Author: uclafaculty

|

Official Statement on Faculty Center Demolition and Replacement Raises Interesting Questions

Byuclafaculty

In yesterday’s post on this blog about the proposed hotel/conference center that would replace the Faculty Center, the most recent statement on the project from the administration was included as an update/link. The Center is shown here on the right, back in the day (when budgets were flush). That latest statement is puzzling as it refers to the consultant’s report on the project and yet seems to contradict it. The consultant seemed to assume that there would be outside (non-UCLA) business conducted at the hotel/conference center. The consultant’s report had estimates of taxes to be paid. However, the most recent…

| | | | |

UCOP & Regents Out of the Loop on Public Pensions: Here is a way to get into the loop

Byuclafaculty

As has been noted on previous blog posts, UC is in danger of letting the pension issue get away from it. The governor has – according to news reports – agreed to a $106,000 cap on public pensions. Legislative Republicans have filed an initiative putting a cap of 60% of final pay on pensions. Both caps clearly apply to new hires and clearly do not apply to those already retired. There is uncertainty about what would be applicable to current employees. The initiative – which is poorly drafted – explicitly covers UC. We don’t know about the possible $106,000 cap…

|

Signs of Spring

Byuclafaculty

Spring quarter 2011 has arrived. But the issue of replacing the existing Faculty Center with a large hotel/conference center remains from last spring, when news of the plan was (sort of) made public. You will be seeing flyers such as the one on the right and related yard signs in the neighborhoods around UCLA. As the flyer points out, there is a public meeting at the Faculty Center about this issue on Wednesday, April 6, at 7 PM. Earlier posts on this blog have summarized the issues involved. The most recent development was the strong vote against the project by…

| | | | |

PART II: UCOP & Regents: Don’t Say You Weren’t Warned

Byuclafaculty

Someone asked yours truly yesterday whether the GOP pension initiative actually covered existing employees as well as new hires. Apparently, there was a report that the Republican legislator in whose name the initiative was submitted had denied it. The article below – as well as the language of the initiative – makes it clear that existing employees are to be included. The article also notes that Gov. Brown is willing to accept a pension cap of $106,000. That is different from the initiative which has a 60% final pay cap. But it is unacceptable for UC faculty and would override…

Don’t Stop Now: UC Merced to start work on building

Byuclafaculty

UC Merced to start work on building Yesenia Amaro, March 24, 2011, Merced Sun-Star University of California at Merced officials say students will soon have more space to exercise and hold meetings… The university recently received approval to move forward with its Recreation Center North project, an estimated 20,000-square-foot recreation building. Jane Lawrence, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the university received an $8.5 million loan from the UC Office of the President to pay for the construction. The university will repay the loan with an existing student fee. No new student fees will be charged. The project consists of…

What $200,000 a year buys at the U of Texas

Byuclafaculty

Inside Higher Ed points today to a story in an Austin, Texas paper. The story speaks for itself. UT regents’ special adviser losing his job: Rick O’Donnell’s criticism of academic research didn’t sit well with lawmakers, others. Austin American-Statesman, 3/24/11, Ralph K.M. Haurwitz A special adviser with controversial views on research, teaching and other matters was reassigned by the University of Texas System on Thursday to a new job that will end by Aug. 31. The move is unlikely to quell concerns about the direction of the state’s largest and most prestigious university system under Gene Powell, chairman of the…

| | | |

UCOP & Regents: Don’t Say Later You Weren’t Warned

Byuclafaculty

Two initiative petitions were submitted earlier today. One, reproduced below, deals with pensions. It would explicitly cover UC and, thus, would override the pension changes enacted by the Regents last December. For example, it limits the final pension to 60% of final salary. It covers existing employees as well as new hires. The second is essentially a revival of the old GANN initiative that was passed by voters shortly after Prop 13. The GANN limit restricted the rise in state spending (general fund plus other funds) to the inflation rate plus the growth in population. GANN was essentially gutted in…

| | | |

Poll Results on Pensions and Budgets: Let’s Be Cautious in Interpreting the Results

Byuclafaculty

The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) takes a respected monthly poll on public attitudes in the state on political and policy issues. The March release is just out. Taken at face value, the public is very concerned about the state budget situation (Figure 2 – scroll down below), there is slippage in support for a special election advocated by Gov. Brown on tax extensions (although a bare majority still support the plan – Figure 3), cutting public pensions is seen as a good way to balance the budget (Figure 4), and the way to reform public pensions is to…

| |

Outlines of Plan B on the State Budget? Or Negotiating?

Byuclafaculty

Gov. Brown has been hinting that – if he can’t get Republican votes in the next few days to put tax extensions on the ballot – he will do something else to get on the ballot. Example: Brown considering other paths on taxes as Republicans stand firm in talks Steven Harmon, Contra Costa Times, 3/22/11 SACRAMENTO — As Gov. Jerry Brown continued to negotiate with Republican legislators on his plan to extend taxes, he also has begun to weigh going it alone, sources said Tuesday. That could take two paths — forcing a special election onto the ballot through a…