I moved to Davis a decade ago when I was the California Superintendent of Public Instruction.  I wanted to be closer to my Sacramento office and I selected Davis because it had the best schools in a 10 county region.  I believe that communities that care about children tend to be the best communities in which to live.  I have never been disappointed in my choice.

Now our community is threatened by the dreadful state budget debacle.  Measure W is an insurance policy that even if the Governor and the Legislature foolishly make more cuts to schools, we will hold the children attending public schools in this community harmless.  That also means, we will be acting to protect, not only the education of children, but we will be acting to protect our property values. 

Look around our state.  From the Inland Empire to the Central Valley, from Fremont to Fresno, from Hayward to Hayfork, property values in our state have taken a nosedive.  In Davis, the loss of value has been modest.  Why?  Because the extraordinary Davis schools make Davis a town people want to live in, even in tight times. 

A couple of years ago, my homeowner's insurance went up by more than $10/month because the replacement value of my home had increased substantially.  The $10/month that Measure W asks us to contribute is a different kind of homeowner's insurance, more valuable than that which I purchase from my insurance agent.  Ask any realtor.  Then look into the eyes of the children you see on the street.  Please vote for Measure W. 

Neil Postman wrote, "Children are a message we send to a time we will never see."  Let us send the children of Davis into the future knowing we did everything in our power to help them to be great messages to the future.

Yours truly,
Delaine Eastin