After we posted our previous update, we became aware of certain technical issues that people experienced in sending a letter to the Governor of California.  The purpose of this update is to help with those issues.

Thank you once again for signing the petition asking the parole board to deny parole to Jose Gonzalez, who bludgeoned to death Essie and James Effron (the parents of Gary Effron and Dr. Cheryl Effron).

As noted in our previous update, at a hearing on April 8, the board granted parole to Gonzalez. Although it was clear at the hearing that Gonzalez remained a violent and dangerous man, the board members looked at various factors, including the fact that Gonzalez was 22 years old at the time of the murders and, therefore, in their eyes, probably too young to know what he was doing!  Beyond that, at the time of the hearing Gonzalez was 65 years old, so the board members considered him "elderly" and probably too old to be dangerous!!

After a cursory review by the full Board of Parole Hearings, the next step will be an automatic review by the governor.  Since Governor Newsom has the final word on the subject, we are asking everyone to send him a letter urging him to keep Gonzalez behind bars. To be sure the letters are received in time to be considered by the governor, they should be sent by May 15.

A sample letter can be found at Sample letter to the governor , or you can write your own letter.  The letter can be sent by postal mail to the address on the sample or by email or both.  For your security, if you use postal mail, do not put your street address on the letter. Be sure to include the reference information shown on the sample. 

To send the letter by email, go to https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/   and fill out the simple information on the form there.  Here are some pointers to make it easy:

     • For "Purpose of communication," click on "Have Comment."

     • For "Please choose your subject," scroll down to "Parole – Governors review." 

     • After you have completed the form, press "Continue."

     • On the page that comes up, click on "con."

     • Then write your message in the space provided (or copy and paste it there).   Include the name Jose Gonzalez and CDCR no. B94419.

     • Click "Send Message."

Whatever method you use to send your letter to the governor, please send a copy to the Effron family at effron@cox.net  . 

PLEASE NOTE: You are not required to pay any money to Change.org in order to send your letter to the governor.

If you have any questions, please contact Shari & Gary Effron at effron@cox.net or Dr. Cheryl Effron at effronmd@gmail.com  .

We appreciate your help.

The Effron Family