Thread: CA - ACLU office in O.C. emerges unscathed amid layoffs

Thursday, February 19, 2009

ACLU office in O.C. emerges unscathed amid layoffs
Staff of 3 remains in Orange as Los Angeles-based parent cuts back.

By ANDREW GALVIN
The Orange County Register

ORANGE – The Orange County office of the American Civil Liberties Union has emerged unscathed from recent cutbacks at its parent organization, the Los Angeles-based ACLU of Southern California.

Amid fund-raising difficulties related to the nation's grim economic outlook, the ACLU of Southern California recently had its first-ever layoffs, letting two people go, said Ramona Ripston, executive director. A third staff member left and won't be replaced. That brings the organization's headcount down to 57 from 60, she said.

But the Orange County office, which is on Chapman Avenue in Orange, retains its staff of three, including two attorneys, Ripston said.

The office has handled a number of high-profile cases since it was established in 2005, including representing a Christian group that was barred from feeding the homeless at Doheny State Beach, a man who was forcibly ejected from a Costa Mesa City Council meeting, a Buddhist congregation in Garden Grove seeking to house a temple in an office complex, and day laborers in Lake Forest who were barred by ordinance from soliciting work on sidewalks.

The ACLU relies mainly on donations from members and private individuals to fund its roughly $6 million annual budget, Ripston said. Those have tailed off amid pervasive uncertainty about the economy.

"We finished December ahead of budget, but now we're having trouble in January, and February doesn't look so good," she said.

The organization is planning its first fundraising event in Orange County, a garden party scheduled for June, Ripston said.

For more information on the ACLU of Southern California, call 213-977-9500 or visit www.aclu-sc.org.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/oran ... ganization

For anyone who considers themselves a patriot to give money to such an organization is beyond me. They seem to represent everyone other than legal Americans these days.

Thats a big surprise! In a Democratic administration there are no Lawyers being laidoff at the ACLU...

"We finished December ahead of budget, but now we're having trouble in January, and February doesn't look so good," she said.

Don't worry...i'm sure the first quarter installment from mexico for legal services rendered on behalf of their illegal invaders, will hit the books soon!

I say going broke couldn't happen to an better bunch....well maybe the U.S. Chamber of congress...no such luck they thrive off of taxpayer money!

Here's an older post re some of who funds them.

Times are bad if they're hurting.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=49308

I'd like to see a Class Action lawsuit against the ACLU! I'd donate to that.

Originally Posted by jean

Here's an older post re some of who funds them.

Times are bad if they're hurting.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ic&t=49308

Well we know Ford is hurting (they also support LaRaza big time)

I can tell you Hewlett Packard in Idaho just laid off hundreds of workers!!

Maybe the bad times aren't so bad after all...could cleanse us of some real scourge.

Ford Foundation (Vehicles, though there are questions as to whether the automaker is directly connected)
Carnegie Corp.
Hewlett Foundation (Computers & Printers)
Packard Foundation (Computers & Printers)
MacArthur Foundation
Open Society Institute (George Soros & MoveOn.org)
Source: The August Review - scroll to near the bottom of th epage for dollar amounts and more details.