Protect The Tax-Payer’s Revolution
Here in L.A., we’ve just finished weighing in on two ballot questions regarding schools funding. Really engaged activists and politicians will argue the initiatives we voted on are unrelated, both the two just addressed and another coming up. But many of us see a set of connected dots in a three-part series: Measure EE [June 2019], Proposition 13 [2020], Schools And Communities First (SCF).
The three initiatives do share a common objective in funding schools, but their significance shifts according to the context in which each is evaluated.
One year ago during a cold and rainy January, UTLA’s teachers (and allied communities) went on strike for contract concessions above and beyond the typical matter of a paycheck. At issue were systemic questions of management and budget, District resources and their equitable distribution, and the very nature of public service in our modern democracy.
This is a “demand-side” context regarding public resources – basically, that more money is needed. The strike was settled upon acknowledgement of available funds held in reserve. But there was seemingly little disagreement about this: schools require more general funding.
Given the strike’s widespread public support then, it is bewildering to look through this filter yet experience first one followed by a second, ballot- CONTINUE READING: Protect The Tax-Payer’s Revolution – Los Angeles Education Examiner