This November, voters in the Long Beach Community College District will decide on Measure AC, a facilities bond measure aimed at addressing the aging infrastructure of Long Beach City College (LBCC). With nearly a century of service to the community, LBCC has played a vital role in providing affordable education and job training to local students, veterans, and those looking to transfer to four-year universities. However, its facilities now face the challenges of age, requiring significant upgrades and repairs.
Measure AC is a proposed bond that would fund improvements to LBCC’s campuses, addressing issues such as deteriorating classrooms, outdated job-training labs, and aging infrastructure. The measure would specifically target:
– Renovations of vocational classrooms and labs for fields like nursing and healthcare.
– Improvements to basic infrastructure, including drinking water systems, electrical and plumbing lines, and the removal of hazardous materials.
– Enhanced accessibility for students with disabilities, making facilities more inclusive.
– Energy efficiency and sustainability projects, designed to reduce the college’s environmental footprint.
– Creation of affordable student housing, to address rising living costs while attending college.
In addition to these upgrades, Measure AC would also fund expansions to accommodate growing enrollment, particularly through the Long Beach College Promise Program, which provides high school students with early access to college courses.
On September 26, 2024, LBCC Trustee Uduak Ntuk met with members of the community at St. Mark Baptist Church in Long Beach’s 6th district to discuss the measure and its potential benefits. Trustee Ntuk highlighted how the bond would improve educational facilities and infrastructure, while also addressing accessibility and sustainability concerns. Community members had the opportunity to ask and learn more about the proposed upgrades.
Serious questions were asked at the meeting. One inquiry asked ‘was will Long Beach residents be able to receive the contracts to build said upgrades’. Another ‘was who would be in charge of the money’. Residents were more than attentive at the discussion looking into the details from continuation of job programs to those who will be benefiting from AC.
If approved, Measure AC would require annual audits, independent oversight, and public disclosure to ensure all funds stay local and are spent as promised. It’s important to note that all registered voters living within the Long Beach Community College District, which includes Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, and Avalon, are eligible to vote on the measure.
Election Day is set for Tuesday, November 5, 2024, and ballots will be mailed to voters starting the week of October 7th. Measure AC requires 55% approval from voters in order to pass. Whether you support or oppose the measure, your vote will help determine the future of LBCC’s facilities and its ability to serve the community.
