Measure V is for victory

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

When the first numbers popped up on the screen, Measure V supporters seemed cautiously heartened with 66 percent of the vote, but unwilling to claim victory.
They should have cut loose, as that number only climbed as the evening wore on.
The $77.2 million bond issue for Santa Barbara City College enjoyed a more-than comfortable gap between the 55 percent needed to pass by the time the final precinct results trickled in.

With nearly 70 percent of the voters favoring the bond measure, Desmond O’Neill, president of SBCC’s board of trustees, praised the hard work of volunteers, staff and outgoing president John Romo in particular.
“We said if it passed it was John’s bond and if it failed I would take the blame,” he said. “It looks like it’s John’s bond.”
Funds from Measure V will support building renovations, equipment upgrades and disability access projects across the campus.
In all, 11 major projects are outlined in the bond issue, including seismic renovations to the physical science, drama and music, career tech, humanities and culinary arts buildings; campus-wide accessibility upgrades; a new School of Media Arts building; and restoration of the Schott and Wake centers.
“It is so huge for the college,” Romo said at a campaign celebration. “It’s something I’ll carry with me forever. … It’s a pretty good way to go out.”
He credited the widespread voter support to the bare-bones nature of the bond, the fact that it will leverage state funds, and the estimated cost to the average homeowner — $35 a year.
SBCC officials have secured $44.7 million in state funds for renovation projects under Measure V and expect that figure to rise to $92 million as more funds are released in the coming years.
Organizations and individuals across the community also threw their support behind the measure, Romo said, a broad spectrum including the Santa Barbara Taxpayer’s Association, the League of Women Voters, local business leaders, and the Democratic and Republican parties of Santa Barbara County.
“I’ve had people tell me they’ve never seen such a broad base of support,” he said.
With Friday as his last day on the job, Romo officially handed over the reins to Dr. Andreea Serban, who started off her role as president by handing out fliers promoting Measure V.
“I wish I could take credit, but all the work was done by the current board and John Romo,” she said. “I’m just happy that I get to see such great development to this campus.”
In other election news, proponents of Proposition 98 conceded defeat at 9:30 p.m. with approximately 45 percent of the statewide vote. The initiative would have barred state and local governments from taking or damaging private property for private uses and prohibit rent control and similar measures.
Proposition 99, an initiative that would bar state and local governments from using eminent domain to seize an owner-occupied residence to convey to a private person or business — leaving exceptions for public work or improvement projects — enjoyed support from state voters.
With 26 percent of precincts reporting Prop 99 had more than 64 percent approval. In Santa Barbara County, that figure eclipsed 71 percent with most precincts reporting. Prop 98 failed by a larger margin locally than statewide, earning only 38 percent approval with 75 percent of precinct results.