UPDATE: Quality of Life ... and Death

Sean, from San Rafael, struggles slightly to voice his thoughts, but there was no doubt about his feelings as he held aloft his sign and chanted, "Save Our Services," with the other 200 or so protesters outside the gates of San Quentin on Tuesday.

A vocal force of people with developmental disabilities, along with friends, families and caregivers, were at the prison to send a message to Gov. Jerry Brown: Grant a reprieve to those who need assisted living.

The activity came as U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel arrived at San Quentin to inspect the prison's death row facilities.

Representatives from non-profit organizations from Marin and Sonoma County assembled outside the gates of San Quentin as a federal judge was due to inspect the gas chamber at the prison. A proposed new death row facility at San Quentin is expected to cost $356 million. Gov. Brown's proposed budget includes $64.7 million to kickstart the project.

At the same time, the proposed budget would cut state funding for persons with disabilities. Cami Weaver, CEO of Becoming Independent, says that cut could be a death sentence for the groups that support people with disabilities.

"Right now it's really important for all Californians to pay close attention to every dollar that's spent. So when we hear that there might be additional revenues being invested into a correctional institution," Weaver said, "when $750 million is being taken away on the backs of people with disabilities, we want to send a message. We want people to question such a matter. That's why we're here today."

Lisa Carbone, state director for Dungarvin, a national group of privately-owned care facilities, hopes the protest will draw focus to the plight of those living with disabilities. Marin Ventures and Oads were also among the organizations from Marin and Sonoma counties involved in the protests. The groups said the state money would be better spent helping people with disabilities rather than funding the death row expansion.

"We're out here en masse supporting people with disabilities who receive direct service dollars from the State of California. There is a large budget cut looming our way to the tune of $750 million. These people are basically saying 'No more.' We can not tolerate anymore cuts. We're breaking at the seams," Weaver said. "We're out here because this is a backdrop that does gather attention and that's exactly what we need at this point. Sometimes the disabled are some of the most forgotten and sometimes not the most communicative of their needs. Some of the people out here need computers to speak."

There was another group, inside the prison walls, hoping to send a message.

Fogel was visiting the prison five years after he halted executions in California due to concerns about the state's procedures. San Quentin unveiled a new lethal injection chamber in September. Still, a lawsuit by four prisoners claims the lethal injection could be excessively painful and inhumane.

"Right now it's really important for all Californians to pay close attention to every dollar that's spent. So when we hear that there might be additional revenues being invested into a correctional institution," Weaver said, "when $750 million is being taken away on the backs of people with disabilities, we want to send a message. We want people to question such a matter. That's why we're here today."