This is an archive of a past election. See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/state/ for current information. |
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Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Member of the State Assembly; District 17 | |||||
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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Budget,
Government reform,
Higher education,
Major issues
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
Answer from Tom Ammiano:
Answer from Tom Ammiano:
Answer from Tom Ammiano:
We need to commit state resources and our best educational minds in the fight to bridge the achievement gap. Too many of our poor, African-American and Latino students are cheated-out of a real equal opportunity to succeed in school and thus succeed in life. We must do all we can to recruit new teachers and retain outstanding veteran teachers. We must create exciting learning communities in our poorest neighborhoods so that teachers will want to teach there, knowing there will be the support necessary "to make a difference" in students' lives. This will take an enormous effort since California faces a teaching shortage of ten's of thousands as the baby boomers retire. We need to create compensation and benefits so that teachers can afford to live in places like San Francisco. And, we need to make schools, in all of our communities: suburban, rural and urban and poor and middle-class, attractive places to tech by providing professional development that supports new teachers and allows veteran teachers to take leadership positions in the schools, alongside well-trained administrators.
Finally, our schools must once again become centers of community life. Recreation and after-school activities must be available not only to students, but also family members. Young families, especially in poor communities, should find counseling and parenting assistance at school sites. Communities at the core of the "achievement gap" must have schools that not only provide outstanding educational programs, but also programs that will promote family involvement in the schools.
Community colleges are a great example of the American Dream. They exist so all students can choose an academic or high-skilled career path after high school. More San Francisco students attend City College, by far, than any other post-high school program. Unfortunately, the Community College system in California, like the k-12 system, is grossly under funded for the enormous task of providing college level academics and outstanding adult and career path training for those students in or entering the job market. When funds are cut, programs are cut, student fees are increased and student choices are narrowed and often student dreams are deferred to a day that may never arrive. We need a mechanism that guarantees consistent adequate funding for the Community College system.
The Community College system must receive enough funding so faculty can become full-time members of their college community. At present, too many of our community college faculty work part-time and this has to change. Every community college needs a stable, well-compensated faculty with health care and retirement security. That is, faculty committed to their local community college and its students and respected and rewarded for making that choice.
Answer from Tom Ammiano:
Affordable housing
We hear news daily about the horrible status of our home ownership market with foreclosures on the rise. We must remember that California faces a crisis in the availability and affordability of housing and I will respond to this crisis by promoting housing bond measures, protection of rent control, and other actions that will make funds available for more affordable housing.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page. |