Transparency Needed on Proposed Sales Tax Increase

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors' recent decision to move forward with a 5/8% sales tax increase on the June 2 ballot. While the measure was originally pitched as a necessary fix for a looming $300 million annual deficit in Medi-Cal funding, the justification for the tax has fundamentally changed.

    It has come to light that the projected $300 million shortfall is actually spread over four years, not a single year. This is a massive discrepancy. The Federal government is not even cutting payments; it is simply slowing the growth rate from 4.6% to 2.5%. Despite acknowledging this significant miscalculation, all but one of our supervisors voted to keep the higher tax rate on the ballot.

    By maintaining the original tax rate based on faulty math, the county will generate far more revenue than is required to bridge the actual Medi-Cal gap. This essentially creates a "slush fund" under the guise of an emergency healthcare need.

    I urge my fellow residents to contact their supervisors and ask one simple question: What exactly will you do with the millions in extra revenue that are not needed for Medi-Cal? If the original premise for the tax was an error, the tax rate should be adjusted accordingly before the public is asked to vote. We deserve a government that prioritizes fiscal accuracy over opportunistic taxation.

Sincerely,
Frank Darling
Orinda
 

Support for Measure H

As parents of alumni of the Lafayette School District, we are writing to express our strong support for Measure H.

    Our families' connection to the Lafayette School District TK-8 schools spans many years, and we have seen firsthand the meaningful impact that locally funded support has on the quality of education provided. From strong academic programs to enrichment opportunities in music, art, and science, these experiences helped shape our children not only as students, but as well-rounded individuals prepared for high school, college, and beyond.

    Over the years, we have also been actively involved in past parcel tax campaigns, working alongside other parents, educators, and community members who care deeply about maintaining excellence in our schools. Together with Lafayette Partners in Education, these measures have been essential in bridging the gap between inadequate state funding and the actual cost of delivering the high-quality education that Lafayette families expect and value.

    Measure H continues that tradition. It helps attract and retain outstanding teachers, maintain manageable class sizes, and preserve the programs that make our schools exceptional. Without this local funding, many of these critical elements would be at risk.
    Even though our children have completed their education in our local Lafayette schools, we believe strongly in paying it forward, just as those who came before us did. Supporting our local public schools sustains the strength of our entire community, benefiting current students, future families, and local property values.

    We encourage our fellow community members to join us in voting YES on Measure H on June 2.

Meredith Meade, Former Lafayette School District Governing Board Member 2016-2024, & Dan Meade

Suzy Pak, Former Lafayette School District Governing Board Member 2014-2024, & Mark Gundacker

Measure H for our schools

Loving your kids is easy. Setting boundaries is no sweat. (Though Johnny's Donuts is apparently not an 'every day' occurrence, so my wife reminds me.) A high-quality public education? No brainer — just move to Lafayette.

     We moved here five years ago, and the main reason (besides doughnuts) was the incredible public schools. My two kids are now thriving at Stanley Middle School.

     Our schools are exceptional, and that doesn't happen by accident. It takes outstanding teachers, manageable class sizes, and strong STEM and language arts programs. State funding alone isn't enough. Measure H — the parcel tax on the June ballot — fills that gap, providing stable, local funding that stays in Lafayette, controlled by our community, not Sacramento.

    Great schools aren't just for families. They're for everyone who owns property in Lafayette. Our schools are the single biggest reason buyers choose Lafayette, and why our home values are among the highest in Contra Costa County. Measure H is also an investment in those home values.

    Locally controlled funding, for Lafayette kids, overseen by Lafayette neighbors. That's worth protecting as much as our delicious doughnuts.

    Please vote Yes on Measure H.

Don Delco
PTA President, Stanley Middle School

Support the next generation with Measure H

As a Lafayette parent and Chief Scientific Officer in the biotechnology sector, I think a lot about what it takes to solve complex problems and build for the future.

    It starts with education.

    The scientists, engineers, and innovators we depend on don't appear overnight. They are shaped over years by strong foundational skills, by exposure to science and critical thinking, and by teachers who know how to challenge and inspire students early on.

    That foundation is built right here in Lafayette at every school in our district.

    Measure H is about protecting that foundation. It ensures our students continue to have access to the hands-on learning and educational environments that encourage curiosity and resilience. These traits that are indispensable in the modern workforce.

    From a professional standpoint, I also know that the regions that invest in education today are the ones that lead tomorrow. From a parent's standpoint, I want my children, and all Lafayette students, to have every opportunity to discover what they're capable of and pursue it.

    Measure H is a practical, local investment in that future.

    Supporting Measure H means supporting the next generation of thinkers, builders, and leaders who will shape not just Lafayette, but the world beyond it.

Fred Aswad
Lafayette Parent & Chief Scientific Officer
  

A Responsible Choice for Lafayette

As a former teacher, former member of Contra Costa County Board of Education, 46 year Lafayette resident and homeowner, and a grandmother of children currently in Lafayette schools, I've spent decades thinking about what strong, effective public education requires.

    It comes down to this: stability, accountability, and local control.

    Over the years, I've seen what happens when school systems lack predictable funding. Districts are forced into short-term decisions like cutting programs one year, trying to rebuild the next. That kind of instability is not good for students, families, or teachers.

    Measure H is about maintaining stability and protecting what is working in our Lafayette schools. 

    Importantly, it is also structured with clear local oversight. Funds are controlled locally, must be spent on local students, and are subject to independent audits and citizen oversight. That matters. As someone who has served in public office, I believe strongly that if we ask taxpayers to contribute, we must also ensure transparency and accountability in how those dollars are used.

    I also believe in planning ahead. Waiting until funding expires before acting often leads to disruption and uncertainty. Thoughtful communities like Lafayette take a long view, ensuring continuity rather than reacting in crisis. This is what we've always done and what we must continue to do.
 
    While people may reasonably differ on taxes in general, local investments in our schools and our children that are transparent, time-limited, and accountable deserve careful consideration from everyone.

    For me, Measure H meets that standard. This is about the classrooms where our children and grandchildren learn, the teachers who guide and inspire them, and the future of Lafayette that we all care deeply about.

Christine W Deane 
Lafayette

First Amendment in Schools

Mr. Waranoff wrote a letter in your last edition asking the AUHSD to speak up and allow the Club America branch of TPUSA to organize within the schools.  Freedom of speech is protected even when it is hateful, divisive, inflammatory, and untrue. That doesn't mean it can or should be promoted or accepted within a public school. Club America has a protected right to organize just as the KKK can organize, but the schools do not have to allow either organization to exist on campus.

Tom Straus
Moraga

Food Trucks in Lafayette

Your issue of March 11 wrote about the issue of Food Trucks in Lafayette. These trucks add some character and life to Mt. Diablo. The people running these trucks are not sitting back and taking government money, but are out looking for a way to earn a living for themselves and their families. They are only there for a short time. Don't sanitize Lafayette. Diversity adds character to what otherwise would be a very bland place.

Leonard Dorin
Lafayette