Pasadena schools remove campaign signs amidst controversy
Education
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Signs supporting Measure CC, which would levy a $120-a-year parcel tax in the district, were posted at several PUSD schools.
On Monday, Superintendent Edwin Diaz sent an e-mail asking the signs be removed from all campuses.
"Because of the controversy about their posting and them being vandalized, I decided we're detracting from what we need to be doing, which is getting the information out to the people in the public," Diaz said.
His move came less than 24 hours before a visit by State
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Possible election violation at PUSD has experts divided
Signs supporting Measure CC, the district's $120 annual parcel tax are posted at several schools within the Pasadena Unified School District. The signs have been posted by pro-parcel tax groups including local Parent and Teacher Associations.
After an incident where one of the signs at Webster Elementary was vandalized some in the community questioned whether the pro-parcel tax signs should be displayed at district schools.
Two California government watchdog groups said the signs at worst are a minor election law infraction, and at best represent poor public policy on the part of the school district.
"It's highly inappropriate," said Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies, a non profit policy think tank. "The school district should not use its property to promote a ballot initiative or a candidate unless they give the opposition the same opportunity."
Stern was unsure whether the school district's actions were legal, but said if the school district broke the law by allowing the pro-parcel tax signs "it's a minor offense and nothing that would send anyone to jail."
Kathy Feng, executive director of California Common Cause, a non profit public policy lobbying group, said
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