2008 Woodie Awards
The Mail Bag
Letters to the Editors
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Opinion
Prop 92 protects democracy
Proposition 92 is a complex measure fixing several problems facing community colleges. Voters may be confused by Prop 92 and will rely on journalists to "do their homework" to help them understand the issues. It is sad to see the La Voz editors fail their constituents by publishing a misleading and factually incorrect attack on Prop 92 and its supporters in the January 7 edition.
The current formula for community college and K-12 funding is based solely on K-12 enrollment. Prop 92 does not affect these K-12 funding calculations; it corrects the formula by incorporating measures of community college needs. The new language does not guarantee additional funds for community colleges. Rather, it replaces the current arbitrary political process with a fair and reliable means of calculating community college funding.
Prop 92 reverses current policy under which the state cuts community college budgets and raises student fees whenever the economy falters. When the state raises student fees, the additional money does not go to the colleges. Instead, community college students pay more for less at a time when they can least afford it and the state desperately needs the workforce training the community colleges provide. Lower student fees are good for California.
Prop 92 secures an independent community college system based on local democratic control by putting local boards of trustees and the state board of governors into California's constitution. It protects local boards and does nothing to enhance the power of the state board. Rather than a bureaucratic power grab, Prop 92 protects democracy.
Californians who care about stable financial support for community colleges, a sound economy based upon an educated public and well-trained workforce, and local democratic control of their community college will vote "Yes" on Proposition 92.
Richard Hansen
De Anza Mathematics Instructor
President of the Foothill-De Anza
Proposition 92 is a complex measure fixing several problems facing community colleges. Voters may be confused by Prop 92 and will rely on journalists to "do their homework" to help them understand the issues. It is sad to see the La Voz editors fail their constituents by publishing a misleading and factually incorrect attack on Prop 92 and its supporters in the January 7 edition.
The current formula for community college and K-12 funding is based solely on K-12 enrollment. Prop 92 does not affect these K-12 funding calculations; it corrects the formula by incorporating measures of community college needs. The new language does not guarantee additional funds for community colleges. Rather, it replaces the current arbitrary political process with a fair and reliable means of calculating community college funding.
Prop 92 reverses current policy under which the state cuts community college budgets and raises student fees whenever the economy falters. When the state raises student fees, the additional money does not go to the colleges. Instead, community college students pay more for less at a time when they can least afford it and the state desperately needs the workforce training the community colleges provide. Lower student fees are good for California.
Prop 92 secures an independent community college system based on local democratic control by putting local boards of trustees and the state board of governors into California's constitution. It protects local boards and does nothing to enhance the power of the state board. Rather than a bureaucratic power grab, Prop 92 protects democracy.
Californians who care about stable financial support for community colleges, a sound economy based upon an educated public and well-trained workforce, and local democratic control of their community college will vote "Yes" on Proposition 92.
Richard Hansen
De Anza Mathematics Instructor
President of the Foothill-De Anza
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