Vote for your education on May 19

"Yes we can!" shouted voters when President Obama was elected. Yes, we can get out of this recession. Yes, we can leave racism behind. And yes, we hope to be able to better afford college. But don't be thinking that you won't have to vote again for the next four years. Special elections are coming up on May 19. And, speaking of affording college - this particular election will have direct consequences for community college students. According to a press release by the Community College League of California, the handful of propositions will "implement the 18-month budget adopted by the Legislature and governor in February." Voting yes on these propositions is "necessary," the CCLC urges, "to avoid a $319 million cut to community colleges in 2009-10." If the propositions were to fail, the funding cut would require major trimming at junior colleges. Low enrollment classes and allowed maximum class sizes would be cut. With the enrollment surges this year attributed to the economic downfall, community colleges 'can't afford' to lose any more money. According to the League of Women Voters, a citizen education and advocacy group, Proposition 1-A "amends the Constitution to change the state's budgeting practices. Based on other components of the 2009-10 budget package, passage of this measure would also give the Governor more authority to cut spending and would extend recent tax increases by up to two years." Therefore, if passed, extra revenue will go to its first priority, which are any K-14 obligations left unpaid. Proposition 1-B, according to the league of Women Voters, "requires the state to make a total of $9.3 billion in supplemental payments to K-14 education." These payments will be made annually, beginning in 2011-1012. Proposition 1-C could end up increasing lottery ticket sales in 2009-2010 by $5 billion and allowing the state to borrow from future profits from lottery sales as well. The profits are dedicated to K-14 now. The state will use the lottery funds to pay back their borrowing. The state's payments to schools will end up increasing to pay back for this loss. While this means more money for our schools, it also means a lot more borrowing for the state. As we are already in an economic crisis, the question remains how much more borrowing the state can take. Proposition 1A and 1B definitely need to be voted in. Without those, our schools will be in major turmoil. But voting for proposition 1C may save our schools, but it may also compromise California's economic future. Proposition 1D, if voted in, will provide $600 million to secure and protect different children's programs from being effected by the current economic crisis. It will also take tax money from tobacco products to protect different services for foster children, human service programs, and at risk families. However, it will temporarily redirect money going towards health services for children under the age of 5, making for a hard voter choice. Hmmm…community college funding, or-children? Proposition 1-E will allocate funds during a period of two years towards the mental health of children and young adults. It will provide $225 million for different mental health programs. It is taking the money from mental health programs under proposition 63 from 2004 to fund this. The money is there, the state just wants to take it and put it some where else. This means that taxes won't be raised. Money will only be temporarily redirected for two years. This can be lived with. It's just stomaching proposition 1-D that brings on the guilt of taking other program's source of money. Finally, Proposition 1-F is an easy proposition to like. All it states is that the governor, the Legislature and statewide constitutional officers cannot receive pay raises when the state is in a deficit. All of the Propositions are linked in terms of the viability of the other measures. According to the CCL, "Community college districts could lose $319 million next year if Propositions 1C, 1D and 1E fail." YCCD Chancellor Roe Darnell is hopeful that staff and students of the college will turn out for this one. "It will take a yes vote on Measures 1A, C, D and E to keep us from experiencing a $4.8 million cut next academic year. Measure 1B will be effective ONLY if Measure 1A also passes, and will provide us with approx $15 million additional in income over a six-year period," he says. Students rallied and voted in very high numbers in November. Now it's time to continue the effort and turn out for these elections as well. The Pirates' Log urges all concerned with the economic wellbeing of this college to vote yes on Prop 1-B. And if you are going to vote yes on this proposition, you might as well vote on the other ones as well. Just remember which ones won't stab other programs in the back.

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