The No on Prop. 38 campaign received major media coverage as it got underway in early September.
The campaign was officially kicked off after Labor Day with news conferences in San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, San Diego and Fresno. Members of a broad coalition of educators, parents, elected officials, and business and community leaders were on hand at each location to send home a clear message to voters: Vote No on Prop. 38.
Prop. 38 on the November ballot was proposed by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper, who has vowed to spend as much as $40 million to pass the measure. It would use taxpayer funds to provide $4,000 vouchers to private and religious schools.
... CTA President Wayne Johnson addresses San Diego teachers at a rally before the news conference there.
At the Sacramento news conference, CTA President Wayne Johnson emphasized that Prop. 38 would divert resources from public education and undermine efforts to boost student achievement.
At the Los Angeles news conference, CTA Secretary-Treasurer David Sanchez said, "Prop. 38 takes money away from our neighborhood schools to pay for unregulated voucher schools. As California kids return to the classroom, we must send a clear message that we will not abandon them."
Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante told reporters that Prop. 38 would harm public education students in general and minority students in particular. He said everyone's always looking for a silver bullet, "but reform of education is just hard work." He cautioned that Prop. 38 was no silver bullet and would, instead, move California in the wrong direction, undermining efforts to get real reforms underway. "We can't afford to go backwards. We must let the reforms work."
South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council representative Amy Dean takes the podium at the San Jose news conference. With her is Fernando Zazueta from the San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales.
"Education reforms are just beginning to work," said Bill Hauck, chairman of the California Business Roundtable. "Proposition 38 will stop all this progress."
In addition, he said, "this measure would provide no accountability."
In San Francisco, Mayor Willie Brown asked citizens to vote No on 38 because "the measure has no accountability, is fiscally irresponsible, and drains public schools of much-needed resources."
"Improving our educational system is a mandate that we must fulfill for the future of our kids."
Speakers at the Los Angeles news conference called Prop. 38 a risky proposal that will hurt local public schools.
"Prop. 38 is a step in the wrong direction," said Gerald Secundy, chair of the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance. "Prop. 38 will cost taxpayers more than $3 billion, and not one penny will be spent to improve our public schools."
No on 38 coalition members back up CTA President Wayne Johnson and Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante at the Sacramento news conference.
"Voucher schools - not parents - will have the choice under Prop. 38," said Rev. Cecil Murray, Pastor of First A.M.E. Church of Los Angeles. "Prop. 38 allows voucher schools to reject students for almost any reason, including gender, family ability to pay, academic or physical ability and language."
"Prop. 38 takes money away from the kids who need it the most," said Assemblyman Tony Cardenas who represents the 39th district in the San Fernando Valley. "A voucher does not guarantee that children will attend the school of their choice, nor does it provide textbooks, uniforms or transportation."
"Just when we thought Pete Wilson was gone, here comes his friend, Tim Draper. The Latino community will not be fooled," said Elsa Lopez, executive director of Madres del Este de Los Angeles. Speaking at the Los Angeles news conference, she said, "All children deserve the chance to succeed. Prop. 38 will abandon our public schools along with the hopes and dreams of our kids."
