The impact of this decision will be felt for years by the estimated 1700 students currently enrolled in the discontinued programs and the thousands more Long Beach young people who will be denied an opportunity for quality practical job training without incurring huge student debt.

Just a few years ago I taught course at Long Beach City College, called Allied Health 61. This class is a requirement for entry into the diagnostic medical imaging (DMI) program. This program trains students to become radiology technicians. Passing this course with a C or better is the final step before a student gets to apply for the waiting list for the DMI program. In 2008, the waiting list was approximately 12 months. My students begged me to grade their finals and give them a letter grade before the semester closed so that they could get a higher place on the waiting list. The waiting list for this program is now over two years. Because of an outpouring of student and community support at this same Board of Trustees meeting, the DMI program was temporarily given a 12 month reprieve.

In 2008 voters in LB overwhelming passed Measure E which issued an additional $440 million in bonds to LBCC, in addition to the more than $180 million approved in 2002. The stated purpose of the bonds was to "better prepare Long Beach college students for high demand jobs, renovate science, nursing, police, and firefighting classrooms, upgrade classroom technology and high-tech training labs; repair aging roofs, electrical, plumbing, heating, and ventilation; and upgrade/construct/equip/acquire classrooms, facilities." Those facilities have been renovated. For example, the Welding and Trades building is an attractive modern facility and it will soon stand empty. In an affront the taxpayers, the Trustees are reneging on their promise, deceiving the voters.

On Nov 7, 2012 LBCC Superintendent/President Elroy Oakley wrote "Although I do not expect increases in revenue this fiscal year, passage of Proposition 30 does mean that the college will not have to eliminate all 17 programs that are in the program discontinuance process." According to Chancellor's office, the California Community Colleges will receive $210 million in additional funds in 2012-13. Instead of waiting until July 1, as virtually all community colleges in the state are, to see where the dust settles on Prop 30, the LBCC Board of Trustees voted to discontinue these programs.

We have to ask why the sudden change in direction? Is the plan to make LBCC into Santa Monica City College? Santa Monica City College is "...the leader among the state's 112 community colleges in transferring students to the University of California, University of Southern California and other four-year campuses." LBCC is not Santa Monica City College. Long Beach is an important post city. The trades programs and medical programs enable students to take their place in many careers without higher degrees.

During the first week in March, State Senators visited Cabrillo High School and Long Beach City College. The purpose of the meeting was to see the connection between the career technical education at the high schools and the link with the community colleges. Republican leader Sen. Bob Huff, himself a pilot, was distressed to hear from Rose Bance -- a first year student in the Aviation Maintence program -- that her education at LBCC would end this spring. Sen. Huff acknowledged that the LBCC program was one of the top programs in the nation. The Senators would not have found out about the program discontinuations had the students not met them with signs and handouts as the state lawmakers left their chartered bus to attend the workshops.

The Board of Trustees and President Oakley have made a wrong decision at the wrong time. At a time when training programs in health care, green technology and renewable energy are crucial society, the President and the Board have chosen to destroy the hopes and dreams of thousands of our young people. Many of them are returning veterans and students from low income families.

There is talk of recalling Board of Trustees members Doug Otto and Roberto Uranga, who were recently reelected. In April of 2014 the remaining three seats will also be up for reelection, including those occupied by Jeff Kellogg and Tom Clark. They both voted for the program discontinuation. These Trustees must realize that their decisions affect thousands of people's lives. They are responsible for destroying opportunity and hope for thousands of our young people. The voters in these districts should act to preserve or reinstate these job training programs.