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"The Voice of Line Probation Peace Officers" |
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SCOPO |
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Legislative Corner |
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Jim Frayne SCOPO Legislative Advocate |
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Date: November 15, 2009 |
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“BRING ME LEADERS TO MATCH MY MOUNTIANS” Legislative Update by James L. Frayne, Legislative Director, This adage (paraphrased) appears on the façade of the California State Treasurers Building across from the Police Memorial at our State Capitol in Sacramento. Now as never before in State Government, as well in Congress we need men & women leaders to personify this axiom and lead us to solutions for the challenges facing our Government at every level. Sadly, we are losing two of our dedicated Leaders in S.C.O.P.O., namely our President, Bill Harper, of Sacramento and Treasurer, Mokey Cowger, of Madera. Both of these Officers have led us into the 21st Century and have achieved many of our goals in improving Probation Services and the Profession of Probation Officers in California. President, Bill Harper, previously served 2 years as our Treasurer and as President since 2003. He retired after a distinguished career of over 17 years as a Sacramento County Probation Officer. He also served with distinction as a former President of the Sacramento County Probation Association. Mokey Cowger, our Treasurer also retired after 18 years with the Madera County Probation Department, as Unit Supervisor in the Juvenile Division. As S.C.O.P.O. Treasurer for 9 years he expanded the accounting principles established by former Treasurer Bill Harper. He additionally served as our (Official-Unofficial) Photographer at board meetings and other events. Together they brought over 35 years of Probation experience to the Leadership of S.C.O.P.O. Their guidance will serve as a beacon to our officers and board in the future. Happily we welcome our newly elected President, Paul Brennan, of Stockton was a co-founder and a former President of the Local Stockton Probation Association and served 6 years as Correctional Officer for the San |
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Joaquin Sheriff’s Office and has served for 8 years as a Probation Officer for San Joaquin County. His enthusiasm and years of experience as a Public Safety Officer and a Probation Officer for 8 years bode well for the future of our organization. Our newly elected Treasurer is Jim Traffansted, of Bakersfield. Jim served 18 years as a Correctional Officer and 6 years as a Kern County Probation Officer. He also was a local union steward for 8 years. He has already met with Mokey and will be traveling to our State Office in Sacramento with Mokey to meet with Debbie our Secretary to finalize the transition. The good news is the re-election of incumbents (and popular) Vice Presidents, Rich Berkery, Legislative V.P. from Contra Costa County, Jeff Gallagher, Administrative V.P. from Orange County and incumbent Secretary, Shell Beach, of Bakersfield. As past experience has proven, they will continue as dedicated Officers and Contributors to fulfill our goals improving public safety. My last article in the S.C.O.P.O. NEWS (July/August edition) was entitled ‘” THE SKY HAS FALLEN ‘” relating the critical fiscal deficit of California which had grown to some 26.3 billion dollars and possible solutions (none immediate, unfortunately). Specifically, I set forth the awesome challenges confronting every elected leader in California, beginning with our Governor, our Constitutional Officers, Legislators, Courts and Local Leaders not only in California, but the nation as well as other world countries. In California the list of major challenges are: · BUDGET DEFICITS i.e. budget cuts public safety and local government · STATE PRISON REFORM · STATE-LOCAL EMPLOYEES EMPLOYMENT · EDUCATION · INFRASTRUCTURE · WATER · COURTS · ELECTIONS · INITIATIVES & CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS The Governor has called an unprecedented 7 Special Sessions of the Legislature to deal with such critical issues as budget, California Water and the Preservation of the Sacramento Valley Delta, Taxation, Education, Economy, Unemployment, Home & Mortgage Crisis, etc, etc........... These sessions have continued unabated since the Legislature recessed in September. Additionally, The Legislature concurrently has convened interim committee hearings in the Capitol and other locations throughout California on these and other problems confronting Californians. During my 40 years as a Lobbyist in California I have never witness so many challenges to our great state. These difficulties did not commence yesterday, last year or a decade ago, they have resulted over decades in and an accumulation of major factors such as natural state disasters, technology, loss of employment in manufacturing, military aerospace, the tremendous increase in population, the diversity of cultures, continued loss of state revenues, government overspending and the polarization of partisanship politics in the State Capitol, just to name a few. After the legislature enacted major budget cuts earlier this year in February, July, and September, of this session, our leaders are now predicting another 7 Billion Dollar deficit in the current fiscal year and a 7.4 billion projected shortfall in the next fiscal year!!!!!! The Governor has stated again it’s “not a revenue problem”, "it’s a spending problem” and we must continue to cut, cut, cut!!!! The recent budget cuts done with a hatchet rather than a scalpel in education, human services, local government (resulting layoffs and furloughs of public safety officers), state park, state employees, layoffs, and furloughs, closing of most of Courts for 1 day a month, lay offs in local government agencies including public safety. This has created unheard of hardships for many Californians. The pending federal court order releasing upwards of 40,000 state prison inmates supposedly low level offenders in our state prisons, to local areas is predicted to increase our already overburden public safety agencies with even more crimes. This list goes on and on --------where do we cut now! Almost every person in California has/is being impacted in one way or another. Where do we cut further in public services? The wolf is not at the door----he is inside the house!!!! The pending elections next year hold promise of solutions and new leadership. There are also clouds on the horizon ballot measures are being proposed and qualified that would impact all public employees (which as already occurred to employees of the auto and airline industry) as never before. By legally removing health and pension benefits earned and created decades ago in lieu of salary or other benefits ceded to ensure future secure benefits for them and their families. WE ALL MUST WORK TOGETHER TO SEEK SOLUTIONS TO RETURN CALIFORNIA TO ITS FORMER PROMINENCE AND PRESTIGE “BRING US LEADERS TO MATCH OUR MOUNTAINS” Stay Safe!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Jim Frayne Legislative Advocate |