PUBLIC FORUM : INSIDERS CONCEALED BOND PLANS FROM PUBLIC.I find it quite ironic that high-level members of the educational establishment are now crying foul over the attempt by the district to use Proposition BB for other than strict ``repairs'' to the school. Every school received a letter from Beth Louargand, general manager, Facilities Service Division of the Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. , dated Jan. 24, 1997, advising exactly how to sell this $2.4 billion bond to the public. The stakeholders Stakeholders All parties that have an interest, financial or otherwise, in a firm-stockholders, creditors, bondholders, employees, customers, management, the community, and the government. were instructed, ``Do not list the building the work will be done in or the cost of the project.'' While the public was not made aware of the board's intention, the individual schools and educational leaders, at least to some degree, were aware. It was determined by the board quite some time ago that the teachers and the children should be used to sell this bond as the public had a general distrust of the board. There are two primary items that the board determined to put on the back burner Noun 1. back burner - reduced priority; "dozens of cases were put on the back burner" precedence, precedency, priority - status established in order of importance or urgency; "... until after April 8: Belmont and domestic partners insurance for current and retired employees. Belmont has now surfaced. You can bet that if the district agrees to provide domestic partners insurance benefits, which it is looking at quite favorably, the money for this - $6.1 million the first year, $6.6 the second, and who knows thereafter - may well find its source in bond funds, or at least funds diverted from projects which can now be covered by bond proceeds. - Debra Greenfield Canoga Park We would like to thank everyone who let the school district pull the wool over their eyes again, and voted for the new bond issue. You have just raised our property taxes, because you didn't bother to read between the lines to infer something different from what is plainly indicated; to detect the real meaning as distinguished from the apparent meaning. See also: Read and learn from experience. The school district has pulled the wool over the eyes of the voters so many times, you would think that the voters would eventually get smart. Remember, the school district always has a loophole An omission or Ambiguity in a legal document that allows the intent of the document to be evaded. Loopholes come into being through the passage of statutes, the enactment of regulations, the drafting of contracts or the decisions of courts. in its propositions. - John and Jean Halvorson North Hills Concerning the headline, ``Betrayal,'' in the Daily News, April 16: All I can say is I told you so. What we all must do is, before they try to sell the bonds, rescind To declare a contract void—of no legal force or binding effect—from its inception and thereby restore the parties to the positions they would have occupied had no contract ever been made. rescind v. the vote by repealing the bond measure. We must rewrite it to ensure that only repairs will be made with the money. If we do not, what I predicted in my opposition letter (Public Forum, April 4) will happen, and the money will be lost. - Victor M. Farhood West Hills Being another voter not told about the Belmont High School Belmont High School may refer to:
But upon consideration, I want to know more. Part of me sees a potential which could greatly benefit the community. I want to know how much this investment will return from its housing complex and stores. I want to know how many students will receive practical vocational education vocational education, training designed to advance individuals' general proficiency, especially in relation to their present or future occupations. The term does not normally include training for the professions. in these schools. As an LAUSD LAUSD Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles, CA) teacher, I talked to many about voting for this Proposition BB. I wish my employers were more forthright. It may even be that this idea was worthy of community approval on its own merit. Our present statistics certainly warrant trying something. - Samuel Graham Tujunga The L.A. schools have creamed the voters again. Now Glendale schools want to play the same game. Did anyone ever mention, before the last voting escapade, ``accountability?'' - A.H. Smallbone La Crescenta Hey L.A., you've been had. Listen to Jeff Horton Jeff Horton, born (date?) in Arlington, Texas, is currently an assistant coach (Special Assistant/Offense) for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He has also been active as an assistant coach at the collegiate level (Minnesota, Nevada, UNLV, Wisconsin) and as a and other board members weaseling around their own statements and commitments. They never intended to do what they led voters to believe they would. They intended to blow the money on Belmont from the beginning. Does anybody really think that it just popped up a week after the vote? Nothing in LAUSD moves that fast. It was deliberately buried by the board and its campaign spin doctors because the board knew you wouldn't go for it. These guys are laughing at us. It was a great con job. - Michael J. Gorman Glendale As an informed and concerned community member, I campaigned and voted for Proposition BB with the understanding that the funds would be used for repair and maintenance of our deteriorating schools. I am insulted that the truth of the proposition was not disclosed before the election. It is a shame that the majority of the school board members are apparently more interested in their own narrow political agenda than what is best for all of the children in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . - Mary Lou Westmoreland Northridge This is fraud, pure and simple. The deceit practiced by the education establishment is almost presidential in its magnitude and is worthy of being published in detail, in 64-point red type, so that never again will the ripjacks, cutpurses and highbinders of LAUSD be able to fool us so completely. - Alexander Hicks Hicks , Edward 1780-1849. American painter of primitive works, notably The Peaceable Kingdom, of which nearly 100 versions exist. Sylmar I find this palatial pa·la·tial adj. 1. Of or suitable for a palace: palatial furnishings. 2. Of the nature of a palace, as in spaciousness or ornateness: a palatial yacht. Belmont project to be astonishingly a·ston·ish tr.v. as·ton·ished, as·ton·ish·ing, as·ton·ish·es To fill with sudden wonder or amazement. See Synonyms at surprise. inappropriate for any school district, and especially for one such as the LAUSD, which apparently is pathetically unable to successfully provide its client public with even the basic educational services. My wife and I are very thankful that we live in a Glendale suburb. We are fortunate to live in a decent, considerably well-planned and well-managed community of highly appreciative and highly involved citizens. - Stan Bass Montrose Re ``Lawyer says district's actions legal,'' Daily News, April 17: Something struck me as odd when I came across this passage: ``According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Richard Mason Richard Mason may refer to:
His statement means that the version of Proposition BB that appeared on the ballot is an illegal one. The one that they didn't show us, is in fact, the legal one. Does this sound fishy fish·y adj. fish·i·er, fish·i·est 1. Resembling or suggestive of fish, as in taste or odor. 2. Cold or expressionless: a fishy stare. 3. to anyone? Everyone who voted against Proposition BB knew that the LAUSD is a money-sucking liberal bureaucracy. We knew that the LAUSD is top-heavy with administrators and sends trickles of money to our neighborhood schools. We who knew all of these things "These Things" is an EP by She Wants Revenge, released in 2005 by Perfect Kiss, a subsidiary of Geffen Records. Music Video The music video stars Shirley Manson, lead singer of the band Garbage. Track Listing 1. "These Things [Radio Edit]" - 3:17 2. were outnumbered at the ballot box and just look what we got. Yes there are worse things than voter apathy, and that is voter stupidity. - Chris Matyas Granada Hills Our only recourse in dealing with the deceiving members of the school board is to make note of which ones approve of this outlandish out·land·ish adj. 1. Conspicuously unconventional; bizarre. See Synonyms at strange. 2. Strikingly unfamiliar. 3. Located far from civilized areas. 4. Archaic Of foreign origin; not native. waste of our money and vote them out of office when they come up for re-election. Maybe if we wipe the slate clean, we might get members who are concerned about our children's education and not with feathering The appearance of jagged edges on moving objects in an interlaced display. Also known as "combing," this artifact is created because the image moves from one video field (odd lines displayed) to the next video field (even lines filled in while odd lines still present). their own nests at our expense. - Lydia Smith Reseda You have this voter's guarantee that if this ``Taj taj n. A tall conical cap worn by Muslims as a headdress of distinction. [Arabic t Mahal'' school is built with money from Proposition BB, I will never vote yes on any school bond and I will vote against any person running for re-election to the school board. - Christine Crandall Chatsworth When will the public ever learn that the only way to control politicians and their army of bureaucrats is to give them less money, not more. - Jeff Hibbard Agua Dulce Agua Dulce is Spanish for "sweet water". It also refers to various locations: In Mexico:
Belmont isn't a `Taj Mahal' In response to your article regarding the Belmont Learning Complex, I would like to clear up several issues. First, I want to reassure the community that the day after Proposition BB was approved, repair work began. Painting, playground resurfacing and installing security grills are just some of the many projects that have begun or will begin in the next 30 to 60 days. Designs for air conditioning air conditioning, mechanical process for controlling the humidity, temperature, cleanliness, and circulation of air in buildings and rooms. Indoor air is conditioned and regulated to maintain the temperature-humidity ratio that is most comfortable and healthful. at over 125 schools, many in the Valley, are in process. Your readers need to be confident that the repairs in each school's contract are and will continue to be a priority. What is misleading about your article is the information you chose to give to the community. In the press and information packet given to the media, public officials and others, we outlined the major projects, including the category of new classrooms and modernization of older classrooms, that would be funded by the bond. You published these categories in your story. Your recent article printed the argument in support of Proposition BB, but failed to include the independent ``Analysis of Proposition BB'' by County Counsel DeWitt W. Clinton, which included the phrase `` . . . to construct new classrooms.'' And more importantly, your Feb. 24 editorial supported the Belmont Learning Complex. During the many board discussions concerning the project, it was frequently stated and included in board reports that it would be funded from either the local bond or certificates of participation, if the bond was not approved by the voters. And finally, the characterization of the project as a ``Taj Mahal'' is unfair and inflammatory. This school has been designed to provide a comprehensive high school for 5,300 students. The average high school costs $35 million to $40 million and will serve only 1,500 to 2,000 students. In effect, this school is built to house three times the number of students and allow them to attend school in their local neighborhood. An independent oversight committee has worked for months with the board and staff to review the project. The oversight committee for the Belmont project has concluded that ``. . . the cost of the school portion of the project is reasonable.'' We are also giving the Proposition BB Blue Ribbon blue ribbon denotes highest honor. [Western Folklore: Brewer Dictionary, 127] See : Prize Citizens Oversight Committee an opportunity to review the Belmont project. We hope that this action will reassure the voters of our commitment to full public disclosure on the use of Proposition BB funds. -Jeff Horton President,Board of Education Los Angeles CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: LAUSD Board of Education President Jeff Horton, center, addresses questions about using bond money to pay for a new high school complex. Phil McCarten/Daily News |
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