$7 billion higher education bond measure reintroduced

Assemblywoman Susan Eggman and two co-sponsors have reintroduced legislation seeking to place a $7 billion bond measure before voters that the Stockton Democrat hopes would provide the funding for a California State University in the city, the Stockton Record reports.

“Is it a sure deal? No,” the newspaper quoted Eggman as saying. “But if you don’t get up to the starting line, there’s no chance that you finish the race.”

The bill is similar to the one she and her co-sponsors, Concord Democrat Tim Grayson and San Diego Democrat Shirley Weber, introduced in mid-February. That bill, AB2771, died in the California Senate without making it onto the Nov. 6 ballot.

The proposed Higher Education Facilities Bond Act of 2020 would designate $2 billion to the University of California Hastings College of Law, $2 billion to the California State University system, and $3 billion toward the construction of new campuses.

Eggman says she wants one of these campuses to be in Stockton. The 300,000-resident community is  three times farther than any other large California city from a CSU or University of California campus.

“We just think it’s time to right that wrong, and we feel very optimistic about this going forward,” Eggman said.