Avcus March 14, 2016 Calaveras County Board of Supervisors, Cliff Edson, District 4 Christopher Wright, District 2 Michael C. Oliveira, District 3 Debbie Ponte, District 4 Steve Keamey, District 5 Dear Calaveras County Supervisors: ‘As Chairman of the 21-member California Latino Legislative Caucus | am writing this letter to express our disappointment and alarm about comments Planning Commissioner Kelly Wooster made about persons of Mexican heritage at a March 3 meeting, and ask that you demand his resignation or remove him from the Planning Commission at the earliest opportunity. Openly racist and incendiary remarks have no place in the public discourse and cannot be tolerated, Mr. Wooster’s remarks reflect poorly not only on the Planning Commission, but the entire County. Foreign-born Californians make up 27 percent of the state's population and a third of the state's workforce, Immigrant workers are crucially important to a number of vital California industries, such as agriculture, manufacturing and construction. In fact, immigrant taxpayers contribute more than $30 billion in federal taxes, $5 billion in state income taxes, and $5 billion in sales taxes each year. Even undocumented immigrants in California pay nearly $3 billion in state and local taxes annually. According to the latest figures (2014) from the U.S, Census Bureau, 11.5 percent of the population of Calaveras County is of Hispanic or Latino origin. What message does it send to these hard-working residents of your County when a public official demeans them in public based on their ethnic heritage? You, as the Board of Supervisors, have the opportunity and obligation to restore the integrity of your County Government by asking Mr, Wooster to resign his seat on the Planning Commission Assemblymember Luis A. Alejo Senator Ben Hoes0 President ro Tem Kevin De Lon a Herunde, Ricardo Lara, Tony Mena en Calderon Nora Campos, Cina Garcia Garcia, ny Ct Laren Ge, Rage Herninde, Paty Les. bse Medi Any Henn, Free Nod, ay San Miguel Saag Snan Hamar gen. ey Trond Slate Capitol, Room 2117 + Sacramento, CA 95416 » Phone (16) 319-2020 Fax (246) 319.2130immediately and remove him if he does not. This action will send the message to all residents of Calaveras County that they matter and enjoy equal status in the eyes of their local government, regardless of their ethnicity. We also strongly recommend, if they do not already exist, that you institute mandatory ethnic sensitivity courses for county employees and elected and appointed officials. If the California Latino Legislative Caucus can be of any further assistance in this matter, please call my Capitol office at (916) 319-2030 Sincerely A LUIS A. ALEJO hairman, CA Latino Legislative Caycus Assemblymember, 30" District On behalf of all 21 members of the CA Latino Legislative Caucus