Category: Featured

  • Schools May Benefit From Redevelopment Ruling

    By Jose Luis Jiménez Richard Barrera sees the elimination of redevelopment agencies as a boon for public education. Not now, but in the future. Gov. Jerry Brown’s current state budget includes about $1.8 billion of redevelopment money, which is being used to help close the state’s multibillion-dollar deficit. That’s why Barrera says the court’s decision…

  • Gloria: Redevelopment Decision is ‘Worst Case’ for Neighborhoods

    By Patty Lane, Katie Orr and Alison St John The California Supreme Court today upheld a new law that will abolish community redevelopment agencies, dealing a blow to San Diego city officials who tried to keep their agency open. The state’s high court also struck down a companion statute that would have allowed local governments to…

  • Latinos Disapprove of Obama’s Handling of Deportations

    By Ruxandra Guidi More than half of U.S. Latinos say they disapprove of the way the Obama administration has handled deportations of undocumented immigrants in the last couple of years. Last year, the federal government deported a record 393,000 people. According to the report, “As Deportations Rise to Record Levels, Most Latinos Oppose Obama’s Policy,” Latinos are…

  • California’s English Language Learner Programs Criticized

    By Ruxandra Guidi There are an estimated 1.6 million English learners in California. But only 1 in 10 reached proficiency levels in English last year. Children from multilingual homes are tested for English proficiency as they begin school, and if they score low, they are placed into English language classes. The problem is, there are…

  • Field Guide: The Year in Photos

    By Megan Burks [Editor’s Note: Field Guide is a weekly email bringing you the news, explainers and action items needed to navigate your changing community. Click here to subscribe.] FIELD GUIDE TOOLBOX Share Your Photos With Speak City Heights Readers You can submit your own photos to appear on Speak City Heights. Email them to:…