Not an initiative

The 1996 Proposition 208, which current Prop. 16 would repeal because of its very odious past, is reason enough for a yes vote. The effort to cancel “affirmative action,” then helpful for women and minorities, has its genesis in a 1995 resolution passed by our UC Board of Regents, sponsored by then Gov. Pete Wilson. A nominal moderate, Wilson was trying to appeal to the right wing in his shortlived campaign for president. He arranged a televised debate with Jesse Jackson while he was assuming the Board’s chairmanship for the first time.

What a ploy. My opposition as a thenRepublican active in procivil rights movements argued that our university should not be involved in such a crass political action. The regents’ resolution passed by a 14 to 10 vote, and triggered a serious black boycott by totally qualified students already admitted by refusing to attend.

Six years later, the Board, with a similar makeup unanimously voted to rescind Wilson’s resolution. This was too late, as the 1995 action had evolved into the 1996 Prop. 209 initiative. Regent Ward Connerly saw an opportunity to make some real money. He had led the 1995 action, and with Wilson’s support, he chaired the 209 campaign, raising signatures and campaign money, even expanding his activities to Washington state and Florida.

My recollection is that he reported fees ranging into the low millions. Personally created initiatives are known to produce a 15% fee on all funds raised, paid to the sponsor. Voters beware of moneymaking initiatives: Note that now Connerly is the chairman of the Prop. 16 opposition campaign. Prop. 16 is not an “initiative.” It was placed on the ballot by a vote of the California legislature. William T. Bagley, Former Regent Emeritus,

San Rafael