Get Specific, Measure S

This week I received a full-color mailer from the Yes on Measure S campaign showing rusted and crumbling columns on the SBCC campus. I assume thousands of us did. The implication is, I guess, that if we give SBCC another $288 million the school can fix up this stuff.

My problem is that we just gave them $77 million when we passed Measure V. The same arguments were made then, and maybe even the same pictures were shown then, in an effort to get us to vote for Measure V, which I did. But certainly these corroded columns didn’t get that way just between 2008 and now.

My question is, why didn’t we spend Measure V money (of which $17 million is yet available, according to SBCC’s president, Lori Gaskin) on this basic stuff instead of trellises, rock gardens, press boxes, and food courts? Why do they propose a $45.5 million gymnasium, and why were they putting forth plans for a $10.5 million Aquatics Center instead of classrooms? Why are they now talking about millions for campus housing for out-of-area students if permanent infrastructure is in such dire condition?

I will not give any more money to SBCC until I see specific proposals for specific projects we can respect and a history of addressing such basic things first.

Please get the message to SBCC that the highest priority for our community college is the integrity of the campus to serve local educational needs.

Vote “no” on S.