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November 19, 2003

After hearing a presentation from Chancellor Mark Drummond, Trustees Mona Field, Warren T. Furutani, and Stacey McMullen, and concerned about the impact of the class cuts and fee increases on their constituents, the Education and Neighborhoods Committee of the Los Angeles City Council passed a resolution to support community colleges at the state level. The full Council will consider the resolution in the near future.

“Education is key in tough education times,” said Committee Chair Janice Hahn. “The constituents of community colleges are our constituents as well and we are happy to be your cheerleaders.”

Council member Bernard C.Parks, who introduced the resolution, said that community colleges deserve to get their full share of state funds, as determined in Proposition 98. (The legislation passed by the voters in 1988, guarantees 10.98% of Proposition 98 dollars to be allocated to community colleges. Last year, the California Community Colleges received only 9.6% of the funds, resulting in a $746 million loss.)

“I am recommending the Council support AB 1417, which would establish an automatic adjustment to the California Community Colleges General Fund apportionment to compensate for adjustments in property tax revenue. I am also recommending that all community college fee increases go directly to the colleges, not to the general fund.”

Committee members Dennis Zine, who attended Los Angeles Valley College and West Los Angeles College and Administration of Justice at Los Angeles Valley College and Antonio Villaraigosa, a graduate of East Los Angeles College also supported the resolution. “The Council needs to stand up and speak out against community college cuts,” said Villaraigosa. “I am glad the City Council has finally established a committee to deal with education issues.”