LAUSD School Board Election on Tuesday, March 5

Allison Bajracharya for LAUSD Board District 5

There are a lot of candidates running to succeed Ref Rodriquez in LAUSD Board District 5. http://laschoolreport.com/at-least-9-candidates-will-be-on-the-ballot-in-march-to-fill-lausds-vacant-school-board-seat/ The problem is it’s a special election, and very few people vote in special elections, so learn about the candidates, do vote for the one you think can best make a difference in educating our children. We need a fearless, dynamic and effective leader for all children. I hope you’ll consider Allison Bajracharya.

CALIFORNIA HEALTH REFORMS: Where Are We Going? How Do We Get There? California’s Way Forward!

California Spending and Funding for K-12 Education

In light of the LA Teacher’s strike, I have been wondering about California’s funding for K-12 education. In the Governor’s Proposed Budget for 2019-20, the Department of Finance (DOF) reports that California will fund K-12 education at a bit over $17,000 per student in the coming fiscal year. DOF points to very steady and very large increases in K-12 funding growing from $47 billion in FY 2011-12 to $80 billion in FY 2019-20.

There were three major roads that California explored to cover all Californians prior to the adoption of the Affordable Care Act.

THOUGHTS FOR CALIFORNIA HEALTH REFORMS

Where Are We Going? How Do We Get There?

California’s Way Forward.

There were three major roads that California has explored to cover all Californians.

We have a wealth of strong Democratic candidates to consider for 2020. So far I find Cory Booker the most accomplished, most inspirational, the gutsiest and most in touch with the directions our nation needs to move.

Some candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination are espousing Medicare for All. What do they mean by this?

Governor Newsom has recently proposed to further improve California’s individual market, building on the improvements pioneered in the Affordable Care Act and implemented by Covered California. He mentions three key issues: premium assistance extended to 600% of the federal poverty level (FPL), greater assistance with premium assistance and cost sharing for individuals with incomes less than 400% of FPL, and reinstating the individual mandate. He as yet has given no details.

Since the settlement of the LA Teacher’s Strike, I have been wondering “what did it all accomplish?”

We are going to hear non-stop about the wall and immigration until the 2020 election. President Trump believes this is what his core backers want, and it's a symbol for him and them.

Revenues for the state General Fund will be up by about $5 billion in the 2019-20 budget to $146 billion. The primary sources of the General Fund are: the personal income tax ($100 billion), the sales tax ($27 billion) and the corporations’ tax ($13 billion). 

http://www.dof.ca.gov/Budget/

The Governor is proposing $158 billion, of which $40 billion is state General Fund for Health and Human Services programs. This includes Medi-Cal ($100 billion), public health ($3 billion), State Hospitals ($2 billion), Developmental Services ($7.8 billion), realignment funds from the state to counties ($11.5 billion), IHSS ($12.7 billion), SSI ($2.8 billion), CalWorks ($4 billion), and other ($14 billion).

The Governor’s budget proposes $36.4 billion for higher education. UC would receive $9.6 billion, an increase of 3%. CSU would receive $7.8 billion, an increase of 6%. Community Colleges would receive $16.2 billion, an increase of 2.6%. Student Aid would receive $2.7 billion, an increase of 12%.

Governor Newsom’s Proposed CA State Budget on K-12 Education

http://www.dof.ca.gov/Budget/

Funding for K-12 is proposed at $80.7 billion, an increase of $2.9 billion. This includes an increase of $2 billion to the Local Control Funding Formula and an increase of over $576 million for special education. In addition, there is an one time $3 billion proposed to reduce school’s pension costs and $125 million in new funds for increased slots for preschool for low income children – 180,000 slots.

The Governor is making interesting proposals to cover 6 months of paid leave after childbirth, expanded child care, develop universal pre-school available to all 4 year olds and assure full day kindergarten for all children.

CA is only producing 40% of the new housing units it needs, the result is that rents are soaring and poor, working class and middle class cannot afford the rents or homeownership, and homelessness is increasing throughout the state.

The British, Russian and American Empires have tried to govern, pacify, rule or dominate Afghanistan with not very much success. The Persians, Indians, Mongols, Greeks, Arabs and others experienced difficulties as well. Part is the geography of steep mountains, and part may be the warring tribal nature of the culture. Some of the current difficulties are the proximity of India, Pakistan, China, Russia and Iran – each with their own distinct and competing regional agendas and tribal loyalties.

I’m not sure what to make of it. We sell out the Kurds, Brits, French and Syrian rebels to Presidents Assad, Putin and Erdogan. The French and the British say they will stay the course, but President Trump declares “mission accomplished” and hightails out of there, and Vladimir Putin says “hooray, don’t worry my good buddy, we’ll have the situation under control”.

Stock markets are in serious turmoil. Real estate construction is slowing a bit; manufacturing could be somewhat better. Most economic indicators seem to be pretty decent – inflation is under control, unemployment is low, and economic growth has been ok for the past nine years. https://www.thebalance.com/us-economic-outlook-3305669

The steep rolling hills and deep canyons are still burnt black from the fire, but green sprouts are starting up from the recent rains.