I was lucky to grow up with a great education. I went to a well-funded public school in Westford, Massachusetts, where 96% of students graduated. That education led me to Stanford University, which has opened doors for me in my adult life.
But not everyone has had the same great fortune as I have. This is why I’ll be voting for Schools & Communities First (Proposition 15) in November: because it’s so clear to me that we need to invest in the futures of all of our population, not just those that can afford access to private resources.
Children need support in order to grow up to lead healthy, productive lives. There are numerous studies that show that instability and the resultant trauma at a young age have lifelong negative impacts on children, leading them into hospitals and prisons at disproportionate rates. Investing in the wellbeing of communities makes long-term sense, not just for the people, but also for the economy.
California has among the lowest spending per student in the country, and yet it’s one of the biggest economic producers in the country. There’s clearly a gap here, where the working-class people who labor for the state’s gross product are not given commensurate support.
As the economy has grown, commercial and industrial property owners have been making higher margins because of the exploitation of a tax loophole that helps them avoid paying their fair share of taxes. And in turn, this prevents local schools and communities from obtaining vital resources to thrive. Schools & Communities First, or Proposition 15, will close that loophole, which will all help create a better California.
Written by Anne Gomez, SF Latina Giving Circle Member (Photo Credit: Myleen Hollero CC BY-SA 3.0)
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