NEWHALL - In his first public visit to the Santa Clarita Valley since being elected, Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday pressed his case for a five-year tax extension, saying without those funds, schools, public safety and other services face disastrous cuts.
Brown met with teachers, principals, students and public safety officials in an auditorium at Hart High School in Newhall as part of a series of forums to hear from Californians who will be most impacted if a tax extension isn't enacted.
Using charts and diagrams, the governor laid out how Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento have come to a consensus on how to cut at least half of the state's $26 billion shortfall, but more than $13 billion remains in contentious limbo.
If cuts aren't made, nearly 1,100 public school districts statewide face $4.5 billion in cuts.
Brown has proposed asking voters to extend billions of dollars in tax increases that were set to expire this year.
Teachers and members of the William S. Hart Union High School District's school board said earlier cuts already have forced class sizes to increase to 39 students, graduation ceremonies have been eliminated for eighth-graders, and favorite electives such as wood shop have had to be cut.
"Our teachers and administrators play Russian roulette with our students' education," said parent
Amy Daniels. "Will technology be next? What about textbooks?"Brown was joined at the forum by state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca and Los Angeles County Probation Chief Donald Blevins, who all support the tax extension.
"If we don't invest in our schools, then what do we invest in?" Brown told the crowd of more than 150. "It's not like we're in a Third World country where we don't have the opportunity to make those decisions. We have to, as citizens, have to think what our priorities are."
During his campaign, Brown pledged that any proposed tax increases or extensions would be placed on a special election ballot for voter approval.
But in Santa Clarita, a traditionally Republican stronghold, his plan was met mostly by opposition and criticism.
"While I respect the governor and the elected officials at today's event, this does nothing to help create jobs and reduce the budget," state Sen. Sharon Runner, Lancaster, said in a statement.
"Our unemployment rate is 12 percent. That's 2.2 million people without jobs! We need to cut out the rhetoric and work on real solutions to get Californians back to work."
Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, the only Republican to join Brown for the forum, said balancing the shortfall has to go beyond cuts to programs or tax extensions.
"While there are areas I disagree with, I share (Brown's) optimism for what we have to do for California," Smyth said. "Our end goal is for what's right for what is needed in California."
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, whose district includes Santa Clarita and who openly opposed the governor's plan to realign state and county responsibilities, wasn't invited to the forum, said his spokesman Tony Bell.
"We're happy the governor was here," Bell said. "But the governor's proposed tax extension will not solve the problem. The realignment plan is a shell game and local government shouldn't have to shoulder the burden with the state."
Scott Wilk, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Santa Clarita Community College District, pointed an accusing finger at both Brown and Smyth from the audience, telling the governor he could have a "Nixon in China" moment if he considered reforms, and telling the assemblyman to stand strong against tax extensions. He also said both could work harder on cutting pensions.
"I would be willing to vote on a tax extension if there were more reforms in place," Wilk said.
Outside the school, at least three dozen members of the Tea Party and other anti-tax voters held signs that read "Man up Jerry!"
They drowned out chants from a group of students who shouted "Yes to Brown! No to Cuts!"
"He's like (President) Obama," said Tea Party member Joan Byrd, 78, of Brown.
"He's going to talk and not do anything."
Brown needs the votes of two Republicans with the Senate and Assembly to place the tax extension plan on the ballot.
During the forum, Brown was accused of not working hard enough to lead Democrats and Republicans in the middle, to avoid a tax extension.
The governor said he faces a tough task.
"It's difficult to pull together in the middle," he said. "If I had all the power, it would be perfect."
Melissa George Ashanti Ana Ivanovi Jennifer Gimenez Leonor Varela
