Legislative offices have been put on alert as teachers and other protesters gather at the Capitol to kick off a week of budget-related demonstrations.
The Assembly and Senate Rules Committees issued a joint memo Friday warning staffers that high turnout for the events "may have an impact on your daily work environment."
The recommended precautions range from being ready to handle higher-than-usual volumes of visitors, emails and calls to packing a lunch to avoid long security lines.
"Because of the volume of traffic, you should anticipate longer lines at the security checkpoints.There may be door closures in various places and times for security reasons. You should have your Capitol identification card with you at all times. You might also plan on bringing your lunch, rather than exiting and re-entering the building," the memo reads.
They weren't joking about the Capitol badges, by the way. Even Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg was subject to an ID check as he tried to cross the temporarily closed Capitol Rotunda this afternoon. Watch the video below and read the full memo after the jump.
Date: May 6, 2011
To: All Capitol Offices
From: Greg Schmidt, Secretary of the Senate
Jon Waldie, Chief Administrative Officer of the Assembly
Subject: Events at the Capitol, May 9 through 13
The respective Rules Committees have been informed that next week, May 9 through 13, there will be a number of events and demonstrations occurring in and around the Capitol focusing on the State Budget. We anticipate large numbers of people, which may have an impact on your daily work environment.Because of the volume of traffic, you should anticipate longer lines at the security checkpoints. There may be door closures in various places and times for security reasons. You should have your Capitol identification card with you at all times. You might also plan on bringing your lunch, rather than exiting and re-entering the building.
You should also expect a high number of visitors to your office, and a steady stream of e-mails, voice mails, phone calls, letters, etc.
The Sergeants-at-Arms have been working with group sponsors to ensure everyone's right to express his or her opinion and protest while minimizing disruption to the normal work of the Capitol. If you experience any disturbing situation or become apprehensive about anything occurring, please contact your Senate or Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms immediately.
Many thanks for your cooperation and patience.
Latest posts:
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.