Let's Get Our Priorities Straight

With the upcoming University of California walkout, we asked our Facebook community recently how the impending UC and CSU cuts were affecting them. The response was overwhelming:

Stephanie from SF State needed only two classes to graduate with her bachelor's degree. But one of the courses was eliminated -- graduation will have to wait until next year.

A mother from the East Bay worried that her daughter couldn't enroll in a single class she needs and is about to lose her student status, her financial aid, and health insurance.

Sarah from UC Davis saw her tuition increase almost ten percent, while her mother, a state employee, just took a 15 percent pay cut.

UC Berkeley will be eliminating approximately one out of every ten courses this coming year. UC San Francisco will potentially have to reduce their faculty by fourteen percent because of the recent cuts. UCLA has reduced support to research centers by fifty percent. UC Irvine has completely stopped admitting students into their education program.

All across the state, we are choking off opportunity for hundreds of thousands of young Californians to build a better life for themselves and a better future for California.

And it's our fault. We've allowed our system of governance to de-fund and de-prioritize higher education, putting our state's economic future in jeopardy.

Let me be clear: I favor fully funding the UC system. Cannibalizing our state's future through cuts to education is the exact opposite of the kind of reform and long-term thinking we need from our leaders in Sacramento.

But the current resource-constrained situation forces us to make difficult choices about our shared priorities. We must protect our environment, provide universal health care and invest in infrastructure development. And therein lies our statewide dilemma.

We have a system in California that discourages thoughtful budget and financial planning, requiring a two-thirds majority every year to pass a budget that paralyzes our state. We have a complex web of ballot initiatives that further complicates the process.

Walkouts like the one currently planned will become more frequent unless we undertake systemic reforms and truly take California in a new direction.

We need to convene a constitutional convention and get serious about changes to the system. Until we do, we're jeopardizing our ability to be competitive in the global economy. Preparing our children for success in the 21st century necessitates investment in higher education not cuts to it.

In San Francisco, we have a robust rainy day fund. We drew down on our reserves to make sure not a single teacher in San Francisco was laid off when the recession hit. We created a partnership between SFSU, the school district, and the city to guarantee a college education to every public school 6th grader who wants one. And if their families can't afford tuition, we help with that too.

We operate with a limited budget in San Francisco, just like the state. But we managed to keep teachers in the classroom and promise every student a chance to go to college. We didn't raise taxes -- we reformed the budget process and used resources in a smarter way.

It's time to shake up the system that's put our state in this mess. We need come together to fundamentally rethink how we govern California.

 

 

Follow Gavin Newsom on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GavinNewsom

Comments

[liberalcynic]

disgusting how education should be cut in a recession and for a nation with some of the worst education standings in the OECD. (well, the worst, minus research education for universities)

[Heschel]

Alright "Governor" Newsom !!!!!!!

[Tim303]

Right on Mr Newsom.

[Artemis34]

We need to invest MORE in education to compete globally.

See "Did you know? 3.0" to see what we're up against:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHmwZ96_Gos

India has more honors kids than we have kids, etc.

[dctackett]

and what does "honors" mean in India?... what are the standards?

[zola77]

Standards are similar to Japan i.e. pretty darn high.

[liberalcynic]

most of the predictions are baseless, in Australia we just upgraded our population projection in one year by an addition 7 million to 35 million in 20 years.... these sort of statistical projections are baseless and are used to guide long term public policy.

[fotosynthesis3]

"We have a system in California that discourages thoughtful budget and financial planning,"

You couldn't have said it any better Gavin. When the UC system proposed to impose pay cuts to ALL university employees, it was pretty obvious that their plan lacked an iota of thoughtful planning and insight. So, this faulty problem solving approach is systemic.

Both UC students and employees suffer the consequences because people at the top are lazy and prefer to develop and implement cookie cutter resolutions to very complex problems.

CA's TAX STRUCTURE NEEDS RESTRUCTURING. LET"S START WITH PROP 13!!!!

[fnancyb]

As Calif. Governor candidate Mayor Newsom frequently points out, Arnold Schwarzenegger's first order of business in the State was to refund to $27 billion in car registrations. Yeah, I couldn't wait to spend my $98. Now, with the state fiscal crisis, the car-tax roll-back's been rolled back. Too bad we can't get that $27B back for education.

[SkuddGobang]

can we please just make Gavin governor now and save some time?

[Mark Kraft]

While I agree that it would be nice to keep more teachers teaching, and would provide college students more stability as far as available courses, by your own admission, the ability to afford this depended on the city. There are, unfortunately, a lot of places far more hurt financially than San Francisco.

Really, I think the best long term solution to this mess is to have a strong, experienced Democratic governor who can work effectively with the powers-that-be in order to restore revenue and solvency to the state.

Based on his track record, I believe Jerry Brown is that man. He not only balanced the state budget and kept taxes low... he created the largest state surplus ever. He helped strengthen Oakland's stature, even in the midst of the Bush era, to the point that people are moving back into parts of the city, such as the downtown. He can be a bit forceful and determined at times, and doesn't hew the party line... but that is what we need right now, in order to restore California to fiscal solvency.

Hopefully you will give him your endorsement, Gavin. He's not only what's best for the Bay Area, but is also what's best for California.

[Tsckey]

If you look closely, and honestly, at Jerry Brown's record you will discover that he has no more substance than the Wizard of Oz. At heart he is a self serving narcissist pursuing no interest but his own. He is not a progressive, but a closet Libertarian; consider his recent filing in support of the NRA's 2d Amendment interpretation. He is almost paralytically indecisive, because every decision must be measured by its political implications for him. I have no idea whether Newsom is one whit better, but in this time of leadership crisis, the only gubernatorial candidate on the horizon worse than Brown would be Meg Whitman.

[Mark Kraft]

So, you're saying then that working within the confines of a balanced budget is Libertarian?

Brown has the reputation of being very socially progressive... but at the same time, he's a financial realist.

He knows how very hard it would be to pass new taxes in California, where a 2/3rds majority is needed. He also knows that overturning Prop 8 would be VERY difficult and probably not work, because it would take a voter proposition, which would be opposed by groups such as realtors, etc. to the ttune of perhaps hundreds of millions of dollars... whatever was needed, practically, because there is literally that much money riding on such a decision.

[Mark Kraft]

Given the reality of the situation, you have to take a look at California's budget. An awful lot of it goes to paying off debt, bonds, etc. Yes, California is in the ditch, and has very little discretionary money to spend. Doesn't it make sense to have a balanced budget that will allow us to pay off our debts and then start talking about increasing spending further?

The simple fact is, you don't get out of debt without either increasing revenue, decreasing expenditures, or a combination thereof. California will rebound, and could potentially grow its way out of this problem, but it will take fiscal discipline to get there. Some additional revenue may be gained in other ways, but to base your policies on the vague -- and quite possibly vain -- hope that you can get taxes passed in California makes no sense, and could leave California in a trap, with lots of new programs to enact, but no way of doing it without going further into debt and hoping that our economy will somehow grow faster than our debt.

That, frankly, has been a bad bet for over a decade. It's not a safe bet to take now.

[dwatkins9]

"We created a partnership between SFSU, the school district, and the city to guarantee a college education to every public school 6th grader who wants one. And if their families can't afford tuition, we help with that too."

It is precisely this kind of silly profligacy that has brought the formerly great State of California to its present pass.

Not every sixth grade child who wants a college education is going to turn out to be college material. Indeed, in many cases you can already tell by the time a child is in sixth grade that he or she is not and will never be bright enough for any sort of meaningful college level work.

[Reito Hikari]

But at least they are now given a chance. People need to look at the long term effects of education... without having a big population of educated citizens, California will become a pit...

And like you said and quoted... not all 6th grade children who wants a college education is giong to turn out to be college material. At least this will give them the chance to try it out for themselves and decide themselves whether or not to continue.

[cjk002]

The decision of whether or not a child should go to college should be made by that child and his or her family, and the cost of it should not be a hindrance. This program isn't just about sending kids to college, it's about sending them to vocational schools, technical schools, community colleges, or any other kind of post-secondary school that will allow them to get high-paying jobs that will ensure them a succesful future.

Gauranteeing kids the opportunity to go to college has nothing to do with the fiscal crisis California is in, and as Newsom pointed out, San Francisco has found a way to do it (along with universal health care) without running huge deficits.

Considering where the US ranks in education compared China and India, it's ridiculous to be against a program that will create thousands of highly educated workers that can keep this country competitive in the future.

[billy goat]

Every citizen of the City will need to participate as a functioning member of society whether educated in colleges, universities, technical, trade or paraprofessional. This is not "silly profligacy" but vision for the future. Dollar for dollar education returns more in taxes than it consumes. What other endeavor can you say that about? BTW, SF and the Bay Area economy in general contribute significantly to California and to it's standing as the 8th largest economy in the world. While we've got our woes, what are the rest of you doing?

[psyamesekat]

dwatkins9:

WTF?!?!?!??!?! Did you really just say that? Anyone is "college material." To say someone is not bright enough for college level work is horrifying, condescending, and ignorant.

Do you have any idea how important accessibility to higher education is?

[FlightLover]

Mr. Newsom, when you utitlize the 'education' word, prior to election, please *do* what you will get voted in for. No one else does. I need a vote of mine in this state to actually mean something...like a politician's word.

[hotseat]

"We have a system in California that discourages thoughtful budget and financial planning, requiring a two-thirds majority every year to pass a budget that paralyzes our state. We have a complex web of ballot initiatives that further complicates the process."

I live in CA and truer words have never been written. We vote on obscure initiatives that claim to be deficit neutral, when in fact, they often defund basic educational programs. We need balance and unfortunately, rescind Prop 13. Sorry, higher taxes are unavoidable.

[Tsckey]

I forgot to mention that I agree with Mayor Newsom's concerns about out educational system and the primacy of education. Those who see education primarily as preparation for future employment are living in a far different world than our Founders envisioned. Our nation's survival hinges on the knowledge and wisdom of its citizens, which in turn is nurtured and encouraged through our educational system. The right fully understands this, which is why it has placed every possible obstacle in the path of effective educational opportunities for as long as anyone can remember. Democracy can only thrive in an atmosphere of knowledge, but knowledgeable people are not so easily lead as ignorant people. As proof, witness the recent, shocking stupidity displayed at the town hall meetings where the most vociferous champions of corporate healthcare greed and corruption were those most likely to be victimized by it.

[FlightLover]

Our students are literally sitting on floors and cabinets... piled on top of one another... and worst of all... *blended* grade-leve­ls/curricu­lum...ONE teacher.

[lde10475]

Okay. But let's take this a step further. The cuts to elementary and high school education have also had serious effects on our educational system. Class sizes are higher, books are not being updated, supplies are running critically low. How are we to prepare our students for a college education? Of course, our governor never attended American schools, married into a family that has not used our public school system in generations and, of course, sends his children to private school. He has no personal connection to the losses being suffered by California's school children. The education of our youth IS our future and to cash that in is a crime.

[Egghead]

It's a vicious circle. When the universities are cut, especially the CSUs, there are fewer teachers in elementary and secondary school classrooms preparing the next set of kids for later life (including college.)

[Tsckey]

I'm no fan of a constitutional convention. It's magical thinking to assume that such a convention would cure California's ills, or make any improvement at all. But, to advocates, it's easier to champion a vague promise of reform, which everyone favors, than confront the true obstacles in the path of effective governance: 1) the 2/3 budget requirement provides a small minority veto power over fiscal decision making; 2) term limits ensures that public officials never gain the knowledge and experience necessary to formulate long term, coherent policies and programs for effective governing; 3) the initiative process permits special -- not populist -- interests to impose their will on the majority of Californians through well funded, but typically poorly conceived and self serving, legislation. Eliminate these three obstacle to effective governance and elected officials could begin the work of bringing California back from the brink. But that's too hard. It's easier to trumpet the illusory miracle of a Constitutional Convention.

[billy goat]

I think you've got it here. How do we make this happen?

[Joel Redman]

Fanned and seconded

[Mark Kraft]

You are essentially correct.

The problem I see with Newsom is that he suggests that these problems can easily be fixed, and would be the key to funding his plans for the state.

Of course, he would almost certainly fail. It really isn't that easy.

The only way out of this mess is to stop with the unfunded bonds and deficit spending, get a balanced budget, and wait for economic growth to pick up so we can pay off our debts and have a bit of discretionary funding again. Until then, it's essential that we do the best we can with what resources we have... which are numerous, in many ways.

Brown is more of a realist, and although he obviously opposes Prop 13 and would like to be able to raise taxes, he's not willing to make false promises, or false comparisons. The fact is, San Francisco is a wealthier city than Bakersfield. Not every city can afford to prop up its schools to such an extent... all could encourage volunteerism and community spirit, however, until we get through this mess.

[toje]

Meg Whitman will win. She's the most qualified for the circumstances. Moonbeam will be retired to the Esalen Hot tubs.

[Winning09]

Your answer is a constitutional convention?!

Please.

First, Gavin, you must know what you're not saying here, namely that the con con couldn't even happen for a couple of years.

Then it would have to decide to change the constitution to make it easier to raise taxes.

Isn't that right?