We must pay to keep schools running high

By Ruby MacDonald, El Cerrito| 5/12/2022

Re. “No on Alameda $2,000 a year school tax total,” Page A6, May 11:

Yesterday’s BANG editorial screamed at voters of the city of Alameda to reject upcoming ballot measures calling for increased taxes.

No mention was made of why funding of education has been so problematic in California since voters passed Proposition13 in 1978. Prop. 13 infamously gave home and commercial property owners the lowest property taxes in the United States, and later among the worst schools in the country – instead of what had been among the best.

Thanks to principled, hardworking elected officials, good government advocates and savvy (and well-off) parents, students attending better schools like Alameda’s have lucked out over the years. Alameda residents should want to keep it that way … hopefully.