News

Opinion: Vote No on Measure R

Published

4 years ago

February 28, 2020

The cost of living in Richmond is skyrocketing, squeezing residents and causing
gentrification. West Contra Costa Unified School District’s $575 million bond
measure, Measure R, is on the March ballot and would make things worse.

To pay back this proposed bond, the District will force resident property taxes to
increase $60 for every $100,000 in a home’s assessed value. Thus, if your
home’s assessed value is $500,000, you will pay an extra $300 annually for
Measure R until the year 2054! Moreover, landlords will pass this added cost on
to renters, increasing the cost of living for everyone.

Two bonds ago, the District promised to finish the school construction program
for all the schools in the district. It didn’t. We have now spent $1.6 billion and,
despite District promises, neither Kennedy nor Richmond High Schools have
been rebuilt. Instead, the District chose to spend over $360 million to rebuild two
high schools in other wealthier cities while many Richmond High School students
do not even have adequately heated classrooms. For that money, all four high
schools could have been rebuilt.

While we support the goals of Measure R to build better schools, the measure
does not address past waste, nor does it make legally-binding commitments to
rebuild specific schools and within a defined time period. Measure R will not help
resolve the District’s budget crisis, which may force 250+ teacher layoffs and
dramatically increase class size.

Stop the Waste and Vote No on R this March 3!

Ben Steinberg is a Richmond Resident and Chair of the “No on Measure R”
campaign;
Norma LaBat is a Richmond Resident and Community Advocate

Ben Steinberg and Norma LaBat

Posts by Ben Steinberg and Norma LaBat

Related Topics:2020 Primary Elections Measure R Richmond

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California Black Media

Yahushua’s Law: Senate Advances Bill to Protect Students from Extreme Weather

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3. The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Published

1 week ago

April 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Yahushua Nyerere Robinson (Courtesy Photo)

By California Black Media

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3.

The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) and co-authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-La Mesa), SB 1248 directs the California Department of Education to develop comprehensive guidelines for schools regarding student activity during all extreme weather conditions.

“No student should ever lose their life on campus to extreme weather when we can take steps to protect them by preparing statewide plans to minimize exposure to the most harmful elements of exposure,” Hurtado said after introducing SB 1248.

The bill stipulates that schools must implement safety measures which include monitoring weather forecasts, postponing or relocating outdoor activities during hazardous conditions, and ensuring students have proper hydration and access to shade. It also requires schools to establish clear communication plans to keep parents, teachers, and students informed about potential weather hazards.

Supporters of the bill include the Robinson family, advocate Christina Laster, Bold Enterprises LLC, California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Familias Empoderadas del Valle Central National Action Network, The Black Student Advocate, and the Ventura County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Thanking Hurtado for introducing this crucial legislation, Weber said, “The story of Yahushua Robinson last year was heartbreaking. We have protections for farm workers and other industries in the case of extreme weather, now climate change is forcing us to also extend similar protections to students at school.”