Prop 38 is down in polls, local fight continues

Opponents say that the measure is costly and will in the long-run have a negative direct-impact on the quality of public school education.

Supporters of Prop. 38 say the initiative will provide more choice for parents. And that it will give them the right to get out of struggling schools that are failing their children. Prop 38 supporters have gone on to say that more competition in the realm of education will in the end be better for public as well as private education.

On Tuesday night, area residents were manning the phone banks at the No on Prop 38 campaign. The primarily grass roots, though statewide campaign, has largely relied on sweat as opposed to big dollars, according to the No on Prop 38 Campaign Press Secretary Mike Myslinski.

"There's no way we can match their dollars. But they don't have this," Myslinksi said, gesturing around the room at the some twenty or so people who had volunteered their own time to cold call voters and attempt to sway them into voting against Prop. 38 on election day. "This is something money can't buy. These are people who believe in public education."

Draper, alone, has spent $20 million on the Prop. 38 campaign and has vowed to match that amount over the next two weeks to pass the initiative. The coalition opposing Prop. 38 have collectively spent $20 million to defeat the initiative.

According to a poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California, 55 percent of voters are likely to vote no on Prop. 38 and 36 percent are likely to vote yes. Opposition is the greatest statewide here in the Bay and Peninsula Areas, according to the poll. Those numbers are down significantly from August, a poll then stated that 45 percent of voters reported they were likely to vote in support of the initiative.

Some of that change in mind may be contributed to the already monthlong cold calling efforts of the No on Prop. 38 campaign. Some may be related to some high-profile endorsements the No on Prop 38 camp has received. And perhaps a few minds have been changed due to some of the rumored infighting that is going on within the Prop. 38 camp.

For many who were at the California Teacher's Association Headquarters in Burlingame last night, all those factors are moot points. They were there because it was something they felt strongly about and believed in.

A group of teenagers from Mercy High School in Burlingame were among the volunteers. "I go to private school. I know is suppose to go to funding private schools. But I don't believe in it because it takes money away from public schools who need the money. That money would help them more than it would help us," said 17-year-old, Monica Picardal.

Another teen present was Marian Perez, an 18-year-old senior. "They say the public schools are in need of help. But if they put all the kids and the money into private schools that's not going to help. They need to take care of the problem," Perez said. Perez also added that she will be voting this year for the first-time and plans to vote against Prop. 38.

The phone bank will continue up until election day.