Notes from SCA-5 Meeting with Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan

Sacramento, CA, March 14, 2013, –About 20 representatives of Chinese Americans from Tri-Valley, mostly from San Ramon, met with Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan today. We had an interactive, delightful conversation.

The key points from Assemblywoman Buchanan’s discussion with us are below.

I have always been a believer of making informed decisions based on data. Based on my research, I will not vote for SCA-5.

In fact, we need to address the two critical issues in California. We have to do everything we can to improve the graduation rate of high school. Our higher education has to give access to more students.

On one hand, we need to close the achievement gap. I believe all children should graduate high school and college and be career ready. It’s a must that we improve the quality of K-12 education.

On the other hand, we need to expand the UC and the State University system. Since the year I graduated from college, the number of college grads have doubled, and yet, we only added one campus.

State Senator Hernandez and other proponents of SCA-5 are well intended. However, taking opportunity from one group to another is not the way to go. To me the issue raised within SCA-5 is less Affirmative Action, but more “access.”

I doubt this bill will reach the floor. The caucus is very cautious about putting out bills that widely divide us.

I encourage you to be strong advocate for education. If you think it’s hard for your children, it will be even tougher for your grandchildren. We need to take actions now to invest more in education.