Issues forum scheduled
By Will Weiss
Feb. 22, 2009 11:19 p.m.
Candidates for the Los Angeles Unified School District board and advocates both in support of and opposed to Measure B, will be speaking in Haines 220 at 7 tonight as part of a local election forum organized by the undergraduate student government external vice president’s office.
The event, which was recently moved from its originally scheduled location in Moore 100, is expected to last about an hour and will include commentary from LAUSD board candidates Steve Zimmer and Mike Stryer.
James Unger of the “Yes on Measure B” campaign will speak in support of the solar power initiative, while Ron Kaye of the “No on Measure B” campaign will be speaking against the proposal.
The event will be divided into two half-hour sessions, with candidates Zimmer and Stryer speaking separately from the Measure B speakers.
The speakers will be fielding questions from the student audience; the school board candidates will be addressing concerns about K-12 educational policy in Los Angeles, while the Measure B speakers will discuss the importance of alternative energy.
If passed, Measure B would lead to the single largest investment in solar power in the United States to date, including the installation of some 400 megawatts’ worth of photovoltaics ““ enough to power 240,000 homes.
Event organizers said they hope student attendees will be informed and inspired by the speakers.
“In the last few months there has been a lot of energy generated by UCLA students around the Obama election and national issues,” said Sonya Mehta, local affairs director for the EVP office. “We in the USAC EVP office feel it’s important to redirect this enthusiasm toward issues that are affecting the Los Angeles community including K-12 education and alternative sources of energy.”
