Santa Monica, a Lifelong Learning Community

Vote By Mail Ballots arrive in mailboxes this week. 20% of California’s voters are expected to vote by mail. And so, I am writing now to encourage you early voters to go all the way to the bottom of page 7, the next to the last page in your ballot, and vote YES on Measure AA.

YES on Measure AA: Santa Monica College Career and Educational Improvement
By bringing this measure forward for voter approval, the SMC Board of Trustees (which includes me) hopes to raise $295 million to renovate and replace college facilities that are more than a half century old, and not up to current seismic, mechanical, electrical, energy and ADA codes, so that SMC can continue to meet the needs of students in this technological era.

A YES vote on Measure AA will enable SMC to improve the teaching of math, science, technology, and job training programs by improving or replacing deteriorating and out-dated facilities, and to maintain the high quality of our local community college.

Measure AA will:

• replace worn temporary bungalows with a new Math and Earth Science building;
• replace an existing building at the Bundy campus with a Career Opportunity Center for workforce training in emerging and green technologies and healthcare;
• replace existing physical education and health fitness facilities;
• relocate our broadcast, TV, video, electronic print instruction, and radio station to improve Media and Technology programs;
• replace the 1949 Corsair Stadium to meet seismic safety standards;
• renovate the Drescher Building, landscape and improve the face of the college and reduce traffic congestion along Pico Blvd.;
• provide College-level educational and library improvements at Malibu High School.
• In addition, Measure AA will provide funds to modernize energy systems to reduce energy use and water consumption, and improve environmental performance in all projects.
  

Measure AA is overwhelmingly supported by community leaders. Endorsements have come from all SMC trustees, State Senator Sheila Kuehl, State Assemblymember Julia Brownley, former Assemblymember Fran Pavley, Monsignor Torgerson, Father Mike Gutierrez, all seven Santa Monica City Councilmembers, 4 out of 5 Malibu City Councilmembers, all Santa Monica-Malibu School Board members, the Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs, the SMMUSD Classroom Teachers Association, the SMC Faculty Association, the SMC Academic Senate, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Santa Monicans for Renters Rights, the Pico Neighborhood Association, Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS), the Santa Monica Democratic Club, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica and many other homeowners, renters, students, and community members throughout Santa Monica and Malibu. The current endorsement list is available at www.YesonMeasureAA.com.

Measure AA is written so that it does not take effect until the year 2010. This allows the College to begin planning construction and qualifying for state funding now but the cost to taxpayers will not begin until we are ready to begin construction. Beginning in 2010, the cost of Measure AA will be approximately $1.12 per month for renters and approximately $7.34 per month for the average single-family homeowner or condominium owner. About 30 percent of the cost of this bond will be paid by commercial and industrial property owners, not residents.

Santa Monica College is one of the outstanding community colleges in California, offering over 80 fields of study in careers for the 21st century. No community college transfers more students to the University of California.

All Santa Monica and Malibu residents receive benefits from having an excellent community college with excellent, well-kept, up-to-date facilities such as the track, swimming pool, the newly opened Broad Stage, and Emeritus College.

With the cost of higher education skyrocketing, and technological changes in the workplace constant, access to a high quality Community College education is more important than ever.

All money raised by this bond will be spent in our community. None of the money can be taken away by the state. In fact, Measure AA will make it possible for SMC to obtain over $100 million in state and other matching funds.

If you have any additional questions about Measure AA, please visit the campaign website at www.yesonMeasureAA.com. There is a Frequently Asked Questions link which should be helpful as well as other materials.

If you still have questions, please call or email me! I am currently serving as the Vice Chair for the SMC Board of Trustees and I am very, very happy to answer your questions. I’m very proud of the work SMC does in our community and of the terrific work we have done with our bond program to date.

Please continue to support our remarkable community college. Vote Yes on Measure AA.
 
Remember, you need to go through your ballot, past the State, County, and City Measures, to Vote YES on Measure AA.
 
Thanks, Cheers, and Onward,
Louise

Please feel free to forward this email to others who may be interested!