The Turnip Point : Protest: Saying that the Legislature has to realize taxpayers are bled dry, a Simi Valley councilwoman digs deep for a unique way to get her message across.

Trying to squeeze $1 billion out of cities to balance the state budget is like, well, trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip.

That is the message Simi Valley Councilwoman Sandi Webb will carry to Sacramento this week--along with 1,000 pounds of turnips.

Webb is leading a drive to haul a truckload of the purple-and-white vegetables to the state capital to protest the potential squeeze on cities.

“What we’re saying is that taxpayers are blood-dry,” Webb said. “They’re not only being taxed to death, they’re out of jobs. So we’re going to tell the Legislature: ‘Here’s some turnips. Try getting some blood out of these.’ ”

To help offset an $11-billion budget deficit, lawmakers have proposed withholding $1 billion in tax revenues usually given to cities, counties and special districts.

If the the proposal is approved, Ventura County’s 10 cities stand to lose more than $23 million. Simi Valley’s share would total $4 million.

“We’re going to have to raise taxes and fees to maintain our level of services,” Webb said. “So we’ll take the blame . . . when it’s the state’s tax policies that got us into this mess.”

Webb and Aaron Starr, president of the Ventura County Libertarian Party, share credit for organizing the protest.

With little cajoling, a Salinas vegetable distributor agreed to donate a half-ton of rotten turnips to the cause. There were not enough turnips in Ventura County, Starr said: “They’re out of season.”

Starr said he and Webb have secured a dump truck from a local construction contractor and have chartered a bus to haul any city official willing to pay the $89 round-trip fare to Sacramento.

So far, only Bakersfield officials seem interested.

“I think it’s great,” said Mayor Clarence Medders. “That’s one way to get our message across.”

But Medders said that council members have just learned about the protest and that he is not sure whether any officials will participate.

“If nothing else,” he said, “we’ll send some turnips.”

Simi Valley Mayor Greg Stratton said Webb’s idea was “cute,” adding that he hopes she finds people to go with her.

The bus is to leave Reseda at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Webb said, and will pick up any city officials who want to participate. The bus and turnip truck are to arrive in Sacramento at 4 p.m.

Webb said she plans to hold a rally on the steps of the Capitol before handing out turnips to all legislators.

Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) said she does not mind the protest as long as the group does not dump the turnips on the capital grounds. “We can’t afford to clean it up,” she said.