Assemblymember Grayson Comments on the UC Office of the President Oversight Hearing

(SACRAMENTO) Following today’s joint oversight hearing with testimony from UC President Napolitano, Regent Chair Lozano and State Auditor Howle, Assemblymember Timothy S. Grayson (D – Concord) released the following statement:

“In recent years, UC leadership has pursued higher salaries and bloated administrative budgets while California students have paid increasingly higher tuition and fees. I am deeply troubled by the latest finding that students and their families were asked to pay more for their education while the President’s office maintained a discretionary fund of $175 million. This is wrong and our students and families deserve answers as to why this discretionary fund was kept secret.”

Assemblymember Grayson Reacts to State Auditor’s Report on University of California’s Office of the President

(SACRAMENTO) Assemblymember Timothy S. Grayson (D – Concord) released the following statement on the State Auditor’s report on the University of California’s Office of the President:

“To say the Auditor’s report is deeply troubling is an understatement. The fact that the University would ask students and their families to pay more in tuition and fees while holding $175 million in a slush fund for executives is reprehensible. This audit sends another clear signal to the people of California that administrators, not students, are the priority for the UC. This is a new low point for UC’s leadership, and our students and taxpayers deserve better.”

BART Toll Hike Letter

Dear Mr. Cortese and Ms. Saltzman,

The undersigned group of legislators writes on behalf of our constituents in the East Bay who are alarmed by recent suggestions that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) will seek to impose a toll increase on the Bay Area's seven state-owned bridges to fund transportation infrastructure projects, including the purchase of new rail cars for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). Given the direct financial impact that a toll increase would have on our constituents, especially those commuting to and from the East Bay, we feel that it is prudent to request clarification on the purpose and scope of this proposal. Please respond to the following questions: