Elections 2002 Endorsements: Proposition 47 would help fix schools, Engineering I building

The state of disrepair of California’s public schools
““ from the K-12 level on up to the state’s community
colleges and public universities ““ seriously intrudes on the
schools’ educational mission.

As such, vote yes on Proposition 47, which would provide a
$13.05 billion bond to ease overcrowding and repair older
facilities.

Opponents argue the financial climate of the state reveals this
isn’t the time to grant a multi-billion-dollar bond.

This isn’t the time to propose holding public schools more
accountable when their facilities need repair.

According to the state’s Legislative Analyst Office, the
majority of bond revenue ““ about $11.4 billion ““ would
be earmarked for the state’s K-12 schools.

Opponents of the initiative say it unfairly favors schools found
in more urban areas, such as those in the Los Angeles Unified
School District.

But urban districts, which are the most overcrowded and tend to
have older, more exhausted facilities, need funds the most.

At the university level, the UC would receive $408 million of
the bond revenue. The UC has based its entire construction budget
for fiscal year 2002-2003 on Proposition 47’s funds. If the
initiative doesn’t pass, there is no backup plan.

At UCLA, the bond will give the university half the funds it
needs to revamp the Engineering I building to make it seismically
sound. According to the project manager, the university has
discussed these plans for a decade.

Voting yes on the initiative will prevent these basic
construction projects from being delayed for another 10 years.

Proposition 47 provides an immediate, first-step solution to the
problems facing California students.