Assemblywoman Fiona Ma: Assembly

Restore JROTC, spare the air

An option for students For more than 90 years, the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) has participated in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program, providing high school students the option to participate in a leadership program that fosters teamwork, health and physical fitness, self-esteem and community service.

With 90 percent of the students from low-income families and communities-of-color and more than 90 percent going on to higher education, the program has proven its success in San Francisco. Despite the program's great achievements, the San Francisco Board of Education in 2006 voted to phase out the program by the 2009 school year, citing JROTC as discriminatory and as a military recruitment tool.

With half the funds from federal dollars, only three percent of the cadets join the armed forces, and the program has been known to be very inclusive and supportive of all students, including many openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) student participants and cadet staff.

In an attempt to save the program, San Francisco voters stood up in November and passed Proposition V, a measure which urged the SFUSD to continue to make JROTC available to San Francisco students. But despite the overwhelming support of Prop. V, the school board failed to listen to the people and did not reinstate the program.

That is why I introduced Assembly Bill 223, which would have required the Board of Education to reinstate JROTC. With strong bi-partisan support, I moved my bill to support our kids and our families. I acknowledge that in the general course of events, state government should not dictate programs to local districts. That is why I'm proud my bill encouraged dialogue amongst all local parties and that is why I commend the SF School Board for voting favorably to reinstate JROTC in San Francisco Schools on May 12.

At a time when drop-out rates are at 25 percent, it's essential to maintain effective programs that work, and that provide students with activities to stay off the streets. JROTC should never be about politics. Good solid programs should always be about the kids.

Spare the air

Tired of the haze that comes with the summer heat? You can help do something about it. June to October, typically, has the dirtiest air quality days of the year.

You can do your part to improve the air quality throughout California, especially in the community, by becoming part of this year's "Spare the Air" program, a voluntary program that asks people to reduce use of their automobiles on smoggy days. Join with others in our community and take action on a "Spare the Air" day. You can help make the summer air of 2009 the cleanest we have seen in California yet.

Below are some suggestions for participating in a Spare the Air "action" day:

- Don't drive your car to work the next day;

- If you must drive, don't drive alone; seek a carpool;

- Avoid using charcoal lighter fluid for barbecuing;

- Use non-aerosol sprays;

- Avoid using gasoline-powered yard equipment.

If we work together, we can do it -but only if we all do our part. If we all take these suggestions to heart, we will see fewer days that we will need to "spare the air."

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma is the majority whip at the California Assembly.