With unemployment in California at 12.4% and climbing, millions of Californians are looking for work. News reports on local job fairs describe thousands of people showing up in the hope they can find some type of employment from one of the few companies still able to hire. In essence, these job fairs have become no-jobs fairs, exposing the ugly truth that Californians are desperate for work.
Drawing attention to the government policies contributing to decreasing employment opportunities, Americans for Prosperity California launched a “Save Our Jobs” Tour last week. Part of the tour includes a “No Jobs Fair” exhibit that shows exactly how regulations such as AB 32 are set to kill more than 1.1 million additional jobs in California. Each display at the "No Jobs Fair" showed an industry that has already lost jobs due to over-regulation, and is set to lose even more due to AB 32.
Last Thursday AFP California held its first “No Jobs Fair” at the Ayres Hotel in Costa Mesa in conjunction with KFI AM 640 talk radio hosts John and Ken’s live broadcast. As people stopped by to pick up their Yes on Proposition 23 yard signs and bumper stickers, they walked through the “No Jobs Fair” exhibit, and many had sad stories to share about how they had lost a job, or had been forced to layoff employees at a business they own.
On Saturday, the “No Jobs Fair” was at the Anaheim Marriott, where hundreds of conservatives attended the RNC Sarah Palin rally. Again, many of the people who visited the “No Jobs Fair” had more stories about job-search frustrations and anger about government regulations and taxes shrinking their businesses.
On Monday and Tuesday, the tour rolled into Antioch, Concord, Novato, Marina and other Northern California locations to alert voters about local tax measures on their ballot. In Antioch, voters will consider Measure P, ahalf-cent sales tax increase. Concord’s Q and Novato’s Measure F are also half-cent sales tax increases. Marina is facing Measure M, a 1% sales tax increase, and Measure N, which will increase that city’s hotel tax from 10% to 12%.
The “Save Our Jobs” tour will continue throughout the rest of the week, with stops in Barstow, Los Angeles, Carlsbad and San Diego. AFP California will also team up with the Tea Party Express in some of its stops this week. Check the AFP web site for information on times and locations.