I remember my Father saying years ago: "ALWAYS vote NO on bonds, as they will just tax us more to get their free BS donation $ They just want a free ride."
Good point. Yes, NO on bonds all the time every time. They are used to funneling money into the pockets of politicians or putting the money into some other interests.
We need more voters like you Mike! Property owners in North County already have the highest bond fee assessments in SB County with little to nothing to show for excessive bond expenditures. This second endorsement request is shameful!
Thanks James for so throughly "following the money" and exposing how good intentions can be misdirected. My preference would be to have Hancock transitioned into a trades school like Greenville Tech in Greenville, South Carolina, was when I taught Industrial Engineering there. Our two year programs trained engineers assistants in a school that taught all sorts of trades, such as auto repair and culinary skills.
Anyone supporting bond passage in CA is complicit of fraud; and a fiscally irresponsible voter. Any voting delegate on the SBCounty Central Committee supporting endorsement of this bond needs to be publicly known and resign.
School bond funding requires no accountability beyond a social gathering of handpicked locals called “The Oversight Committee”. They are only allowed to review what is provided to them directly by school administrators; encouraged to have a good time. One requirement is typically a signed NDA type agreement ‘to go along, to get along’. We found dual book keeping, glaring omissions, profiteering.
Thank you James for shredding light on this issue. Having grown up in the Lompoc Valley, I am somewhat torn. The facility is a beautiful, modern campus and does appear to be well served as a training site for the Fire Academy. However, is our tax dollars being spent wisely and efficiently? It would seem not, based on your figures. Every time I have driven by it seems deserted. It would appear to me the college would be best served as a vocational college, preparing young (yes,Hispanic) students to enter the job market as productive taxpayers, which would be a win-win situation. VSFB and SpaceX is right next door and could be used to train the next generation of well paid technical staff.
What’s needed is a comprehensive financial audit with focus on salaries, number of FTE’s and fulfillment of charter, with full transparency.
In the meantime, NO on further Bonds. Clearly, County taxpayers do not need another cash albatross like SBCC!
James Fenkner once again has hit the nail on the head. Sending more money for buildings at Allen Hancock College meets Einstein’s definition of insanity. If we really want to get something done in California, we need to pass voter ID.
Way back 40+ years ago I taught art at SBCC Adult Ed. and we called the campus "High School with an ashtray."
Maybe we need a return to nicotine and focus and productivity!
Every time I drive by the chasm on the beach that will be the new boondoggle PE complex I am ashamed that voters thought they were voting for Higher Education with the Prop P Bond and what they are getting is an indoor sports building in the one place in the United States where you could reliably say any sport activity could be engaged in outdoors 99% of the year. Shameful. Wasteful.
Anyone looking at what society needs to train young people for can see that we need proficiency in English language, training in real world work skills, and truthful history and citizenship.
The program I taught in was called "Life enhancement for the elder adult" and that cohort is probably the only one still interested in actual classroom attendance. Everyone else wants virtual learning.
If it were up to me, allocating where my tax dollars might be spent, I'd like to see degrees in horticulture, culinary arts, oceanography, automotive repair., carpentry, electrical. For starters. Pick an enthusiasm and proceed to employment.
I worked with the group of people trying very hard to deny SBCC the their last enormous bond submission. We lost in that effort because of a sentimental emotion towards an institution that no longer exists and because of external funding of an expensive advertising campaign by organisations expecting to benefit from the additional money flowing into SBCC.
Thank you James for this information. Allocating more tax dollars for a failing system is not compassionate. We do want all of our citizens to be prepared to lead productive lives and make meaningful contributions to our community. The only people being shown compassion are the administrators and teachers who silently work the system as it fails in its mission.
Thank you for writing. A repeat of Prop. P for SBSC clothed slightly differently. Education has become one of the most successful employment agency's ever invented.
The statistics are shocking. And incredibly sad that the statistics of schools feeding into this college are so poor as well. 24k down to 15k students now and 200k to 430k now in pay between 2006 and 2024 tells a very failing story. This is NOT putting money towards students. A very poor track record that does not need more money but more smarts and a focus on the students directly.
Thanks for keeping us informed about another major blunder in our totally failing education system. If the kids can’t make the grade just dumb it down even more. As a retired teacher, I am so glad to be out of that wretched far left bureaucracy.
Thank you James. It takes courage to come out against a school bond because it makes one appear against education and children. You are not. There is a whole industry dependent upon bonds that keeps pushing them on districts. Those in the bond industry are not in it for education or our children. The bond amount is based on how much the district pre-initiative survey thinks the public will vote yes on the increase of their property tax per $100,000 of assessment- not the need.
Regardless of how anyone feels about expanding four-year degree programs at Allan Hancock, there’s a harder question that deserves an answer: why are local taxpayers being asked to pay yet again in one of the highest-taxed regions in the country?
Our state senator, Monique Limón, is now Senate President Pro Tem, one of the most powerful positions in California government. Our congressman, Salud Carbajal, has served multiple terms in Washington with direct access to federal discretionary funding. With that level of seniority and influence, the first question should be: where is the money coming back to the Central Coast?
Before asking working families to take on more local debt through a bond, our elected officials should be demonstrating that they can return the tax dollars we already send to Sacramento and Washington. Bonds should be a last resort, not a workaround for a lack of results.
When the Senate Pro Tem and a multi-term congressman represent this district, taxpayers shouldn’t be the first funding source of choice. Bring our money home before asking for more.
I never vote "yes" for a bond-period.
I remember my Father saying years ago: "ALWAYS vote NO on bonds, as they will just tax us more to get their free BS donation $ They just want a free ride."
Good point. Yes, NO on bonds all the time every time. They are used to funneling money into the pockets of politicians or putting the money into some other interests.
ABSOLUTELY. Very rarely does the added taxes ever pay off the original LOAN. Too much of the public is seriously uneducated!!
We need more voters like you Mike! Property owners in North County already have the highest bond fee assessments in SB County with little to nothing to show for excessive bond expenditures. This second endorsement request is shameful!
Thanks James for so throughly "following the money" and exposing how good intentions can be misdirected. My preference would be to have Hancock transitioned into a trades school like Greenville Tech in Greenville, South Carolina, was when I taught Industrial Engineering there. Our two year programs trained engineers assistants in a school that taught all sorts of trades, such as auto repair and culinary skills.
Outrageous and thank you!
Btw I knew a professor (teacher ?) at AH
Who used to have Pizzas delivered
On the day STUDENTS rated him
In an instructor rated survey!
This is a world turned upside down!
430k for salary for the 'administrator?'
SB city administrator makes that too!
Burlkton City Manager in our town that is 1.5 square mile with 5000 souls is 200000!
NO WONDER evey entity flounders in
debt in this one party asphyxiating blue balloon!
By aj tarman 3 term elected gop cen com (ret)
Anyone supporting bond passage in CA is complicit of fraud; and a fiscally irresponsible voter. Any voting delegate on the SBCounty Central Committee supporting endorsement of this bond needs to be publicly known and resign.
School bond funding requires no accountability beyond a social gathering of handpicked locals called “The Oversight Committee”. They are only allowed to review what is provided to them directly by school administrators; encouraged to have a good time. One requirement is typically a signed NDA type agreement ‘to go along, to get along’. We found dual book keeping, glaring omissions, profiteering.
Help end corruption! Always VOTE NO!
Thank you James for shredding light on this issue. Having grown up in the Lompoc Valley, I am somewhat torn. The facility is a beautiful, modern campus and does appear to be well served as a training site for the Fire Academy. However, is our tax dollars being spent wisely and efficiently? It would seem not, based on your figures. Every time I have driven by it seems deserted. It would appear to me the college would be best served as a vocational college, preparing young (yes,Hispanic) students to enter the job market as productive taxpayers, which would be a win-win situation. VSFB and SpaceX is right next door and could be used to train the next generation of well paid technical staff.
What’s needed is a comprehensive financial audit with focus on salaries, number of FTE’s and fulfillment of charter, with full transparency.
In the meantime, NO on further Bonds. Clearly, County taxpayers do not need another cash albatross like SBCC!
Doesn't it seem politician types simply weasel their way into anywhere money can be stolen?
James Fenkner once again has hit the nail on the head. Sending more money for buildings at Allen Hancock College meets Einstein’s definition of insanity. If we really want to get something done in California, we need to pass voter ID.
Way back 40+ years ago I taught art at SBCC Adult Ed. and we called the campus "High School with an ashtray."
Maybe we need a return to nicotine and focus and productivity!
Every time I drive by the chasm on the beach that will be the new boondoggle PE complex I am ashamed that voters thought they were voting for Higher Education with the Prop P Bond and what they are getting is an indoor sports building in the one place in the United States where you could reliably say any sport activity could be engaged in outdoors 99% of the year. Shameful. Wasteful.
Anyone looking at what society needs to train young people for can see that we need proficiency in English language, training in real world work skills, and truthful history and citizenship.
The program I taught in was called "Life enhancement for the elder adult" and that cohort is probably the only one still interested in actual classroom attendance. Everyone else wants virtual learning.
If it were up to me, allocating where my tax dollars might be spent, I'd like to see degrees in horticulture, culinary arts, oceanography, automotive repair., carpentry, electrical. For starters. Pick an enthusiasm and proceed to employment.
I worked with the group of people trying very hard to deny SBCC the their last enormous bond submission. We lost in that effort because of a sentimental emotion towards an institution that no longer exists and because of external funding of an expensive advertising campaign by organisations expecting to benefit from the additional money flowing into SBCC.
Don’t do it
Thank you James for this information. Allocating more tax dollars for a failing system is not compassionate. We do want all of our citizens to be prepared to lead productive lives and make meaningful contributions to our community. The only people being shown compassion are the administrators and teachers who silently work the system as it fails in its mission.
Thank you for writing. A repeat of Prop. P for SBSC clothed slightly differently. Education has become one of the most successful employment agency's ever invented.
The statistics are shocking. And incredibly sad that the statistics of schools feeding into this college are so poor as well. 24k down to 15k students now and 200k to 430k now in pay between 2006 and 2024 tells a very failing story. This is NOT putting money towards students. A very poor track record that does not need more money but more smarts and a focus on the students directly.
Thanks for keeping us informed about another major blunder in our totally failing education system. If the kids can’t make the grade just dumb it down even more. As a retired teacher, I am so glad to be out of that wretched far left bureaucracy.
Thank you James. It takes courage to come out against a school bond because it makes one appear against education and children. You are not. There is a whole industry dependent upon bonds that keeps pushing them on districts. Those in the bond industry are not in it for education or our children. The bond amount is based on how much the district pre-initiative survey thinks the public will vote yes on the increase of their property tax per $100,000 of assessment- not the need.
Regardless of how anyone feels about expanding four-year degree programs at Allan Hancock, there’s a harder question that deserves an answer: why are local taxpayers being asked to pay yet again in one of the highest-taxed regions in the country?
Our state senator, Monique Limón, is now Senate President Pro Tem, one of the most powerful positions in California government. Our congressman, Salud Carbajal, has served multiple terms in Washington with direct access to federal discretionary funding. With that level of seniority and influence, the first question should be: where is the money coming back to the Central Coast?
Before asking working families to take on more local debt through a bond, our elected officials should be demonstrating that they can return the tax dollars we already send to Sacramento and Washington. Bonds should be a last resort, not a workaround for a lack of results.
When the Senate Pro Tem and a multi-term congressman represent this district, taxpayers shouldn’t be the first funding source of choice. Bring our money home before asking for more.