10-1-08 The Antelope Valley College sold a bond in 2004 and they promised the people in Palmdale they would build a College campus there.
Instead, the bond was used to build a $30 million west campus expansion that will create an athletics complex with a baseball stadium, two soccer fields, storm drains and parking lots as well as renovation of Marauder stadium and a lavish theater in Lancaster. Palmdale was simply told they would have to pass another bond to build a Palmdale campus. Here is a quote from the AV press from the mayor of Palmdale:
""Contending he was "misled and deceived" and "appalled and outraged," Mayor Jim Ledford on Tuesday asserted that Antelope Valley College officials used "bait-and-switch tactics" to obtain bond money that will not be spent as promised in his city.""
This is the same bait and switch Bond proposed by the Brighter Group, headed by Mark Distaso. While there are a number of nice items in the bond, the number one item is a new Gym that will take almost all the bond proceeds. This is what Distaso needs for his athletic supporters.
For a few dollars they can get the current Gym inspected and used by the Vasquez students instead as it is currently being used, by everyone in the community, except the Vasquez students.
One must remember, the Brighter Group, which has been headed by Kathy Howell also are the geniuses that chose to locate the Acton Library miles from the high school. It could've been built adjacent to the high school as a joint facility for the students and the community to use.
But of course, the goal of the Brighter Group is not to educate the kids, but in fact to sell their political agenda for their own benefit.
Vote no in November on CF Bond and continuing vote no on all bonds that do not prohibit them from wasting money on a new gym. The Bond must force the district to provide educational facilities and repairs for each of the schools for the benefit of all of the parents and students in the district, not just the few that are bound to the athletic program.