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# In Donner, he doesn’t Trust
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/in-donner-he-doesnt-trust-editor/
- Published: 2006-10-30T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T21:53:03.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Lantz Simpson President, SMC Faculty Association Opposition of stem cell research boggles the mind Editor:*

The Oct. 25 letter from some current and former Trustees (“Trustees respond to ‘hit piece’ on Donner,” page 4) clearly illustrates why new leadership on the board is needed at Santa Monica College. Their letter is so full of errors, distortions and confusions that I hardly know where to start, but I’ll try, because the voters of the district need to know the truth. ■These trustees accuse the faculty union of distributing a so-called “hit piece”on board candidate Tom Donner. The faculty union has not distributed any mailing critical of Mr. Donner. ■The faculty union did not decide to lock out 6,000 students from SMC in 2003-04, the college administration did. ■Despite trustee claims, the vocational programs that were eliminated in 2003 did not have low enrollment (over 85 sections were enrolled), nor was there a lack of state funds, since the college’s state revenue has increased every year (see the Sept. 7, 2005, board minutes for actual state revenues for 2002 through 2004).Yet in the April 7, 2004 SMDP, Trustee Margaret Quinones was still claiming that the college “had a $10 million-plus funding shortfall from Sacramento.” Now the trustees deny ever having even a $6 million deficit. However, according to the SMDP of May 16, 2003, the college was claiming a $6.75 million deficit in order to justify the program cuts and lockouts. In fact, in June 2003, there was a “summit” meeting of college constituencies (attended by Mr. Donner and Trustee Quinones) specifically to discuss the alleged deficit. ■Now the trustees boast about a surplus.Yet,they refused to settle a new contract with the faculty for two years because they claimed the college was again too poor. Now that the contract is settled, the trustees tell the public that the district is suddenly rich? Meanwhile, last week, the college budget committee was informed that the college this year has $3.5 million structural deficit. ■The college purchased the Bundy site in December 2001, but could not use the site for classes until 2006\. Why? Because the college failed to obtain an easement to have access to the property. During these four years, the college desperately needed more classrooms in order to recover enrollment and increase revenue. As acting college president in 2005, Mr. Donner still failed to obtain an easement. It took the new college president only a few weeks to solve the easement problem and now the site is finally up and running.

Who did the trustees have in charge of finances and buying property during all this turmoil? Board candidate Tom Donner. Santa Monica College needs trustees who really know what’s going on and who really have their facts straight.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 30, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/103006.pdf?ref=smdp.com)