It’s About the Kids, S Helps the Poor, Ditto and Not Funny

May 25, 2003

Dear Editor,

I wish to respond to Mr. Bauer's letter concerning Measure S. (“Prop S Feeds Bottomless Money Pit,” May 23)

First, I have no political influence with Council member Genser whatsoever, and why you brought his name up is a mystery to me, as I never mentioned it in my letter to this paper.

Second, I guess to some people it is "always about the money." Maybe that's why the entire state is in a financial squeeze, after being swindled by Big Energy and mismanagement. Now we all have to pay for it.

Santa Monica is not the only city suffering. I really like the idea of grant writing and getting donations.

These, however, take time and are iffy at best, and I'm not sure of their legality. We are at the present in an emergency situation and need funding as soon as possible.

Mr. Bauer's ideas for money-raising are quite honorable, and I'm sure he is as well. As soon as possible, even before Measure S passes with a required 66 percent of the vote, he needs to get a committee together and pursue this endeavor.I am sorry that Mr. Bauer has inferred in his letter that he has no children (I apologize if I am wrong.) He might have thought differently about our school budget crisis.

I was a single working mother and my twenty-eight year old daughter is a proud product of Santa Monica Schools. I have been a teacher in Los Angeles Unified School District for years. I know what budget cuts can do.That's why I'm voting YES on S. And I still say - - "It's not about the money - - -it's about the kids!"

Sincerely,

haRa Beck
Santa Monica

May 23, 2003

Dear Editor,

There are several signs up around Santa Monica claiming that Measure S hurts the poor. But have the people who put up those signs ever wondered WHY those poor people are poor? It's because they didn't get a good education!

If Measure S doesn't pass, the children of Santa Monica will be crammed into classrooms with over 40 children in them. The principal of Santa Monica High School says they may not even be able to offer a six-period day to their students.

Under conditions like these, the children of Santa Monica will not be able to get a good education. Without a good education, they will not be able to get good jobs. Without good jobs, they will become poor. A no vote on Measure S will create generations of poor people!

Please. The situation is desperate. We must band together to help save our community's children. Vote yes on S!

Sonya Sones
Santa Monica

May 23, 2003

Dear Editor,

As north of Montana parents of both private and public elementary school children, we enthusiastically support Measure S. SMMUSD is facing a catastrophic loss of funding from Sacramento. There is truly nowhere else to turn than the residents of our two communities.

Every great society has recognized the need to fund education for all and, in times of need, to come forward to make sure programs are not decimated, as will be the case with the Sacramento slashes.

For those with the fraudulently misleading signs saying Measure S hurts the poor, pray tell where will the poor go to educate their children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews? What will the cost be to society for those children left behind because of much larger class sizes, less intervention, no preschool access for the poor, etc?

Susan Giesberg and David Lappen
Santa Monica

May 23, 2003

Dear Editor,

I believe that Ms. Julie Lopez Dad is sitting under the sun a bit too long. (“Prop S Feeds Bottomless Money Pit and Dear President Gore,” May 23)

She should remember to bring a hat... It should protect her for going totally mad, crazy and funny she is not.