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31 <br /> 1 My name is David Denuo. I am 53 yrs old with a 1 st grader at FPG and a 3rd grader at <br /> 2 Scroggs. I won't be able to be at tonight's budget meeting; I'm choosing to be with my 3rd <br /> 3 grader before her first EOG in the morning. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 Before I tell you more about them, I want to tell you about me. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 As a child my family lived in a government subsidized house and needed food stamps to <br /> 8 survive. Looking around me I thought my future was pretty much set for me; go to school, <br /> 9 maybe graduate, then either (1) get on welfare; (2) go to work in retail; (3) go to work in a <br /> 10 factory/warehouse; or (4)join the armed forces. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 My only access to education was the local public school. I didn't like school; it kept me from the <br /> 13 things that I wanted to do - play with friends, play sports, explore; and after all, what was the <br /> 14 point. But, as I moved up through grade school and even more so in high school, I came in <br /> 15 contact with several caring teachers who didn't just teach me the material, but challenged me, <br /> 16 inspired me, believed in me. I was the first in my family to graduate from a college for higher <br /> 17 education [as opposed to a trade school]. I lifted myself out of that socioeconomic circle into a <br /> 18 contributing member of society; not only that, I started my own company and created jobs for <br /> 19 others. <br /> 20 <br /> 21 I'd like you to reflect on the teacher, or teachers, that had the greatest impact on your life. <br /> 22 Perhaps they are the reason you are sitting in that seat. What if that teacher hadn't been there, <br /> 23 had switched jobs, moved school districts, moved to another state because they were frustrated <br /> 24 with the lack of funding for public education. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 When looking at the budget request, please, I urge you to consider: <br /> 27 - those types of teachers, <br /> 28 - other children like me, <br /> 29 - other children like you. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 Be creative. Find a way to fully fund the budget request that's in front of you. My children and <br /> 32 their friends need your leadership. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 Thank you for your time, your consideration, your service to Orange County, and your <br /> 35 commitment to making a difference. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 OC Board of Commissioners' Public Hearing, May 29, 2014 <br /> 38 Written Testimony, Miriam Thompson <br /> 39 <br /> 40 1 submit my written testimony as the world grieves over the passing of Maya Angelou, teacher, <br /> 41 activist, artist, towering figure that demands we work harder, a phenomenon whose message <br /> 42 informs the effort you lead and that we pursue together: creating a sustainable, just and loving <br /> 43 community— in which all our children and grand children, families and neighbors can thrive. <br /> 44 <br /> 45 We know that your labors tonight are set against a disturbing State legislative agenda that <br /> 46 includes: tax cuts directed primarily to the wealthiest corporations and individuals;** the denial of <br /> 47 health care to our neediest residents; denies extended unemployment benefits for so many of <br /> 48 our neighbors; creates and boasts an economy based on low wage jobs; defunds the public's <br /> 49 education system; offers the lowest paid teachers in the nation a token raise torn from the <br /> 50 coffers of our public university system and health and human services. <br /> 51 <br />