CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR 8/18

Email, call or message on social media your Legislator who can get us in front of a committee. Be persistent. They can get this done without the need for another petitioning campaign. You will probably not speak with them directly, but the more people their aides hear from the better. Ask them to draft a Constitutional Amendment to FiXProp19 that would:

1. Leave portability in place.
2. Remove the unaffordable property tax reassessments returning to Propositions 58 and 193 parent child and grandparent grandchildren transfers of base tax values prior to 2020 Proposition 19 effective date of February 16, 2021.
3. Allows for filing of those affected by Proposition 19 to revert back to base tax value prior to effective date of February 16, 2021.

1. We want to focus on these Democrats that abstained from voting on Prop 19 or SCA4, those who were supporters at the SCA4 hearing or those who gave us the time to meet specifically:
Abstained:
Assemblymember Tasha Boerner: 858-481-7704 A.Boerner@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris 949-251-0074
Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva 714-521-6713
Senator Sabrina Cervantes 951-680-6750
Senator Ben Allen 310-414-8190
Senator Melissa Hurtado 916-651-4016

Supporter:
Mike Gipson 562-252-0865

Met with the Following and Need Followup:
Assemblymember Ahrens 408-446-2810 Assemblymember.Aherns@assembly.ca.gov
Senator Blakespear 916-651-4038

2. Use this email to go to multiple representatives:  

fixprop19-ca-legislative-members@googlegroups.com 

Also, copy and paste to cc, with the above email.:  

assemblymember.ahrens@assembly.ca.gov, assemblymember.stefani@assembly.ca.gov, senator.blakespear@senate.ca.gov,

senator.wiener@senate.ca.gov

Create your message or modify this sample Google Document to send in an email/letter/message. DO NOT EDIT THIS master COPY… COPY and SAVE first, then MODIFY according to method of delivery.  Be sure to include your information, change the "Dear" person, verify the first sentence AND SEND!!! Document here.

If you live in their district, have them RECORD your view - you are against 2020's Proposition 19. Give them your contact information: name, phone, zip code.

Make sure to reach out to your legislators. Find them at:
https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/

or scroll down to find details on all of Legislators:

https://www.assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers
https://www.senate.ca.gov/senators

3. Definitely try to get to Legislators in whatever manner you can. Another method is to correspond with committees  - group of people who decide our fate, use Position Letter Portal: https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/faces/index.xhtml

The submission of position letters to committees as bills move through California’s legislative process. Who should use this site? Anyone wishing to submit a position on a California Legislative bill can use this site. Please note we have three categories of registrants:

1. Registered Lobbyists with the Secretary of State
2. Organizations – an individual affiliated with an organization
3. Individuals

How Do I Get Started? After completing a one-time registration to obtain a username and password, log in to submit your position letter as a registered lobbyist, organization or individual seeking to communicate your views to the bill author’s staff as well as the committee that will be hearing the bill.

I Need More Help

For a list of site FAQs, click here.

To submit a request for assistance or provide site feedback, click here.

We value your input which will help us further improve the position letter process.

Thank you for making the effort! We need to make them aware of our cause so FiXProp19 is NOT out of sight out of mind! Please schedule a meeting if you are willing.

• Make sure other attendees can make the date/time or be prepared to present on your own.
• Ask how long you will have to speak?
• Reconfirm.

Research Your Representative

• What party does your representative belong to (Republican or Democrat)?
• Newly elected or a veteran? (# of terms and years).
• If a veteran, any leadership positions? Committee Chair?
• Is your representative a member of a key committee? 
• Is your representative a Sponsor or Co-Sponsor of key bills?
• Representative Office Location, Phone Number, etc.

Prepare your presentation

• Provide a meeting agenda. (Plan on 30 minutes).
• Introductions (5 minutes) 
• I represent a Nonpartisan all Volunteer Group, FixProp19
• Introduce Topic (5 minutes)
• “I/we are here today to discuss amending Proposition 19 of 2020, which enacted ill-fated changes to the California property tax laws, causing dramatic financial hardship on seniors, disabled, renters, and small business owners.”
• We are here because - 1 minute impactful statements, such as, I will lose my home! Let me share a 2 minute story. 
• Real life impacts realized by Californians (5 minutes)
• Property tax protections and safeguards stripped away
• Unforeseen escalated property taxes
• Losing homes because of Prop 19
• Potential homelessness
• Misleading Ad-Campaigns (5 minutes)
• $40M funding from CAR
• Funds have not been given to organizations mentioned
• Our Ask (5 minutes)
• Reinstate Props 58, 193, and roll back assessments to pre-Prop 19 levels.
• Provide “Legislative Proposal” documents and other relevant handouts. 
• Follow up (5 minutes)
• Action Items if any
• Meeting close

Before the Meeting

• Know the location, parking, building, room number, time.
• California State Capitol 10th and L Streets. Sacramento, CA 95814.  Know which of the 4 entrances to use. 
• Arrive early, allow time for parking, security screening. 
• Consider wearing a name tag. Makeshift: cut up paper and tape to safety pin.
• Take materials with you and a notepad, pen. 
• Take a computer and bookmark web pages.  
• Provide a copy of key documents for the Representative.
• Make sure everyone in your group has a copy of the key documents and videos.
• Ask your team members to take notes. Designate one team member to observe reactions of the state team and for specific talking points during the meeting. 
• For any location, check on Wifi if showing videos or needing internet access. (HINT: do not rely on Internet connectivity.  Download any presentation you wish to show and run it from your computer.”
• Practice any videos so you know how to play immediately. And volume.

• Dress appropriately.
• Silence cell phones.
• Formally address the representative, ie as “Assembly Member ______” or “Senator ______.”
• Introduce yourself and have others who are with you to do the same.
• Be confident and serve as the knowledge resource for your cause.
• Be energetic, positive attitude, show enthusiasm, positive body language.
• Be cordial, state your case, ask questions then listen, take notes.
• Do not record the session unless you ask for permission to do so.
• Speak clearly and provide your “ask.”
  • Provide subject of the “ask” in a simple sentence.
  • Provide summary in bullet points.
  • Make a “case” for your ask.
• Know your cause, demonstrate your expertise, but do not mislead or give false information.
• Make sure you capture the names (with correct spelling) and positions of those who represent the Assembly Member or Senator.  Ask for their business cards. 
  • Distinguish between key items you will hand over during the meeting vs additional docs/notes you may need to answer questions. 
  • Do not let the paperwork be the focus. Suggest something like, “I brought this for your records and hope you will review it after our meeting.” 
  • For documents that you will turn over, put them in a manila or folder and put a title on the folder, include the date. 
• If in public location, make sure you provide directions to legislator.
• If in public location, make sure room is accommodating and comfortable.
• Allow your representative to ask questions and engage in the conversation.
• Allow for your team to provide very brief statements. You as the presenter should provide the bulk of the ask.
• Ask if the Representative is open to further discussion and/or being a Sponsor or Co-sponsor of your cause.
• If the Representative cannot commit, ask if they need more time or information.  
• If the Representative is onboard with being a Sponsor or Co-Sponsor, ask if you can take a photo and post it.
• Ask for “next steps” and “dates for follow up.” 
• Thank the Representative and their staff for attending the meeting.

• Send “thank you notice” to the Representative.
• If you are conducting follow up action items, state that in your email/letter and give an estimated time for when your tasks will be completed. 
• Debrief with your team.
• What went well.
• Where could you have been stronger.
• General sense of meeting.
• Action item assignment amongst you and your team members for follow-up.
• Let us know what happened.