Our
view
Prop.
49 protects resources
After-school programs have been shown to
reduce gang activity and drug use while
improving children’s overall academic standing.
Logically, the more positive before-and
after-school programs that children are
involved in, the less time they will have
to participate in dangerous and illegal
activities.
Proposition 49 will allow for additional
funding for before-and after-school programs,
tutoring, homework assistance and educational
enrichment. The measure will also provide
priority funding to schools with predominantly
low-income students.
Opponents to Proposition 49 do not oppose
its actual objective, they oppose the approach
to the objective. Those against the measure,
including the League of Women Voters of
California, fear that guaranteed funding
of before-and after-school programs will
threaten and take away money from organizations
that address other critical needs, such
as environmental protection, health care,
public safety and various children’s programs.
Opponents believe that it is unfair to guarantee
funding, only to one program, regardless
of the budget.
However, the main thing that makes Proposition
49 so important and necessary is the same
thing that opponents dislike with the most
about the measure.
The passing of Proposition 49 will make
the funding of the before-and after-school
programs untouchable, prohibiting lawmakers
to adjust it even when money is short. The
measure is excellent for this exact reason.
California’s children are a resource. And
as Californians, we must invest time and
money into the protection and maintenance
of that resource, whether it is financially
convenient for us to do so or not. The fact
that, through Proposition 49, funding to
before-and after-school programs will not
be cut no matter what, shows that the protection
of California’s children is of the utmost
priority, as it should be.
Furthermore, the fact that the California
Taxpayers’ Association, Teachers Association,
PTA, sheriffs and the AARP, and let us not
forget Arnold Schwarzenegger, support the
measure gives it substantial credibility.
Proposition 49 should be passed to ensure
that California’s children are being properly
prioritized.
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