Why Bother? Central Valley Congressman Don't Even Show up at UC-Merced's First Graduation

only mcnerney showed up? (5.00 / 1)

wow, what a bunch of tools. talk about a huge middle finger to merced.

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by: wu ming @ Sun May 17, 2009 at 02:30:45 AM UTC

what's funny (5.00 / 1)

is that it would seem like the first-ever commencement at a new UC institution in their region would be something that any politician from either party would clamor to attend.  But apparently, not Republicans.

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by: Dante Atkins @ Sun May 17, 2009 at 02:50:50 AM UTC

Why does UC Merced exist? (0.00 / 0)

Valley politicians like Mr. Cardoza whined about how the UC system had left the Central Valley by the wayside (conveniently ignoring the presence of UC Davis smack in the middle of the Central Valley...ooops, my bad, it's in the lower end of the Sacramento Valley, so that doesn't count b/c, you know, it's not in the San Joaquin Valley). And their whining also conveniently ignored CSU campuses in the San Joaquin Valley like Stanislaus State, Fresno State and CSU Bakersfield.

So they cooked a deal with land developers in Merced and shamed other lawmakers into going along with the notion that a whole lot of real estate in the San Joaquin Valley needed to be made into a 10th UC campus. Real estate that's not close to much of anything. Except maybe cows. Certainly not close to transportation systems. Certainly not part of a community fabric, being in the sticks.

What kinds of opportunities were passed up to make Mr. Cardoza look good? The chance to put a UC campus in downtown Fresno. Downtown Fresno, much of which looks like a movie set from 28 Days After (no people, buildings still standing), needs a boost and could have gotten one from having a UC campus. And, unlike Merced, Fresno is a very big city with lots of existing infrastructure. Users of a Fresno campus would have benefitted from having a close-in facility to study at/work for. Another lost opportunity was the chance to move the UC system away from long-term, brick-and-mortar cost sinks into an information-technology-driven virtual campus expansion strategy that could have taken advantage of existing public investments in other education institutions and civic facilities (libraries, community colleges, K-12 schools after 3pm, etc.). These kinds of opportunities were foregone b/c conventional wisdom said learning would happen when students' butts occupied seats in lecture halls. In spiffy new buildings at a converted golf course at the far edge of a small town in the off-the-beaten-track part of the San Joaquin Valley, thereby stimulating property values in Mariposa for commuting teachers and high-salary deans-in-charge-of-looking-out-the-window. Thereby making Mr. Cardoza look like a San Joaquin Valley Saint.

But he didn't show up yesterday.

Apparently, neither have a lot of students. Other UC campuses have 20K-30K students. UC Merced's student body is small even compared to the student bodies at UC Riverside and UC Santa Cruz. UC Merced needs lots more bucks  to go big time. Yet the Legislature has chosen a very slow implementation strategy for funding the full flowering of the campus. Millions and millions of additional dollars are needed for build-out. Meanwhile, the O&M costs are locked in on an ongoing basis.

UC Merced is a high price to pay for a symbolic gesture for the San Joaquin Valley. It's an expensive way to show homage to Mr. Cardoza, a guy who won't show up when it matters.

I'll believe Arnold is serious about putting state-owned real estate up for sale when the unnecessary UC Merced campus is on top of the list of offered properties.

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by: Left Foot Forward @ Sun May 17, 2009 at 17:06:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

And how many UC's were built (5.00 / 1)

Between 1970 and 2005? Compare that to the number of prisons built in the San Joaquin Valley at the time, despite the fact that prisons have much the same construction and operations cost as a UC campus (probably higher, since an entry-level prof makes much less than an entry-level prison guard, and students help defray the cost of their education whereas prisoners do not).

If you can explain how California is going to prosper in the 21st century without expanding college access, I am all ears.

You can check out any time you like but you can never leave

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by: Robert Cruickshank @ Sun May 17, 2009 at 19:58:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

"The Pete Wilson Gubernatorial Legacy" [sic]. (0.00 / 0)

TWO GOTCHAS on "Pete" who now carries the legal attache case to court for attorneys of a well heeled firm, while other attorneys argue the cases before the benches of justice: [Item ONE of two] = More prisons and less schools - 'prima face' evidence the mushroom theory of management is not merely restricted to corporate board rooms --- it operates in public policy realms too! [Item TWO of two] = As an appointed member of the CA State Senate "Commission on Homeless Veterans" [Rules Committee appointed, while Veterans Affairs Committee under Chuck Calderon and Don Rogers presided]. We had three public hearings (San Diego, LA and San Fran = then drafted outlines of legislation - which highly paid attorney then re-crafted into legalese: SB 591 and 592: the latter for budget track later merged with the final bill --- which then passed unanimously in both houses of CA State Legislature. Contrary to verbal assurances given members of the Commission Gov. Pete Wilson vetoed the bill. Chief of Staff Bob White put out the story that "[Pete] got bad advice" from a Veterans Secretary - Hispanic; meaning, Pete and staff exercised NO independent judgments and were willing to renege on earlier promises to allow State funding for "Stand Down" events - initiated in San Diego where Pete was mayor! CA State Senate President pro tem David Roberti tried for a veto override, and we had the votes in the upper house.  However, then Assembly Speaker Willie Brown reported that Wilson had put "down a marker" to Assembly GOP freshmen that if any atempt was made to override one of his vetoes in first term WILSON would ensure they got no GOP funding for re-elections. So, greed and avarice once more won the day - but there was a happy ending.  US Sen. Alan Cranston [Chairing Veterans Affairs Committee in DC] heard about the legislation and its 'history' in CA State Legislature. He quickly got similar (actually improved) legislation passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President. When ALan Cranston's memorial service was held @ Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill in The City -- news reports and TV logs reflected an SRO crowd inside with thousands more lining many streets in respect for that Great Man who positively touched so many lives during his famed, vaunted state & US career.

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by: gogosian2001 @ Mon May 18, 2009 at 14:06:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

UC Meerced first graduation stiffed by GOP Central Valley reps. (0.00 / 0)

The problem is that long ago, the Chevron and Texaco gasoline stations stopped issuing 'bi-lingual' road maps to travelers. The Rockefeller assumption was and remains: If you assimilate to this culture we shall reward you with discounted gas prices and English language road maps.  The Dude must have thought they were still in Sacramento, "awaiting" the Spanish language translation of the Assembly Speaker's comments then road maps!  Then there is Roy Ashburn (late of Bakersfield) facing recall this Fall for stiffing his own GOP county party elders on the eight month late CA budget.  Say good night, Roy!  URGENT NEED FOR KERN COUNTY POLITICAL NORMALCY = Bring back Roy's former State Assembly opponent from CSU-Bakersfield Management Department Chairmanship (Dr. JOHN HULPKE, USAF Lt Col retired]!

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by: gogosian2001 @ Mon May 18, 2009 at 01:41:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Cardoza should've came (5.00 / 1)

I find it weird that Rep. Cardoza, who is my congressman, didn't show up to this historic event. I wish that a more progressive politician would primary him. Our district, which is D+4, could afford a real democrat.

"You've slipped into my life as easily as vermouth into a glass of gin... quickly and just a bit too smooth"

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by: phoenix @ Sun May 17, 2009 at 05:07:41 AM UTC

My congressman... Devin nunes (4.50 / 2)

What can I say about him that wouldn't get me kicked off this site which seems to be frequented by folks with touch of class and/or civility.  Since I would find it impossible to tell you what I think of Nunes and his posturing... as not only my "representative" but someone who claims to have "grown up" in the same small town I did... while remaining civil... I'd best simply not say anything at all about the man.  

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by: Tom B @ Sun May 17, 2009 at 16:03:41 PM UTC

I grew up with Devin (0.00 / 0)

I have only seen him once since he became a Congresscritter, but I knew him in his youth.  I liked him.  Obviously, I don't agree with much of what he says or does now, but I don't hate him.

He views his role as Congressman as a member of a team (with Kevin McCarthy as the team leader) and less as a reflection of his district.  However, his district is quite conservative and he probably reflects their views pretty well in Congress.  He just doesn't reflect my views.

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by: smoker1 @ Sun May 17, 2009 at 21:33:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I suspect logistics played a role (5.00 / 1)

I was told by a local elected official who was invited, that to be part of the event and meet with the First Lady, individuals had to be at the location 5 hours before the event and couldn't leave before the event ended.  It was done this way for security reasons (obviously).

But if UC Merced is such an important part of the Valley and had to be built at the huge expense it entailed, then waiting a while seems like they least these Congressman could do.

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by: jackfolsum @ Mon May 18, 2009 at 02:32:45 AM UTC