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About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add...  (More)

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Politics dominate Napolitano's world view

Uploaded: Jul 28, 2015
University of California President Janet Napolitano acts first like a politician not an academic
Last week, she announced that the UC system would provide a $15 per hour minimum wage in 2017. In the announcement "Big Sis" bragged that UC will be the first public university to do so. It covers anyone working 20 hours per week or more—whether an UC employee or someone employed by a contract—that's the big potential impact.
The move was made without notifying the Legislature and prompted a pointed response from Republican Assembly leader Kristin Olsen. She wrote, "This is not Robin Hood. The action will result in even higher costs on students and parents at a time when UC is already struggling to maintain affordability and student access."
Napolitano and Gov. Jerry Brown were locked in a months-long deadlock over state support for UC after the UC Regents adopted Napolitano's plan last year for 5 percent annual increases in undergraduate tuition.
They finally compromised with the state budget increasing funding for the system and putting a substantial one-time payment into the UC system's retirement system that is under-funded.
It's doubtful this requirement will effect too many UC employees who already make much more than that. It could affect contractors who, in turn, will push their higher costs back on the university.
What's needed is inspired leadership that starts to hack at the bureaucracy that has grown steadily over the years. As a politician Napolitano stood up to another politician, but it's hard to imagine the governor liking this move----particularly when he's reined in similar efforts by more liberal members of his own party in Sacramento.
Ironically, "Big Sis" also is striving to curb speech at the campus that gave birth to the Free Speech Movement in the 1960s. Yes, faculty leadership training in the last school year included a list of words or phrases that should not be used because they might offend someone—so-called "microaggressions."
She instituted training session in the last school year across the system. Among the phrases are: "America is the land of opportunity; There is only one race, the human race; I believe the most qualified person should get the job."
Sadly, there is no end to the runaway political correctness from progressive leaders such as Napolitano.
Democracy.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Dave, a resident of Danville,
on Jul 28, 2015 at 4:06 pm

Tim -

Readers might take your critiques more seriously if you didn't indulge in name calling.


Posted by Michael Austin, a resident of Pleasanton Meadows,
on Jul 29, 2015 at 7:42 am

Michael Austin is a registered user.

@ Dave, a resident of Danville:

It was Matt Drudge writing in the Drudge Report that coined the Nick name, "Big Sis". That was when President Obama appointed Napolitano Secretary of Home land Security.

Tim, is simply quoting the Nick Name, as stated by Matt Drudge in the Drudge Report.

Google Napolitano and the Drudge Report, learn something.


Posted by Dave, a resident of Danville,
on Jul 29, 2015 at 3:49 pm

Michael -

Tim makes no reference to the Drudge Report. He is simply using the name to demean Ms. Napolitano -- whether the "nickname" originated with someone else or not. Very unclassy either way. And it diminishes the force of his argument.


Posted by Formerly Dan from BC, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Jul 31, 2015 at 10:28 pm

Formerly Dan from BC is a registered user.

Hey Dave, instead of "Big Sis" would you mind if we can call her "liberal fool" or how about "progressive fool"?

It amazes me how thinned skinned liberals are when it comes to their own.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Aug 2, 2015 at 3:12 pm

Ms. Napolitano is a spoiled, bossy, chubette Nazi.

She's mostly wrapped up with making UCB a more exclusive, private university, dumping low income students, silencing riff-raff faculty, and recruiting wealthy international students.

She's not the least bit concerned about the needs of American students, managing tuition costs, or seeking input from leftest intellectuals.


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Aug 2, 2015 at 4:00 pm

ps UC Board of Regents: Ward Connerly and his cronies use membership on the Board of Regents to fill their pockets! It makes sense to shift focus from public to private university...millions will then stuff the accounts of the Board.

What makes anybody believe that Ms. Janet will not also benefit $$$$$$$$$?


Posted by DonHonda, a resident of Pleasanton Heights,
on Aug 3, 2015 at 7:17 am

Now, now---don't "micro-agress", boys!


Posted by Cholo, a resident of Livermore,
on Aug 3, 2015 at 9:57 am

"micro-agress" - Web Link

I had never heard the term until today! Gracias.


Posted by Dave, a resident of Danville,
on Aug 10, 2015 at 12:28 pm

My point, Formerly Dave, is not her performance. It is the tenor of the discussion. Name-calling doesn't add anything worthwhile to Mr. Hunt's argument. Rather, it diminishes it.

Apparently, you have a different view about name-calling.


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