Los Angeles Unified School District bond election, Measure Q, 2008

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A Los Angeles Unified School District Measure Q bond election appeared on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Los Angeles, CA, where it was approved with 68.64% of the vote.

55% of those voting had to vote "yes" for the measure to pass. It approves a $7 billion bond, which is the largest local school bond measure in the history of California.

The proposal is the fifth time in eleven years that voters in the LAUSD have been asked to approve a bond.

Background

Those who supported Measure Q wanted to make the older schools in LAUSD comparable to new ones.[1]

Q was supported by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, but groups that would traditionally support a school bond have been lukewarm about this one, even those that have endorsed it.[2]

"We don't want to hurt public education, but at the same time it's a deeply flawed measure," said Gary Larson, spokesman for the California Charter Schools Association.[3]

Supporting

The measure was endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.[4]

Arguments supporting

  • "It earmarks $450 million to provide independent charter schools with facilities equivalent to those of regular schools."[5]
  • It doesn't increase taxes
  • "It will stimulate the economy in the years to come, providing 85,000 new jobs."[6]
  • " It will address an upturn in enrollment forecast to begin in 2015." [7]

Opposing

The measure has been said to have little financed, organized opposition.[8]

Arguments opposing

  • Los Angeles Unified has already passed four multi-billion dollar bonds in the last ten years [9]
  • The measure is not specific enough as to how the district would spend the money.[10]
  • LAUSD has asked for money based on "the maximum the district's consultants figured voters would stand - not based on what the district said it actually needed for specific projects."[11]
  • The district still has nearly $6 billion in bond money left from previous measures [12]
  • The district has not demonstrated a need for the monies as enrollment is projected to continue to drop through 2015.[13]

Newspaper endorsements

Editorial boards supporting

  • The Daily Breeze claims "The main idea behind the new bond measure is one of equity - to give all students an environment conducive to learning in the 21st century." [14]

Editorial boards opposing

  • The Los Angeles Times states, "Measure Q is far too vague for voters to risk $7 billion on future, unspecified L.A. Unified expenses."[15]
  • Daily News Los Angeles also urges a no, stating, "LAUSD officials haven't demonstrated a real need," and affirmed that enrollment in LAUSD is dropping, not rising, and will continue to drop for at least seven years. [16]
  • The Daily Bruin does not support the measure as it "worries about how funds are earmarked and the lack of specific earmarking." [17]

Concern about electioneering

A mailer paid for by the Los Angeles Unified School District came very close to electioneering, according to critics.[18]

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-lausdbond27-2008oct27,0,4995829.story?track=rss
  2. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Lukewarm support and less for L.A. Unified bond"
  3. ↑ http://www.dailynews.com/ci_10861043
  4. ↑ http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/77011
  5. ↑ http://www.dailybreeze.com/elections/ci_10721288
  6. ↑ http://www.dailybreeze.com/elections/ci_10721288
  7. ↑ http://www.dailybreeze.com/elections/ci_10721288
  8. ↑ Daily News Los Angeles Schools' Measure Q brings in $704,800
  9. ↑ http://www.redcounty.com/la/2008/10/lausd-measure-q-flunks-taxpaye/
  10. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-measureq3-2008oct03,0,5676427.story
  11. ↑ http://www.dailynews.com/editorial/ci_10682803
  12. ↑ http://www.dailynews.com/editorial/ci_10682803
  13. ↑ http://www.dailynews.com/editorial/ci_10682803
  14. ↑ http://www.dailybreeze.com/elections/ci_10721288
  15. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-measureq3-2008oct03,0,5676427.story
  16. ↑ http://www.dailynews.com/editorial/ci_10682803
  17. ↑ http://dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/2008/oct/30/la-ballot-measures-deserve-attention/
  18. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Remember to vote on Q, November 3, 2009
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