Kelly says he has no evidence that hate crimes have occurred in schools, although the Sheriff reports hate crimes generally are on the increase in east county, with 65 cases reported last year. The Sheriff s department, the District Attorney and the Anti Defamation League support the hate crime prevention project and Granger Ward, Superintendent of the Grossmont Union School District, says blocking the money would be turning down much-needed resources. We have dealt with issues of hate and racist behavior in our district. It is unfortunate but it is here in the county, not just east county, and it is something that we need to address. To pretend that it doesn t exist is really closing your eyes to a reality that is very, very dangerous.
School districts all over the county have a stake in decisions like the hate crime prevention grant.
Federal funding to the tune of more than 30 million dollars came through the County Office of Education last year. Till now Kelly and Faye have been unsuccessful in their efforts to block federal funding, but if either of the two candidates challenging incumbents this election were to win, they would make up a new majority voting block. Steve Klein and Bob Weller have attended meetings with Susan Faye in her north county district, and board member Jim Kelly has attended their fundraisers. In the First District, which includes much of the city of San Diego, John Witt is an incumbent fighting to keep his seat. While Faye and Kelly say federal funding subverts local control, Witt says it all depends what you mean by local control .