Mailbag: State needs to invest in community colleges

After a trip to Sacramento to hear from our legislators on the state of California’s fiscal health, it is clear that Sacramento is broken. The proposed state budget for next year will impose more deep cuts and mandate an increase in fees for our students. We are facing a $7.7-million, mid-year cut to our colleges with an expectation from the state to reduce services and classes for our students in excess of $15 million for the upcoming fiscal year.

Throughout higher education, our students are feeling the pain of these cuts. Our colleges have already cut classes and essential services, while the state imposes higher fees on our students.

Our students will pay more while we will be forced to offer less. This is not acceptable.

At Coast Colleges, we believe that investing in higher education is critical to the economic recovery of our communities and state.

As a trustee you elected, I must consider the impact of each decision our board is forced to make and to implement policy changes that will impact the opportunities for your children and grandchildren. It’s simple — California’s budget is balanced on the backs of our students.

Students and their families will pay more for fewer class offerings, which will significantly delay their achievements toward their life plan. While we must abide by the laws implemented in Sacramento, I pledge that our colleges will continue to do everything in their power to provide as many classes and services as financially possible.

What can you do? You can let the public officials in Sacramento know that this is unacceptable. Now is the time to invest in the California Community College System, not the time to shut out thousands of students and disable our future workforce under the guise of “fixing” the state’s fiscal health.

It jeopardizes the future of our students, our community and our state. I want to hear from you and welcome your comments at [email protected].

Jim Moreno

Costa Mesa

The writer is board president of the Coast Community College District.

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Thankful Newport Stationers is staying

Thank you to the Irvine Co. for allowing the Newport Stationers to stay in place for the next two years at least. I have been in the stationery store several times in the last few weeks, and I know you have now made many, many customers very happy! We love your decision.

This is the finest community in all of California. The Irvine Co. has planned and built their properties so attractively that it draws people from all walks of life. We truly appreciate the beauty we see all around us. Thank you again for listening to so many voices.

Jeanette Turner

Newport Beach

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Reaction to suicide at City Hall shameful

I remember the Daily Pilot and other media covering the tragic, unnecessary suicide of Huy Pham.

The cowardly mayor resigned from Costa Mesa only days ago, the one partying in the kilt at his bar in Costa Mesa, St. Patrick’s Day, last year, when Pham jumped off the fifth floor to his death. How pathetic and embarrassing, Mayor Gary Monahan! Almost fictional, though sadly it wasn’t.

Not only was Monahan not there to show support for fellow employees and Pham’s family, he coincidentally resigned only days before first anniversary of Pham’s death.

Pham’s job in the maintenance department, working hard with honor and pride for the city of Costa Mesa was his life, and in the end it took his life.

Lynn Copeland

Costa Mesa

The writer is a retired Los Angeles Times employee.