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Residents split on Measure U as public comment fills board meeting
Summary
Fifteen speakers addressed Measure U during public comment at the Lynwood Unified board meeting; several voiced support citing needed repairs and state matching funds while others urged rejection or deferral, citing tax impacts, past bond spending concerns and requests for greater transparency.
Fifteen people signed up to speak during the public-comment period at the Lynwood Unified Board of Education meeting on Oct. 24, and several used their time to urge the board and public either to support or oppose Measure U, a proposed facilities funding measure.
Dion Cornelius, a longtime resident and property owner, urged voters to vote no. "My taxes are gonna go up... For a fixed-income homeowner this is going to be a problem," he said, arguing there was insufficient accountability for bond funds and warning the measure would raise taxes on people on fixed incomes.
By contrast, Ayeve Castro (a long-time resident and property owner) urged approval. Castro explained how local bonding works under the Local Control Funding Formula and noted the board’s lobbying had increased the state matching rate to 65%, which she said improves the district’s borrowing leverage: "This bond is a great opportunity to get more than the $80,000,000 we would qualify as property owners," she said, adding that many parents prioritize cafeterias, bathrooms, fields and roofs.
Other parents and community members urged support on the grounds of safety and modernization; one commenter called for security upgrades and improved emergency systems at older campuses. Melissa Angulo argued paying now is a prudent financial decision: "We must not continue to delay repairs and upgrades that will lead to higher cost," she said.
Several speakers urged caution or deferred action. Mario Tony Miranda and other commenters questioned whether prior bond measures (Measures K and N) had delivered promised repairs and voiced skepticism about the size and oversight of new requests; a speaker alleged a contractor ('Del Terra') was under investigation and said community members had not been adequately included in planning. An oversight‑committee member asked the board to explain apparent contradictions between a recent public hearing that anticipated student growth and the master plan’s projection of declining enrollment. Former mayor and teacher Leticia Vasquez Wilson requested the board defer action on agenda item 3b3 (approval of $94,927,000) until the community receives clearer, transparent explanations about the project and oversight.
Why it matters: Bond measures and large capital requests can increase local property taxes and require voter approval; community support or opposition can shape whether and how the district moves forward with repairs and modernization. Speakers at the meeting asked for specific accountability structures and clearer communication about where local funds would be spent.
What’s next: The record provided does not include a board vote on Measure U or on agenda item 3b3. Officials at the meeting said public comment would be taken and the board will consider the item; community speakers requested additional transparency and a deferral in some cases.
