Joe Guzzardi
November 11, 2003

Within two weeks, California will have a new governor. But will things be the same under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as they were when Gray Davis was in charge?

Unless all of us play a more active role expressing our convictions to Sacramento, you can be sure they will.

For the millions of Californians who are concerned about the state’s alarming growth and the long term implications of overpopulation, I am happy to inform you about a new website called, Slow California Growth.

Created by activist Maggie Art, the site intends to inform and empower the public—especially, according to Art, “our young people who will have to live with the consequences of today’s reckless public policy.”

The under 30s are, according to Art, "A sleeping giant who make up 24% of potential voters.  Let's hope they wake up soon enough to save their future from greedy growth, cheap labor, ethnic interests.  They should know that it is "both a right and a responsibility to manage immigration so that it serves the national interest." 

Art has been dedicated to encouraging youngsters since she was a fourth grade teacher in Redwood City in the late 1960s. As a classroom assignment for her fourth graders, Art told each of them to write to Sacramento legislators to “Save the Bay.”  A few days later Assemblyman Carl Britschgi stopped in unannounced to vow that he would do his best to stop the commercial in-fill that was ruining the Bay. Art considers the experience an excellent example of what can happen through activism.

Of course, Art notes, 35 years ago a lower California population meant more responsive politicians.  And California schools were the best education in the nation.  Teachers were plentiful and classes mostly homogeneous (Her East Palo Alto classes were equal part black and white).  Now Department of Education figures show that 1,700,000 new Hispanics and 380,000 Asians boosted K-12 from 4 million in 1980 to 6 million in 2000. If this trend continues during the current decade, a million more students will be added to already dysfunctional classrooms. Education budgets will soar. 

Slow California Growth, subtitled "Citizenship is not a spectator sport," shows the public how to contact Congress toll free to tell the politicians that immigration-powered growth is our biggest problem.  Art, as reflected at her website, believes that the effort to save our schools and our future should be bi-partisan. Many of the quotes that appear are from Republicans and Democrats. 

Leon Panetta, former Clinton Chief of Staff, advises "Our forefathers wanted the power of this country to rest with the people...I've always had a difficult time explaining to people just how powerful you are when you come together and you unify behind issues."

A collective effort to save California should also transcend race. As an example, Slow California Growth notes that continued overpopulation impacts the 45% of K-12 who are Latino.

One suggestion among many that Art offers is an easy one to implement. Art encourages one phone call a day to your local Congressman—taking just one minute—to save our future. That means five phone calls a week but the rewards are well worth the effort.

Keep your message simple and focused recommends Art. And know what you are talking about before phoning. A section of Slow California Growth titled “??? And Answers” will give you all the background information before you call.

California adds about one person per minute to its population. That rate of growth is not sustainable. 

About 90% of our 600,000 annual increase in population is related to immigration. I suggest we take Art’s advice and pick up the phone. 

Joe Guzzardi
is a Senior Writing Fellow for
Californians for Population Stabilization
in
Santa Barbara.

Guzzardi's Op-eds about California social issues have appeared in newspapers throughout California and elsewhere for 15 years.

He can be reached at guzzjoe@yahoo.com

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