The Great Debate Over Measure P

This story first appeared on Newsmaker with JR.

Measure P — a proposed $198 million general obligation bond to construct buildings, upgrade facilities and repair infrastructure on the Santa Barbara City College campus — passed the Nov. 5 ballot highlighted the most hotly debated local issue.

Two weeks before Election Day, Newsmakers convened a debate Tuesday with four players involved in the campaign debate to discuss critical education, financial, governance and political issues at stake in the controversy:

Team Yes-on-P…

• Lanny Ebenstein, Professor of Economics and President of the Santa Barbara Taxpayers Association;
• Wade Cowper, Political and corporate communications consultant, local resident and City College graduate.

…prepared for an intensive discussion with…

Team No-on-P

• Marsha Croninger, Attorney and senior member of City College Board of Trustees;
• Dale FranciscoSoftware engineer and former Santa Barbara City Council member, also an SBCC graduate.

In a lengthy and detailed discussion, both sides expressed conflicting views and perspectives on key issues in the bond standards conflict – from the long-term costs to taxpayers and the long-term needs of the college to the changing nature of SBCC’s student body and the openness – or Inaccuracy – of claims made during the campaign.

A must for those who haven’t voted yet. It’s all here now on Newsmakers TV.

Watch the great debate over Measure P on YouTube below or click this link. The podcast is here. TVSB, channel 17, broadcasts Newsmakers seven days a week at 8:00 pm MF. and at 9:00 a.m. on weekends. KCSB, 91.9, airs the show Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Jerry Roberts is the host of Newsmakers TV and regularly posts about politics and media at newsmakerswithjr.com