Donor Lands Job, Mails Cash To State

Somebody is so thrilled to be off unemployment that the person is spreading the wealth.

A bulky envelope arrived last week at the local office of the California Employment Development Department, with an anonymous note addressed “To whom it may concern.”

It also contained $2,500, in cash, all $100 bills.

“I was shocked,” said Lenora Rodriguez, a secretary who opened the envelope. “I saw the first one, then I saw the rest and thought, ‘What is this?”’

The note, with a spelling error, read: “Several years ago I was layed off from my job and I collected unemployment for a little while. … Now thank the Lord that I have the money to pay back the state.”

It was nice, but unnecessary, Rodriguez said, since unemployment insurance funds come from employers and employees, not taxpayers.

The cash went into a special account for “conscience money” from people who believe the state overpaid them, and will go to defray program costs.