People Power
(Feb. 16, 2012) Editor:
Thank you for Sean J. Kearns’ coverage of the large group from Southern Humboldt who went to Sacramento to advocate for restored funding for home-to-school buses (“School Bus Breakdown,” Feb. 9). The article showed what a massive undertaking the trip was, and also gave a good background to the underlying budget issues at the state level.
I also want to thank the students, parents, bus drivers, teachers, school board, and many community members who have been involved in the impressive effort to restore funding for school transportation in southern Humboldt. I had hoped to go to Sacramento with the group, but Board of Supervisors business did not allow for that.
In my role as a county supervisor, I had brought the need to restore the funding to Sen. Noreen Evans and Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro, as well Superintendent of Schools Garry Eagles, emphasizing how devastating this school bus transportation cut would be, but it was the busloads of people going directly to Sacramento that really underscored this need. My wife Laurie, a teacher at Fortuna Middle School, has noted before that parents have a lot of power, and the recent bus trip from Southern Humboldt was a great demonstration of that power.
The backdrop for all of us in California is the continuing structural deficit at the state level. The failure of the state legislature to extend the temporary sales and other taxes through June of 2011 is resulting in devastating cuts to the most vulnerable, including school children.
SB81, which restored the school bus funding through the end of this school year, was signed by the governor last Friday, so the funding has been restored through the end of this school year. I will continue to work with our board, school officials, our Sacramento representatives, and community members to protect this funding in future years. I appreciate and applaud everyone who found time in their already busy schedules to make this happen.
Clif Clendenen, Fortuna
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on the cover
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Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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