CHAPARRAL

The year 2001 has been unprecedented in many ways. First of all, after years of gradually increasing political sophistication and involvement on the part of community college faculty, administrators, staff, students and trustees, this was going to be OUR year. The economic indicators had been good, and the state was predicted to have a nice surplus for the 2001-2002 budget. We were finally going to get the money we have long lobbied for: money for adjunct improvements, for serious progress on the 75-25 implementation, for increased Cal Grants for students and more.

It was a long internal educational process, and it took over twenty years, ever since Prop 13. In 1978, the voters drastically reduced our local funding base and set the community colleges on a path of increasing dependence on state funding. For many of us, it took a long time to realize that our real battleground is Sacramento, and we had to slowly learn the Sacramento scene.

As a faculty member for nearly nineteen years, I have witnessed the evolution in our political savvy: all those trips to Lobby Day, all those fundraisers to elect good people to Sacramento, all those efforts to inform a constantly changing Legislature of our importance in the economy and social structure of California --- we have paid our dues!

Then, January 2001: the "energy crisis." Within a few short months last spring, the state spent over $5 billion on bailing out power companies and keeping the lights on. A predicted budget surplus turned into a deficit. The budget proposed in January by the Governor, and ultimately supported by the Legislature (despite a Republican minority holding out for a "tax cut" in the form of a 1/4 cent reduction in the sales tax), became toast.

For the first time in Governor Davis’ administration, the budget was late coming to him from the Legislature. The bickering over the quarter-cent sales tax cut had slowed down a process that he was dedicated to keeping on track. When the budget arrived in July, the Governor did what he felt he had to: he sharpened his blue pencil and began the funding vetoes.

Community colleges were not the only state-funded program that got hit. Long-awaited funding for improvements for foster care children were reduced. The UC and CSU systems took some pain. But for us, the cuts were particularly painful. To the consternation of virtually every community college in the state, the cuts included two longtime budget categories: Maintenance and Instructional Equipment. This bread- and-butter money goes for maps, videos, computers, lab equipment, lighting systems, seismic repairs, upgraded heating and air conditioning systems, and much more.

These basic, ongoing funds were among the last items anyone would have expected to be reduced. Some colleges had virtually spent the money, operating on the assumption that this budget category was untouchable. And so in August, when many of us finally take a break for a week or two, the unprecedented effort began.

SWINGING INTO ACTION:
Meetings were held that brought together people who had never met. In Southern California, on a Friday morning, 24 districts came together for a focused, well-organized discussion of exactly what could be done to reverse the Governor’s vetoes. Suggestions ranged from involving students and alumni to getting media coverage. Districts were represented by college presidents, trustees, administrators, faculty and students. Our coalition was the broadest we had ever known. Could this mobilization really make a difference?

In the north, a similar coalition met and formed its action plan.

The brand new network swung into action: within a few weeks, virtually every newspaper in the state was reporting on and editorializing on the needs of our colleges. Every level of our system got involved: Chancellor Nussbaum, the Board of Governors, college presidents, trustees, faculty, staff, administrators, students. Longtime community college advocates such as Patrick McCallum, David Viar, Bonnie Slosson, Scott Lay, Judith Michaels and others who work for our various organizations kept us informed and involved. (I know there are many more; this list reflects my personal information base.) The great silent machine that drives higher education and produces millions of productive, educated people had finally awakened!

So, instead of taking vacations, we wrote letters to the editor, we appeared on cable TV, we wrote and phoned the Governor and Legislature, we met with legislators in our districts, we communicated across the state about our progress.

Many of us, myself included, felt like Sisyphus, rolling that boulder up the hill and knowing it would come right back down. How could we ever persuade the Governor to change his decision? After all, we are competing with K-12 under Prop. 98, and the Governor’s primary commitment has always been to the children in California public schools. More than one legislator confided that they would happily postpone the UC Merced campus for a year and help us out, but the UC money is from a different "pot" and we could not take advantage of their idea.

THE MIRACLE
Nonetheless, a political miracle happened. We found to our immense delight that we had bipartisan legislative support --- virtually every state senator and assembly member, Democrat or Republican, wanted to help us. Daily talks occurred between our leaders and the Department of Finance, the Governor’s office, and top legislators. Finally, the unbelievable news came: the Governor’s office would consider some form of restoration of the vetoed funds. This miracle was based not only on our lobbying efforts, but also on that good old political tool, public opinion polls. A poll commissioned by the Community College League of California (CCLC) and FACCC told the Governor what we have known all along: 86 percent of Californians believe in us, and they wanted us to have our money! The level of public support for our colleges is immense, and we finally have proof. The battle is not over. The full amount of the cut has not been restored. As of this writing, the final decision is not made. But the unity of our system has evolved in a way that cannot go backwards. The strength of our voices has been heard. The connections between all of us have been expanded. Forever more, the California community colleges will be a presence not to be ignored.

Stay informed, stay involved. The state’s economic situation is uncertain. Next year’s budget battle is already shaping up, and we have no guarantees that our necessary funding will be provided. Let’s stick together. We can make a difference.