Author Archive

The Importance of The Brown Act: An Elected Official’s Perspective

January 18, 2010
By Mike Matsuda
The Importance of The Brown Act: An Elected Official’s Perspective

The fact that we are entering a period of limited government hopefully does not mean we are entering a period of limited oversight of governance. The recent walkout by Garden Grove Unified School District Trustee KimOanh Nguyen Lam over an alleged violation of the Brown Act by her fellow board members is a strong...
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Posted in California, Orange County - Local | Comments Off

Race to the Top-Buyers Beware

January 13, 2010
By Mike Matsuda
Race to the Top-Buyers Beware

While our local districts are comprised of well intentioned, highly educated and reflective leaders who are doing their best to find resources to fill the budget shortfall, we are perplexed that some districts (60% state-wide) agreed to submit a “Memorandum Of Understanding” with the Governor’s Office to participate in California’s application for the federal...
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Posted in California, National-US, Orange County - Local | Comments Off

Patriotism from the School Cafeteria

February 8, 2009
By Mike Matsuda
Patriotism from the School Cafeteria

My son, Ethan, attends Raymond Elementary in Fullerton and last night was “Movie Night.” It was raining very hard and I told him that there probably wouldn’t be anyone coming, but to my surprise and his delight, the cafeteria was packed. Kindergartners were huddled with their parents in sleeping bags and the big kids...
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Posted in California, Orange County - Local | 4 Comments »

What if the University of California shut down?

January 15, 2009
By Mike Matsuda
What if the University of California shut down?

What would happen if the entire University of California shut down? There would be 262,845 students without a college to attend. That’s a quarter of a million students who no longer have the grasp of higher education within their reach. This number represents the amount of actual students that may be turned down by...
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Posted in California | 1 Comment »

So this is Christmas. What have you done?

December 25, 2008
By Mike Matsuda
So this is Christmas. What have you done?

On this cold and rainy Christmas day I am reminded of John Lennon’s reflective ode, beginning, “So this is Christmas. What have you done?” In these most challenging of times, I think that all of us should ask ourselves, “What have we done?” I am a bit down this Christmas because everywhere I look,...
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Posted in Orange County - Local | 1 Comment »

Little Saigon Rallies For Obama

October 19, 2008
By Mike Matsuda
Little Saigon Rallies For Obama

  The rally for Obama in the heart of Little Saigon marked a major turning point for progressives throughout the OC. Since Vietnamese Americans have traditionally been stereotyped as lock-step Republican, this event demonstrated that Obama’s reach is very pervasive and although I don’t believe the overall Vietnamese population will vote blue this cycle, I...
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Posted in California, National-US, Orange County - Local | 1 Comment »

Well Dad, what are you waiting for?

October 15, 2008
By Mike Matsuda
Well Dad, what are you waiting for?

I voted yesterday with my son, Ethan, sitting beside me at the kitchen table. My wife Suzie, who is a naturalized Vietnamese-American, insists on the ritual of going to the polls on election day. Looking at our son, she said, “Our community fought so hard for this right that I’d rather vote on election...
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Posted in Orange County - Local | 7 Comments »

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