I want to thank Gov. Jerry Brown for continuing to invest in public education and for his efforts to minimize the negative effects of California’s cyclical economic downturns through the creation of a rainy-day fund. I look forward to encouraging our local legislators to advocate on behalf of budget proposals that ensure Long Beach-area students are provided greater access to public higher education and that they have the resources necessary to complete their education goals in a timely fashion.
I am hopeful that the Governor and Legislature will ultimately adopt a budget that fosters a robust system of public higher education that in turn will support an even stronger economic recovery for California.
Donald J. Para
Interim President
Cal State Long Beach
I applaud Governor Brown for investing an additional $50 million in Economic and Workforce Development programs offered through California’s community colleges.
Although these are one-time funds, this commitment to increasing support for student success and efforts to close workforce gaps for underrepresented students will help to improve and expand CTE programs currently offered at LBCC and meet regional market demands and help local economies thrive.
I am pleased that the Governor continues to seek ways to spur innovations and student success and am delighted that his innovation fund now includes focus on increasing community college transfers through local partnerships.
Long Beach City College has long championed efforts to increase student success and equitable outcomes and supports the $200-million investment in student success. LBCC looks forward to working with the Governor to improve outcomes for all students.
The Governor’s proposal to erase the wall of debt by restoring nearly $600 million in deferred funds owed to community colleges and to tame the wild budget swings by creating a rainy-day fund are both welcome news for community colleges because they will stabilize apportionment funding and will allow colleges to prepare and implement annual budgets with a greater sense of certainty.
Overall, the Governor’s budget will advance California by allowing community colleges to educate more students and help to build the competitive workforce required to maintain California’s leading place in the global economy.
Eloy Ortiz Oakley
Superintendent-President
Long Beach City College
