The strength of our city is in its vast diversity of races and cultures. Our greatest weakness is that Latino, black, Asian other minority and white have been far too segregated from one another. Our schools must be the place where the divisions of our city are overcome. Only by continuing the effort to bring students together in our schools can real steps be made toward an equal, quality education for all the youth of the city. The future of our city depends on this.

A mayoral takeover means taking away our communities’ democratic control over the schools and will virtually assure a breakup of the district. Any breakup of LAUSD means increasing segregation and racial division. The youth of LAUSD are opposed to this. Improving the quality of education in our schools requires more democracy and integration, not less; it requires maintaining LAUSD as a single united district. Our greatest strength is in our unity.

Improving education in Los Angeles means opposing the attack on the precious opportunities for integrated high quality schools for the youth of our district represented by the district’s magnet program, PWT and teacher integration transfer programs.  These very popular programs represent the desire of the people of LA to overcome the racial divisions of our city.

We therefore call on you to use the influence and authority you gained through your election as mayor of LA in May 2005 to take the necessary steps to unite our city and improve our schools.
 

We call on you to stand with students and:

1. Oppose a mayoral takeover of LAUSD.
2. Oppose any breakup of LAUSD.
3. Oppose the attack on the districts’ Magnet Program, PWT and teacher integration plans.
4. To declare your strong support for the restoration of affirmative action in order to restore hope for all the youth and children of Los Angeles.