LWV opposes
   AB 2160

   The Honorable Jackie Goldberg
   California State Assembly
   P.O. Box 942849
   Sacramento, CA 94249-0001

   Dear Assembly Member Goldberg:
   The League of Women Voters of California has reviewed AB 2160 as amended on May 1, 2002. While we appreciate the efforts that have gone into amending it in ways that would answer many of our previously stated concerns, we still cannot support the bill as written. At this time we have decided to oppose AB 2160.
   Despite our opposition to this particular legislation, we want to make it very clear that we agree with you that teachers in all districts throughout the state should be involved in the processes identified in AB 2160.
   As our previous letter noted, research and common sense suggest that qualified, engaged, and empowered teachers are key to improving student achievement. That letter further noted that although the primary purpose of unions is to represent the best interest of the teachers in the areas of wages, hours and working conditions (a role which we respect), teachers as a profession also have a strong interest in broader educational issues and should be assured that they are guaranteed avenues to make their voices heard on these issues.
   The League believes that it is in everyone’s interest for districts to provide a work environment which is conducive to good teaching and to provide incentives for excellence in teaching. Teacher buy-in and engagement are essential.
   The League also believes that districts must sustain community support and recognition for educators and education. Parent and community buy-in and engagement are also essential.
   We still do not believe that the supporters of AB 2160 have demonstrated that what this bill proposes, even as amended, would be the most appropriate and effective way to achieve its stated goals. Even with a more open process, we do not believe that negotiations between school boards and the bargaining representatives of a district’s teachers are the best way to achieve community consensus on education issues.
   As stated in our letter to the Assembly Education committee, we understand the frustration of teachers who have in recent years been inundated with new mandates, including systems of testing and accountability that have been legislated in Sacramento. However, we also agree with others who have stated their opposition to this bill that AB 2160, even as amended, does not address this real increase in state-level control over local decision making. We believe other legislation modifying some of those mandates may offer a more productive solution.
   The League of Women Voters of California encourages proponents and opponents of AB 2160 to work together to explore ways to assure that teacher, parent, and community member voices are included in the processes of decision making for the areas listed in AB 2160. Strengthening other provisions of the Education Code can be a major avenue to achieve this goal. Just as teachers, parents, and community are required components of school site councils, as defined in Education Code 52012, similar provisions can be written into other appropriate/relevant code sections.
   The education of our children is a fundamental interest of all people in the state of California. The bottom line in issues of public education should always be what is best for our children and youth.
Sincerely,
   Barbara Inatsugu
   President
   League of Women Voters, Santa Monica
   cc: The Honorable Herb Wesson
   The Honorable Virginia Strom-Martin

   Speaking of
   miracles…

   To the editor:
   I have read the letter from Martha Reyes who says that our recent action of clergy civil disobedience in the Doubletree Hotel was a hardship on her. If this is true, if Ms. Reyes is a real worker at the hotel, if she was really working that shift and if she was not influenced in any way by the management of the hotel or its hired union busters to write this letter, then, and only then, I truly apologize. Before we engaged in our protest (singing and praying in the restaurant), we paid for any food we had ordered (although I don’t think that any was actually received at the tables) and left a tip. I am sorry if we were rushed out of the hotel so quickly by security that we didn’t think to clean up any papers we left behind. If this was a hardship on you, Ms. Reyes, I am sorry.
   We know that an injustice is occurring inside the walls of the Doubletree. Workers are not being allowed to make a free will choice whether or not to unionize. Such a choice should be free of blatant or implied coercion, free of the threat of loss of job, demotion, change in schedule or workload. I come from a long tradition of workers for workers’ rights. The name of our first “bored activist,” as you refer to us, was named Moses. I operate under his mandate. Until there is a free election in your hotel, you can expect me and my friends to continue to work to enable that to happen. Please inform your employers that if they will sit down and negotiate with us in good faith, we will not need to resort to tactics such as those we used in the restaurant. Until that time, we will continue to expose what the hotel management and owners do not want the community to see or know.
   Ms. Reyes, in your letter, you write:
“On Tuesday, April 23, I was stunned to see all these clergy members from all these different denominations of religions in our place, tolerating each other, even talking to each other after all these years and centuries of fighting each other.”
   Ms. Reyes, may I tell you that it is not so amazing that those of different spiritual perspectives actually talk together and act together when an injustice is occurring.
   If you think this is miraculous, just wait until we get management and workers to negotiate a fair contract!
   Shalom,
   Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels
   Beth Shir Sholom
   Santa Monica