Thursday evening, northern San Mateo County Parent Teachers Association leaders held a rally at Orange Memorial Park in South San Francisco to show support for California Proposition 38, which will appear on November's ballot.
PTA members from across San Mateo County, including from South City, Pacifica, Daly City and San Bruno participated in the event.
"I am absolutely dismayed by how often parents are asked to consider budget cuts," California State PTA president elect, Colleen You from Belmont said at the rally. She said she was apalled at how many programs have been removed in California schools due to budget cuts, including arts and even access to library books in some schools.
Proposition 38 is backed by Pasadena civil rights attorney Molly Munger. California's Legislative Analyst's Office explains it as such: "This measure raises personal income taxes on most California taxpayers from 2013 through 2024. The revenues raised by this tax increase would be spent on public schools, child care and preschool programs, and state debt payments."
Other speakers at the event noted increased class sizes, English language learner needs, Transitional Kindergarten, school closures, and technical education as items affected by budget cuts in recent years.
Marta Bookbinder, head of South San Francisco's PTA Council also spoke at the rally.
She said she supports 38, but also said "I'm torn between 30 and 38," referring to another proposition that directly opposes 38. Bookbinder told Patch that the reason she ultimately supports the Molly Munger proposition is because it "puts parents at the table with the checkbook and develops the parent as an informed decision-maker."
Proponents of 30 criticize 38 for taxing all individuals and families, while 30 would only tax those with large incomes because they have more resources to help fund schools.
If both propositions pass, then whichever receives more votes will be implemented.
Nattie Fong of the Jefferson Council PTA, former Jefferson Council PTA president Julio Suncin, San Bruno Council PTA member Suzanne Correa, Jefferson High School PTA President Carmen Yu, Jefferson High School student Christopher Yu and El Crystal parent Joe Capote also spoke at the rally to support Prop 38.
