2024 Summer Fundraiser

Dear Freedom Fighter, 

This year, Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB) is leading the fight to shrink California’s sprawling, toxic carceral system. Being at the forefront with our member organizations is crucial as we face a political climate where unscrupulous special interests are working to undo decades of progress in criminal justice reform through initiatives like Prop 36.

As you know, CURB’s mission is to reduce the number of prisons and jails in California and free the people inside them. We demand investments away from prisons and into vital community-based resources, uniting diverse movements for justice against incarceration. 

After relentless advocacy, CURB and the state legislature successfully moved Governor Gavin Newsom to enact $750 million in cuts to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)—an unprecedented achievement, more than nine times the initially proposed reductions. In this historic era, prison closures are more necessary than ever to ensure these cost savings are realized. 

To continue this momentum and push for additional prison closures, we are aiming to raise $10,000 in our 2024 Summer Fundraiser. Your generous contribution will directly support our efforts to achieve these critical goals.

CURB’s top focus is always public education. Our cross-sector budget organizing has been crucial in reducing wasteful corrections spending and protecting vital services amidst a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit. We've connected the dots between diverse justice sectors—climate, economic, and health. We’ve written extensively in the Los  Angeles Times opinion section in February and April, and appeared in media nationwide calling for reduced prison spending and prison closures.

California could safely close five more prisons according to the nonpartisan Legslative Analyst’s Office (LAO) and save more than $1 billion annually. CURB is urging Governor Newsom to commit to closing at least five more prisons, starting with the California Rehabilitation Center (CRC) in Norco. Identified as a priority for closure due to its repugnant conditions, CRC has been the focus of our Close California Prisons Campaign. Our organizing efforts in Riverside County include initiatives like our Norco rally, petition drive, and weekly Parking Lot Outreach Days (PLODs), where we connect with loved ones of incarcerated individuals. Additionally, thanks to our collective efforts, we will see the third state prison closure (Chuckawalla) in November.

CURB co-hosts Budget Advocacy workshops throughout the year to inform communities about the necessity of advocating for prison closures and reducing prison spending. Additionally, CURB is proud to support AB 2178, a historic bill aiming to prevent state prisons from maintaining excessive empty bed capacity at taxpayers' expense.

As charter members of Re-imagine LA County and Budget to Save Lives Super Collective, we are always fighting for care-first budgets. We are launching innovative and informative campaigns, welcoming new faces into our coalition to build our people power. 

CURB’s work in 2024 is vital and impactful, and we have many inspiring goals on the horizon. As we continue our work year in and year out, the support of our donors is invaluable. We won’t stop until cages across California are smashed open, and our community members and loved ones are free.

Please consider making a donation to CURB today to help us:

1. Push for the closure of at least five more prisons, starting with CRC in Norco.
2. Support our public education, community outreach, and advocacy efforts to reduce the number of people in prisons and jails and redirect funds towards vital services.
3. Expand our innovative campaigns and build our coalition to strengthen the fight for reimagined public safety. 

Thank you again for showing up for us and the movement.

In solidarity,

Brian Kaneda
Deputy Director

You can mail a check or money order for CURB to:

Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE) | 23564 Calabasas Road Suite 201 | Calabasas, CA 91302 | Write c/o CURB on the Memo Line

NOTE: For other types of letters or correspondence, please write CURB at:

2658 Griffith Park Blvd #352  | Los Angeles, California 90039

CURB is fiscally sponsored by Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE), a 501c3 tax exempt non-profit. Your donation to CURB is tax deductible.