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From: Elmano Costa <> (by way of Doug da Rocha Holmes <>)
Subject: [AZORES-L] Sad Day for Portuguese-Americans (California)
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2001 16:02:44 -0700


Colleagues:

Last Thursday was a sad day for Portuguese-Americans. Once again we were
shown how much our elected leaders think of our community.

On Thursday, Gov. Gray Davis of California vetoed two items dealing with
Portuguese Studies which were included in the budget for the California
State University passed by the California Legislature. One item for
$260,000 was for the whole CSU System to promote and support Portuguese
Studies throughout the State. The other for $250,000 was for CSU Stanislaus
to match funds provided by the Portuguese Government to support Portuguese
Studies. There were only 3 items vetoed in the whole 2.5 billion dollar
budget for the California State University and two of them had to do with
Portuguese Studies (the other vetoed item was a water resource institute at
CSU San Bernardino). Yet, on the list right next to the Portuguese Studies
items, was an appropriation for an art exhibit at San Francisco State U.
The art exhibit was approved by the Governor. To me, that is an additional
insult for our community - there was enough money to fund this exhibit but
not to match the funds for Portuguese Studies.

The Central California community had been able to get Assemblymember Dennis
Cardoza (D) and Senator Dick Monteith (R) to put these two items on the
budget. We were able to gather petitions with over 1,000 signatures. We
obviously wanted money for our program at CSU Stanislaus but we also wanted
money for the other programs at the other campuses, so we asked them to
split the request. That way, programs in San Jose, Fresno, Sacramento, San
Diego and other campuses could benefit as well. We all lost!!

Obviously, Gov. Davis was not too concerned with the Portuguese community.
My guess is that he felt that no one in this community would complain.
Well, he was wrong.

I AM ASKING YOU TO COMPLAIN DIRECTLY TO OUR GOVERNOR. RIGHT NOW, TYPE OUT
AN EMAIL AND LET HIM KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. TELL HIM THE PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY
- OF ONE MILLION CALIFORNIAS - IS ANGRY AT HIS DECISION. TELL HIM WE
DESERVE EQUAL SUPPORT FROM THIS STATE. WE HAVE BEEN GETTING IT FROM THE
PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT, BUT NOT FROM CALIFORNIA.

I AM ALSO ASKING YOU TO GET 10 MORE PEOPLE TO SEND EMAILS, CALL THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, OR FAX HIM A LETTER. WE MUST DO THIS RIGHT AWAY, WHILE
IT IS STILL FRESH.

LET'S STOP BEING PASSIVE - THAT'S WHY WE ARE IN THIS PREDICAMENT - AND LET'S
LET SACRAMENTO KNOW THAT WE PAY TAXES AND DESERVE EQUAL SUPPORT FROM THE
STATE.

IF YOU SEND AN EMAIL, SEND A COPY TO ME (CC). I WANT TO KEEP TRACK OF HOW
MANY CONTACTS WE ARE SENDING TO THE GOVERNOR.

HERE IS THE GOVERNOR'S CONTACT INFORMATION:

Gov. Gray Davis

Fax 916-445-4633
Phone 916-445-2841
Address: State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

WE ARE ALL BUSY AND THERE ARE PERHAPS A MILLION REASONS WHY YOU CANNOT WRITE
THIS EMAIL RIGHT KNOW - BUT YOU MUST WRITE IT AND SEND IT NOW. THIS IS A
TEST OF OUR ABILITY TO COME TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND
DON'T FORGET TO GET 10 OTHER PEOPLE TO DO THE SAME.


Thank you.

Elmano Costa
California State University, Stanislaus
Department of Teacher Education
801 W. Monte Vista
Turlock, CA 95382
OFFICE: 209-667-3638
Fax 209-667-3358
HOME 209-632-6921

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