Los Angeles Unified School District bond proposition, Measure Q (November 2008)
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A Los Angeles Unified School District bond proposition, Measure Q ballot question was on the November 4, 2008 ballot for voters in the Los Angeles Unified School District in Los Angeles County, where it was approved.
Measure Q authorized the Los Angeles Unified School District to borrow $7 billion. This was the largest local school bond in the history of California.
A 55 percent supermajority vote was required for approval.
The vote on Measure Q represented the fifth time in eleven years that voters in the LAUSD were asked to approve a bond.
Election results
| Measure Q | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 885,467 | 69.11% | ||
| No | 395,852 | 30.89% | ||
- These final, certified, election results are from the Los Angeles County elections office.
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]
Support
The measure was endorsed by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.[4]
Arguments in favor
- "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]
Opposition
The measure has been said to have little financed, organized opposition.[8]
Arguments against
- 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
Support
- The Daily Breeze claimed "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]
Opposition
- The Los Angeles Times stated, "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 urged a "no" vote, writing, "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 did 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]
Ballot question
The question on the ballot:
| MEASURE Q: "To improve student health, safety and educational quality, shall the Los Angeles Unified School District: continue repair/upgrade of aging/deteriorating classrooms, restrooms; upgrade fire/earthquake safety; reduce asbestos, lead paint, air pollution, water quality hazards; build/upgrade specialized classrooms students need to meet job/college requirements; improve classroom Internet access by issuing $7 billion in bonds, at legal interest rates; with guaranteed annual audits, citizens’ oversight, no increase in maximum tax rate?"[19] |
See also
- Los Angeles City ballot measures
- Los Angeles County ballot measures
- California 2008 local ballot measures
- School bond elections in California
External links
- $7-billion Measure Q would fund school construction and modernization
- Smart Voter on Measure Q
- Los Angeles Times $7-billion Measure Q would fund school construction and modernization, Oct 27, 2008
Footnotes
- ↑ http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-lausdbond27-2008oct27,0,4995829.story?track=rss
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Lukewarm support and less for L.A. Unified bond"
- ↑ http://www.dailynews.com/ci_10861043
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/77011
- ↑ http://www.dailybreeze.com/elections/ci_10721288
- ↑ http://www.dailybreeze.com/elections/ci_10721288
- ↑ http://www.dailybreeze.com/elections/ci_10721288
- ↑ Daily News Los Angeles Schools' Measure Q brings in $704,800
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://www.redcounty.com/la/2008/10/lausd-measure-q-flunks-taxpaye/
- ↑ http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-measureq3-2008oct03,0,5676427.story
- ↑ http://www.dailynews.com/editorial/ci_10682803
- ↑ http://www.dailynews.com/editorial/ci_10682803
- ↑ http://www.dailynews.com/editorial/ci_10682803
- ↑ http://www.dailybreeze.com/elections/ci_10721288
- ↑ http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-measureq3-2008oct03,0,5676427.story
- ↑ http://www.dailynews.com/editorial/ci_10682803
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/2/http://dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/2008/oct/30/la-ballot-measures-deserve-attention/
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Remember to vote on Q, November 3, 2009
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
