By Chris Gabriel, Executive Director, POWER, Los Angeles, CA

As much of the nation knows, California elected actor Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor in a special election held October 7, 2003. Throughout his campaign Schwarzenegger enticed voters by promising he would not make cuts to existing programs and services that benefit California's low-income families, especially children. However, as with most politicians, Schwarzenegger was simply acting.

On June 9th, Parents Organized for Westside Renewal (POWER), a California NPA group that focuses on taking direct action to make positive changes within low-income communities of west Los Angeles, decided to remind the governor of his pre-election promise to California's children.

POWER leaders organized 120 low-income and working class families from all over Los Angeles and paid a visit to Governor Schwarzenegger's elite, up-scale Santa Monica restaurant, Schatzi on Main, to protest his plans to cut childcare and CalWORKs (welfare to work program) funding for California's working families.

For over an hour, POWER leaders occupied the space at the entrance of his open-air beach restaurant and held a press conference. Leaders chanted, "Don't break your promise to children, Arnold!" and "Cut the crap, not the kids," to remind Governor Schwarzenegger of his campaign promise to not cut vital programs to the most vulnerable population, low-income children.

POWER's action on the Governor's restaurant was chosen as a target site for its symbolism of the governor's political practices. Affluent patrons who can afford the high-price menu frequent his high-class restaurant. Protestors accused Schwarzenegger of "catering to the rich by stealing from the poor."

POWER leaders blasted the Governor for his budget proposal that protects wealthy Californians by cutting services desperately needed by the state's low-income families who utilize the services. Rather than raising taxes as a source of state revenue, the governor's answer for the current budget crisis in California has been to cut programs for low-income families.

"The governor talks about creating jobs in California, yet how can I work and take care of my child at the same time?" asked Lori Zaitz, a POWER member from Venice. Zaitz's daughter receives subsidized childcare from Westside Children's Center, a member institution of POWER that will be affected by these cuts. The governor's revised budget, released May 14th, includes cuts that would significantly increase the amount low-income families have to pay for childcare.

The budget also includes new time limits that would deny childcare to thousands of parents who have been able to transition from welfare to work because of access to childcare subsidies. State Senate and Assembly budget subcommittees are reportedly opposed to these cuts proposed by the governor.

"Hundreds of thousands of families in our state are about to lose their childcare, which will force them back into poverty and put more children at risk," said Rosa Arevalo, POWER Board President and Director of Family Services at Westside Children Center. "We told the Governor, `We'll be back,' because we'll never give up and never give in. He better know that we won't stop fighting until he does the right thing for low-income families and children."

POWER collaborated with ACORN, Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness and the California Partnership.