Photo by Casey Carlson

January 4, 2011—Newly sworn-in Governor Jerry Brown mingled with the crowd in Sacramento at his inauguration on January 3. One mingler was Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers president Francisco Rodriguez (left, shoulder to camera) among many CFT leaders attending the event.  In Brown's speech the new Governor spoke soberly of the magnitude of the state budget crisis, and candidly said that there will be severe cuts to public services.  But he left the door open to increasing taxes through voter support, and specifically said of public education, "Our budget problem is dire but after years of cutbacks, I am determined to enhance our public schools so that our citizens of the future have the skills, the zest and the character to keep California up among the best."