April 28, 2008
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The proposed school budget cuts spur Sandra Tsing Loh into action.
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with The Loh Life. Today's topic: Million Parent March. Part One: Spray On Some Bill Gates.
So I've been sharing with you my "Insomniac Soliloquy," a title I stole from Shelley Berman. Thanks, Shelley. I've been describing lying awake at night, grinding my teeth over things like the latest proposed California public education budget cuts. That's like 10% across the board. We're already, like, 48th in the nation. When will the bloodletting end?!
I kept asking myself, "But what can I do as a parent?" Then it hit me: recall the governor!
So since last week, I'm still waiting from a call back from Gray Davis. I just thought he'd be an expert on recalling a California governor. In my judgment, I may have erred. I apologize. And anyway, in the meantime, cooler heads noted that although you need just 65 signatures to officially start the recall process...
From there you need, like, 12% of that office's most recent electorate, over a million signatures, in 160 days. That's like 20,000 signatures a week. That's a lot of Vons Markets to stand in front of, me and Gray Davis, who is not returning my calls.
How about instead, then, turning to my other brainstorm: the Million Parent March on Sacramento? Instead of Howard Jarvis's taxpayers revolt, which has its 30th anniversary this year, how about a parents' revolt?
I decided to casually float this idea to my friend, that's right, close personal friend, Steve Barr, of the Green Dot Schools, the 800 pound gorilla, the king! Of charters! One time I called Steve, said, "I see from the cover of the Daily News you're the king of charters!" And he said, "Right, that's like emperor of the nerds." He's funny.
I felt hopeful Steve Barr would sign on. Because Steve Barr is an awesome go-getter. He's take-no-prisoners. I've marched in his own rallies, side by side with him and his baby in a bjorn.
So I e-mail him, and he e-mails me right back. "Let's do it."
And I pump my fist to the ceiling. Yes! Steve Barr... is ready to rock!
Do you know how big this is? Steve Barr is a major player. He is regularly consulted on education by the New York Times. He can snap his fingers and get thousands at a rally, that's how much street cred he has, that's how organized. Steve Barr got like 10 million this year from Eli Broad.
Eli Broad money! "Yes," I think! And probably Bill Gates money will roll right in behind!
And at that phrase, "Bill Gates money," this dreamy calm comes over me. Here I was, upset about some social problem, and in came the Bill Gates money. Some clever Harvard think tank person figured it all out, sprayed a magic can of Bill Gates Money on it, so I can go back to bed!
Or can I?
