The Long Beach Business Journal supports the Measure E bond measure proposed by the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education. Concurrently, we oppose Proposition 51, a statewide school bond measure. Both items are on the November 8 ballot.

 

When it comes to education, we prefer local bond measures, primarily because we can see the money at work through new or renovated buildings, new or upgraded technology, or when a student proclaims, “We have air conditioning now!” As of September, only 33 of the school district’s 84 schools had full air conditioning, according to a district spokesperson.

 

Measure E will cost property owners about $60 per $100,000 of assessed valuation annually. And, yes, we realize that in June local voters passed a bond measure for Long Beach City College. Supporting local schools is the right thing to do. It’s an investment in the future of the community.

 

We believe renovation and repairs of educational facilities, or new construction needs, are best left to individual school districts. Therefore, we oppose Prop 51.

 

Positions On Other Measures

The Business Journal has previously endorsed Measure MA on the Long Beach ballot (taxing marijuana sales), and is on record opposing L.A. County Measure M (half-cent increase in sales tax with no end date).