. at the Foster City Fire Station, 1040 East Hillsdale Blvd. in Foster City.