(Sacramento)  SEIU California released the following statement from San Mateo court worker Annette Ruiz Vides, one of hundreds of court workers who have been affected by layoffs and furloughs at California's courts:  

"Rebuilding California requires having a court system we can all count on, and the Assembly Judiciary Committee took an important step in restoring transparency and accountability to our justice system's finances by passing AB 2521.

“AB 2521 is essential in changing the culture of California's court system to provide more transparency and accountability.  The independent audits required in AB 2521 could flag mistakes before they are made, mistakes like the Administrative Office of the Courts spending billions on a computer system we can't even use at a time when court employees were being laid off and courthouses closed to the public.  

“Without sensible, outside audits of the courts, mistakes can have serious consequences for families like mine.  Because San Mateo court administrators overlooked a $4 million deficit, dozens of workers were laid off, resulting in hardship to our families and unacceptable backlogs that delay justice for crime victims and others who count on our courts.  An independent audit could have found this mistake in time to prevent the layoffs.

"Annual, outside audits are required for school districts, cities and counties, and the same should be true for our courts. AB 2521 is a good government bill that will give taxpayers the assurance that their tax dollars are being spent wisely and prevent financial mismanagement from hurting the business owners, crime victims, and families who count on our courts.”


SEIU California is a coalition of over 700,000 janitors, social workers, security officers, home care workers, school and university employees, healthcare workers, and city, county and state employees represented by SEIU local unions throughout California. We come together to build a better California by fighting to pass policies and elect candidates that benefit working families and advance the issues we care about: affordable healthcare, good wages, retirement security for all, a healthy environment, good schools and universities, and stronger communities. We believe that by working together we can build a California where working families can thrive again.