november 2022 VOTER GUIDE
CITY COLLEGE OF SF BOARD OF TRUSTEES
What Is the City College Board of Trustees?
A seven-member board elected by the voters, plus a student body representative that assumes full responsibility for the general control and direction of the San Francisco Community College
Responsibilities include: overseeing the tens of thousands of students who are currently enrolled, making legal and fiduciary decisions by approving the organization’s mission, strategic goals, objectives, and establishing policies related to membership, programs, and services
Each Trustee serves a four-year term
The salary of this position is $6,000 per year, so most board members have other full-time positions
Why You Should Care
City College is facing a $7 million deficit, is struggling to maintain accreditation, and has plummeting enrollment—a 66 percent decline from nearly 73,000 in 2012 to less than 25,000 today. The faculty labor union AFT 2121, has opposed all class cuts as it equates to job losses for them. The constant pressure from AFT and allied unions to prevent cuts puts the entire institution at risk. Since being a Trustee can be used as a stepping stone to higher office, Trustees are incentivized to maintain good relationships with all unions who are the major donors to their campaigns now and in the future. To that point, the three incumbents, Rizzo, Selby and Davila took a vote in May to lay off 38 staff in order to ensure sufficient cash reserves for the college to be re-accredited. In response, two former teachers union political officers from both SFUSD and City College are running to unseat them.
Our Vision for the Office
City College should be offering high quality classes that meet the needs of the student body and institution.
Regular Election
Jill Yee
Why vote for her: City College, like many of our City’s institutions, is in crisis. The college desperately needs new leadership that is not beholden to special interests, has experience with financial oversight, and is willing to make hard decisions. Jill Yee, the Dean of the City College’s School of Ethnic Studies, has also been serving as the co-chair of the Administrators Association since 2019, a position she was elected to by fellow staff. Yee is a fiscal hawk and is not afraid to stand up to the faculty’s union leaders. Yee supported cutting 345 classes as a budget balancing move. She said of the cuts: “We cannot be all things to all people” and “the romantic notion” that CCSF had something for everyone was “not sustainable.” We agree.
No Endorsement for the Other Seats
Why we’re not endorsing anyone else: We cannot support the three incumbents who are running to keep their seats: Thea Selby, John Rizzo, and Brigitte Davila. They’ve served together on the City College Board since 2015 and under their watch, City College has been financially mismanaged and continues to be at risk of losing its accreditation.
We also strongly oppose the “labor slate” of Martinez, Solomon, and Chung who are challenging the incumbents, as they would be completely unable to exercise any independent oversight due to their close ties to the teachers’ union. City College cannot turn things around if they do not make hard decisions that the union is likely to oppose.
City College Trustees have an obligation to consider future students and the financial health of the institution. We believe Yee is best positioned to serve in that role.
Special Election
Because its previous occupant resigned halfway through their term, this fourth seat on the City College Board of Trustees is being filled for two years.
Dr. Murrell Green
Why vote for him: Dr. Murrell Green is a highly experienced community college administrator and a San Francisco native. Born in San Francisco, Green attended public schools in the city, including Presidio Middle School and George Washington High School. After completing high school, Green attended Clark Atlanta University, an HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia, where he graduated with a degree in Psychology in 1997.
Green’s career in the California Community College (CCC) system began as a counselor at Skyline College in San Bruno in 2006 until 2009. In Los Angeles, Green became tenured faculty at West Los Angeles College, a community college in Ladera Heights. After seven years in Los Angeles, Green and his family moved back to San Francisco. Green took a new job at Merced College, where he commuted daily until July 2021 when he started as the Dean of Academic Counseling and Student Success at West Valley College. In June 2021, Green graduated from an online doctoral program administered by Drexel University to get his Ed.D. Green’s personal story and professional experiences are reflective of the student body and make him well positioned to serve in this role.
Paid for by TogetherSF Action. Not authorized by any candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.
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