I’m disappointed the Collegian’s Editorial Board bought into false claims about Measure E from politicians running for office. “Anti-tax” conservative elites highlight “tax burdens,” knowing “No taxes/public investment” means “No public services.” That’s okay if you can send your children to private universities, but that’s not an option for many Valley children from working-class and immigrant families. Do you know California decreased its investment in higher education over the past 40 years? FYI, that’s why tuition has tripled:https://www.ppic.org/publication/higher-education-in-california-institutional-costs/
The Editorial Board notes, “Fresno County is already one of the most impoverished counties”; that’s why access to a university is necessary. Measure E is an investment—ONE PENNY on a $4 purchase—and benefits current/future students, construction workers and their families, and the local economy (https://www.calstate.edu/impact). US News & World Report and The Wall Street Journal ranked Fresno State among the nation’s top 10 universities, positively impacting students’ social mobility.
Surely, these students have experienced conditions of Fresno State dorms/classrooms, some without heat or A/C and with desks/blinds in disrepair. They likely saw the four buckets currently inside the USU to catch leaks from recent rain. Do they think this is okay? It’s a shame. Vote YES ON MEASURE E.