Author: uclafaculty

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Yet More Pepper: Legislative Hearings Tomorrow

Byuclafaculty

UC, CSU Officials To Join Experts and Students In Testifying At State Capitol Hearing On Campus Protests Sacramento, CA–University of California system President Mark Yudof and UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi will join other UC and California State University officials, police oversight experts and student representatives in testifying before a Dec. 14 joint legislative hearing looking into UC and CSU system-wide policies and procedures regarding non-violent protests and campus police use-of-force rules. Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78), chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee and Senator Alan Lowenthal (SD-27), chair of the Senate Education Committee, have called the hearing in response…

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State Budget Trigger Pulled

Byuclafaculty

The state budget trigger was pulled today, costing UC $100 million in additional cuts (as expected). Actually, the trigger was a two-part mechanism and the lesser version was pulled. But either part involved cutting $100 million from UC. For summary details, see http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/12/details-of-browns-trigger-cuts.html and for the official notice see http://www.dof.ca.gov/documents/2012_Rev_Forecast_Determination.pdf

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What’s in a name?

Byuclafaculty

A prior post on this blog noted that Governor Brown had submitted an initiative for temporary taxes entitled “The Schools and Local Public Safety Act.” (That may not be the title that appears on the ballot which is set by the attorney general.) It was also noted that perusing the text of the act suggested it was aimed at K-14 funding, i.e., higher ed was in it only at the community college level. However, to get the initiative on the ballot – and then run a campaign to get it passed – Brown will need a lot of money. The…

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UC Announces Union Deal: Wages Up for Two-Tier Pension

Byuclafaculty

UC, clerical union reach five-year agreement Date: 2011-12-12 Contact: University of California Office of the President Phone: (510) 987-9200 OAKLAND — The University of California announced today (Dec. 12) that it has finalized a five-year agreement with the Coalition of University Employees on wages, benefits and other issues for more than 12,500 clerical staff. “We are pleased our clerical unit is finally under contract. The efforts between CUE-Teamsters and the university produced a fair agreement where both sides made difficult choices,” said Dwaine B. Duckett, vice president of systemwide human resources. “We are particularly pleased they proactively came to the…

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Rosy Scenario on State Budget Likely to Be Ending Soon

Byuclafaculty

The Sacramento Bee points out today that the process of re-examining the rosy scenario budget forecast on revenues will soon be coming to an end. As readers of this blog know, the governor was unable to get GOP support for putting tax extensions on the ballot. But under new procedures approved by voters, only a simple majority was needed to pass a budget even though 2/3 was needed for the taxes. So extra revenue was assumed and the budget was passed. However, a trigger mechanism was included to cut expenditures if revenue assumptions were not met. Since then, it has…

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UCLA History: Mural

Byuclafaculty

The Sacramento Bee today carries a story about the restoration of the 1970s’ Great Wall of LA mural, shown above, associated with UCLA Professor Judith Baca. See: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/11/4114541/los-angeles-reconsiders-mural.html and also an earlier piece from UCLA Today: http://www.today.ucla.edu/portal/ut/judy-baca-great-wall-of-la-216853.aspx

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Private Hotels List Concerns About UCLA Hotel/Conference Center

Byuclafaculty

The trade association representing hotels on LA’s Westside have been voicing concerns from the beginning about the proposed UCLA hotel/conference center. Yesterday, the association put its concerns in writing (fax actually). Obviously, the hotels are worried about loss of business from a publicly-financed hotel. They note the loss of tax receipts to the City of LA (and cc: local city councilman Paul Koretz). As this blog has repeatedly noted, there is no available business plan for the revised hotel/conference center plan. The hotel owners point to this absence. The UCLA Faculty Assn. has submitted a Public Documents Act request for…

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Details on Governor’s Pension Plan?

Byuclafaculty

CalPERS has released (or someone has leaked) a draft set of comments about the governor’s 12-point pension plan. Much of what is questioned is not relevant to UC which has its own problems with the plan. (See prior posts on the legislative hearings on the plan and other aspects of it.) However, the CalPERS draft makes it clear that there is much more to be resolved than just okaying the governor’s proposed 12 points. The fact that the proposal has different implications for the various plans that CalPERS administers – something clear from the document – opens the door to…

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State Budget:Ups and Downs

Byuclafaculty

The latest cash report of the state controller reports ups and downs. Unfortunately, the up is more expenditure than expected through November (expected when the budget was passed in June) to the tune of almost $2 billion. And the down in that period is revenues, down by a little over $1 billion than had been forecast. As prior posts have indicated, automatic trigger cuts in the budget are very likely which will cost UC $100 million. The report is at http://sco.ca.gov/Files-ARD/CASH/fy1112_nov.pdf