CALIFORNIA SHELTERS SCORE NEW ALLY

Moby

“An unlikely tipping point in the fight against domestic violence? Moby.”
- Los Angeles Times (10/15/09)

After reading that California had cut funding for domestic violence victims, award-winning recording artist Moby took action. Pledging all proceeds from his three California tour dates to victims of domestic violence, Moby also partnered with the California Partnership To End Domestic Violence
(CPEDV) and Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) to raise awareness and funding for this critical issue.

“Sometimes there are simple cases of doing the right thing,” says Moby. “Lobbying the state legislature to re-instate funding for domestic violence programs seemed – simply – like the right thing to do.”

On October 21, 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) signed emergency legislation introduced by Senator Leland Yee to restore $16.3 million for 94 shelters and centers throughout California. This comes nearly three months after Governor Schwarzenegger eliminated all state funding for domestic violence shelters – leading to statewide closures and cutbacks.

Yee’s legislation – supported by statewide and local domestic violence prevention agencies – allocates $16.3 million in emergency funds. This is a step in the right direction – but a permanent funding source still must be secured since this is just a one-year fix.

The Domestic Violence Program funds allow local agencies to provide emergency shelter, transitional housing, and legal advocacy, as well as assistance with restraining orders, counseling and other vital support services. Domestic violence shelters are often the only thing standing between victims and grave physical danger, and California’s communities cannot sustain their loss.

For a list of shelters and programs at risk of closure, visit here. If you are a victim of domestic violence or if you want to report an incident of domestic violence, call the 24-hour-a-day toll-free National Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), 1-800-787-3224 (TDD) or the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence at 1-800-524-4765.

Moby’s newest album, Wait For Me is in stores now. A special edition deluxe version of Wait For Me goes on sale November 24, 2009.