Supporters of Prop BB overlook the fact that it’s a badly written, inequitable bond that will drain money from Malibu for the benefit of Santa Monica. The 12 schools that will get the majority of the so-called “upgrades” are all in Santa Monica, urgent projects that weren’t that urgent when we passed the last such bond in 1998. What needs have magically materialized in eight years to the tune of a quarter billion dollars?
Answer: Santa Monica schools are anticipating a massive influx of new students from a slew of new low-income housing projects. BB proponents are suspiciously loath to discuss project specifics, but they confess that much, if not most of the money, is earmarked for new classrooms to accommodate this influx. Make Santa Monica pay for its own problems! They have a half-billion dollar annual budget for that purpose. Malibu money should stay in Malibu to better our community.
As if that’s not enough, consider this: Malibu has one-eighth of the district’s residents but one-fourth of its assessed value. Our residents, including seniors, will pay twice as much and get none of the benefit.
If you remember Superintendent Deasy’s equalization scheme to deny parents the right to donate directly to local schools, then you know precisely the “Malibu as Piggy Bank” mindset that has given birth to Proposition BB. Support Malibu schools by voting “no” on BB and donating directly to the Shark Fund instead.
Wade Major