By David Alsabery Santa Monica
Bill Bauer’s article about the community college bond (“More ‘tax and spend on this year’s ballot,” page 4, Sept. 22), combined with the cover story “Economy shapes negotiations,” tell a story of how we are in the economic mess we are in. Forget the threat of a depression. The state of California will be insolvent next year. That means the budget that is passing will be about $18 billion short! Insolvent means the state of California will not be able to borrow money to pay for this annual debt. The Governator did in fact lower that shortfall from $33 billion when he took office to $18 billion, but it is not enough. The state Legislature will have to cut funding for all public jobs including teachers. Raise taxes on the corporations? They will just pass that increase on to us as they always do. Just look at your cell phone bill or utility bill if you doubt me.
We have to ask the hard questions and decide what is important. Do Santa Monicans really need to give SMC more money or can they cut down on the 25,000 non-Santa Monica residents attending? Could our K-12 schools use $295 million? Would you need to send your kids to private school if they did not spend it on SMC?
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 25, 2008. Read the original PDF.