Save City College

By Anita Grier

We must save the Mission and all the neighborhood extensions

Finances are Not the Problem. The Board left it with a balanced budget in strong financial shape, and with Prop 30 and Prop A monies and new facilities to attract new students, plus the improving economy -- CCSF has a bright financial future.

The Quality of Education is Not in Question. City College is renowned for its teachers, staff and educational excellence. What annoys the ACCJC, the Accrediting Commission that's supposed to "ensure the quality of education" at City College is bureaucratic -- not because it's unresponsive to the will of the voters -- just the opposite. The ACCJC's attempts to impose its will through "Extraordinary Powers" behind closed doors, without hearings or input from the public must not stand. No wonder U.S. Congress Member Jackie Speier calls it "an agency run amok."

Stand Strong. The ACCJC wants to impose its agenda that reads straight out of the right-wing playbook: remove faculty and students from the decision process, hire part-time, temporary, low-wage "adjunct" professors, slash job security for teachers, increase wages for administrators, trim "unnecessary classes," nullify child care agreements, rewrite the Mission Statement to exclude thousands of students, close neighborhood serving facilities. All these "fiscal austerity" mandates are demanded despite the fact they will further cut enrollment, endangering the fiscal health of CCSF.

No Apologies. I have consistently advocated for low-income students and continue fighting to keep education affordable and available to all. I refuse to apologize for my strong support for living wages for our teachers and staff. And I'll continue my support for job security and health care. As Trustee I've worked tirelessly to make the transition to 4-year colleges available for our students. It's a battle I take personally; not just because I attended City College, but for the thousands of students who sacrifice to go to classes, complete the work and who follow all the rules. They are the victims in this power grab and they deserve better.