A Reliable
Voice in the
Community

Volume 6
Issue 19
July 22 - 28, 2009

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Breaking News

State of California – 1 … State’s youth – 0

Commentary by Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig

Will the madness never end?

For months, our top state officials have pushed and pulled individual weights around to come to some type of agreement that would balance our state’s budget by July 1.

On Monday, they seemed to have reached their goal — balancing a budget that would close a $26.3 billion shortfall. The only questionable thing is where the $15.5 billion in proposed spending cuts will finally end up coming from.

The Legislature is expected to vote on the budget Thursday.

I understand that our state’s economic crisis is in such a state that robbing Peter to pay Paul is the only way to balance a budget. My concern is the areas that are receiving the most drastic cuts are ones that should be rethought.

Every time you turn around the education budget is getting slimmer and slimmer. I remember the days when arts were a key part of a school’s curriculum. Today, our youth will be lucky to get basic supplies or the attention they need as it is almost certain class sizes will increase.

I admit I’m not sure how to avoid cutting from an area that spends so much, but I would think that our political leaders would remember where their future is sitting now when they once again open their scissors.

Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig is an award-winning journalist who resides in Oakland. If you have an individual, organization, issue or other topic that may be of interest to the Globe’s readers, contact her at talk2mfc@yahoo.com. Visit her blog at www.stpminute.blogspot.com.

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