Business, Commentary, Education, Events, Local, News, Politics

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future update for Aug. 29

by Community Contributor • August 29, 2018 • Comments Off

Click here for more information

In This Issue

Candidates give their views on Prop 417
F3’s Position on Prop 417
Candidate Forum August 30th

Donate Now

The Candidates Gives Their Views on Prop 417

With the #RedforEd movement gaining large momentum this year, the question of how we fund education and our commitment to students and teachers have become an important election issue. Below are the candidates’ responses to Prop. 417 (the CCC bond). See more results from the Candidate Survey at www.Flagstaffelection.com Come check out the CCC Lone Tree campus and programs at our Candidate Forum this Thursday, August 30th at 5:30 pm.

Do you support or oppose the continuation of CCC bond spending to support programs and curriculum? Why?
Mayor Coral Evans: I support CCC’s bond. Community Colleges provide access to education for those in our community who need it. I attended CCC and CCC was a great fit for my daughter and others like us across the region.

Regina Salas: Yes, I would support Proposition 417 to support Coconino Community College because the proposition would fund urgently needed workforce development programs crucial for local businesses, non-profits and government. If passed, the tax would also have a minimal impact on taxpayers as it would only replace a tax that has been in existence for the past 20 years. The tax that will sunset in 2019 funded the Lone Tree Campus Building, which demonstrates good stewardship of public funding. Taxpayers would not see an increase in their property tax bill, and it would provide over $2 million for workforce development programs.

Austin Aslan: Particularly given the dramatic escalation of public university costs in Arizona, a high-quality alternative that can provide education to our citizens and prepare them for the workforce is essential. When I attended Arizona’s public universities as an undergrad, I spent less than a thousand dollars a semester. My children are likely to spend ten times that much, at least. This is a financial strain that every Arizona family anticipates. We must support our CCC bond spending.

Alex Martinez:I fully support the CCC Bond. An educated work force attracts quality employers to our community. This is an investment in our children’s future.

Dennis K Lavin: I need to perform more research on this matter. However, I support our community college. I would lean to supporting this proposition.

Paul Deasy: I support the CCC bond continuation. The skilled workforce we need in our city and the country as a whole comes from training in community colleges. It is also a great avenue for students to transition to a 4 year degree who otherwise may not be able to afford it.

Adam Shimoni: I support the continuation of the CCC bond. I advocated for the support of the community for CCC back in 2016 and was disappointed to see the proposition fall short by a small margin. Supporting the community college is investing in Flagstaff’s future. The individuals pursuing degrees at CCC are our future business owners and workforce. The better their education, the better foundation they have for their own, as well as Flagstaff’s, economic success. NAU isn’t for everyone, and maintaining and expanding CCC is crucial for many. I hope to see CCC get the financial support they need in November.

F3’s Position on Prop. 417

F3 has supported previous propositions for CCC and its efforts to obtain more funding, and we are continuing that trend by supporting Proposition 417. As Arizona state has decreased funding to CCC 30% over the last 20 years, F3 supports the renewal of the CCC bond to cover programs after the Lone Tree Campus bond is paid off. Taxpayers will not see a difference in property tax bills for this seven-year extension, and it is a worthwhile investment in our community’s future.
F3 is happy to see that all Candidates support this proposition. We hope the community as well will support CCC and its funding of CCC2Work, Veterans programs, retraining programs, and expanding services throughout the 2nd largest county in the nation. With this bond funding, CCC will expand on community- requested services like Early Childhood Education, Health Care Certification programs, more Construction Trades, Welding Certification, Automotive Mechanic Certification, and training programs for business and industry. These programs provide a cost-effective and viable alternative to the four-year university system for the students who attend CCC, including large populations of veterans, part-time students, and first-generation students. We owe it to our future workforce to give them the means to be successful in their education.

City Council: Happenings this Week

City Council voted to move forward in lowering the decibel level to 75 at public events in parks. (down 15 decibels from current levels).

F3 Candidate Forum and Local Initiatives on August 30th

It’s an election year, which means that Friends of Flagstaff’s Future is excited to provide a Flagstaff City Council Candidate Forum. We will be holding the Forum from 5:30 to 8:00 pm on August 30th at the Coconino Community College Lone Tree Campus (2800 S. Lone Tree Rd.).
We will be utilizing the same format for the Forum that has become a tradition for F3. Each candidate will visit a small group of attendees to answer questions in a speed-dating type format. This provides the opportunity to ask the questions that are important to YOU and to hear the concerns of other citizens in the community.
We’re mixing things up slightly this year by inviting the local initiatives to meet with people before the Forum starts. If you have questions about the initiatives, we want to provide the opportunity to get answers and learn more. This will also be an opportunity to learn more about the important work that our co-sponsors are doing, who will also be answering questions before the start of the Forum. We are proud to have many co-sponsors this year: Sierra Club Platinum Group, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Stand Up! for Flagstaff, Habitat Harmony, Keep Flagstaff Together, Flagstaff Freethinkers, Local First Arizona, Repeal Coalition, and NAIC, Friends of Flagstaff’s Future thanks them for the work that they do in this community and for being a part of this event.
We at Friends of Flagstaff’s Future always keep in mind the importance of being involved in local issues which can have a great impact on our daily lives. While politics in Washington or even at the state level might feel distant, individuals talking to their local representatives can create the change to make their immediate surroundings more environmentally sustainable, socially just, and economically prosperous. We hope to see you on August 30th!