Cool RSS Feeds

Comedians

Financial

Musicians

News

California's EBT Food Stamps System - Open Letter to Governor Jerry Brown

December 14, 2012

Dear Governor Jerry Brown,
Brown's Twitter

I regret having to write you this letter.

The system you’re using in California to dispense food stamps is broken. Here’s why. Right now, you will feed the unemployed, as long as they look for work and don’t attend college. However, if a person does not work and DOES attend college, you attach a different standard and say that person must do BOTH attend college AND work at least 20 hours a week.

Your current system is very unfair. I took 12.5 credits this semester and I qualified for EBT food stamps, but my benefits ($180/month toward only food) stopped when college began. With all due respect, don’t you think I eat during the school year? Don’t you think I need to spend time studying, reading and traveling to and from school? I had to take 2 buses from downtown Long Beach to Long Beach City College (Lakewood campus). How could I possibly have worked 20 hours?

When I lived in San Diego, I taught a bunch of students guitar, bass and piano. However, it has been extremely difficult to get new students in Long Beach. Consequently, I’ve been homeless for the past 6 months.

So, your food stamps system gives no food to people like me - homeless, full time students who do not work and it is very unfair and you need to fix it now.

Sincerely,
Long Beach, California