Advertisement

Pierce College’s Financial Problems

Share

Re “Lessons From the Field,” July 5.

Much hay has been made over the financial problems at Pierce College. Oddly, your publication only prints half of the story. Pierce College can more than pay its bills, if the large community college district keeps its hands out of Pierce’s pocket.

Pierce’s farm could and has made money in the past. However, the current administration has refused to allow the farm to grow and sell pumpkins and Christmas trees (potential generation of $60,000 a year) and to set up a farmers market.

Pierce’s farm will not be receiving $750,000 a year for its ag program if the golf course and clubhouse are built as proposed. The nature center, beef, sheep, swine and poultry units will all be destroyed. All of the pastures and hay fields will be gone as well. On the remaining 25 acres, as proposed, a small ag building and equine facility is planned. That is it!

Advertisement

The proposed $750,000 is planned on paying off the “college’s” debt and will be applied to the general college fund--not that of the farms.

I have an idea for all those who like this plan. Why not long-term lease Venice Beach and develop Griffith Park. I know these are natural resources that are needed for future generations. But look at all of the money we could generate. We could build more roads, schools, pay for more street cops. Why not?

Why? Because some resources are sacred. They are precious and need to be beyond the reach of greedy land grabbers.

Let the community college district live within its means. Let the spirit of Clarence W. Pierce continue for many more generations by providing a diverse opportunity for the citizens of Los Angeles.

Maintain the Pierce College farm. Make it into an ag preserve, protected once and for all, for now and for the future.

LELAND S. SHAPIRO, Director, Pre-Veterinary Sciences, Pierce College, Woodland Hills

Advertisement