Having lived in the city of San Bernardino for 23 years, I believe in the potential and opportunity of my city and region despite the present obstacles and barriers. I believe the San Bernardino Community College District, which includes San Bernardino Valley College and Crafton Hills College, as well as KVCR/FNX (local NPR-affiliate radio station), plays an essential role and service in making sure the opportunity and potential of our region is afforded to everybody regardless of their personal circumstances. 

 

The funding formula for our community college is now dependent on how well we connect our students with living wage jobs here in our region, which have been in short supply in the time that I have lived here. I believe that enrollment in our community colleges will improve if we continue to remove any and all financial barriers to the classroom. We also need to do a better job of becoming a model employer for our region and being less reliant on part-time, adjunct faculty who are mistreated in terms of compensation and benefits like healthcare. We need to make sure we are providing pay and benefits that are competitive with neighbouring districts like Riverside and Chaffey. Lastly, I believe KVCR/FNX plays an essential service in terms of civic engagement, accountability, and providing a trusted source of news and multicultural content for our region.