As budget talks break down in Sacramento, frustration with state government is reaching new heights.
California Forward is in the midst of a series of dialogues around the state aimed at finding solutions to the structural dysfunction that leads to gridlock like this, as well as finding ways to empower governments at state, regional, and local levels to make decisions and then hold them accountable for results.
CA Fwd Communications Director Victor Abalos recently spoke to CNN HLN Local Edition’s Tracy Young in Southern California about the “Speak Up California” dialogues, explaining that they give every day Californians the opportunity to share their ideas for how to move our state forward.
“We’re trying to channel Californians’ anxiety and frustration with a process,” Abalos said. “They’ve told us in poll after poll that California government doesn’t work, and they don’t trust it anymore to get done what we need it to get done.”
Abalos emphasized the importance of having everyday Californians involved in the process.
“We want to get people engaged and start working on solutions. Let’s stop wringing our hands, and let’s start working on solutions,” he said. “If we want to fix it, we’ve got to get involved.”
To find an event near you, check out our events page. Or, we encourage you to host your own event.
