THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE - Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced a projected $54 billion budget deficit for California. As a result, the University of California faces budget cuts. But the UC system is already running in starvation mode from cuts made during the last recession.
Now is the time to invest in research and higher education. It is critical to retain UC funding so that we can continue to drive California’s economy.
UC Riverside (UCR), where I am currently a faculty member, is the largest employer in Riverside County. UC Irvine (UCI), where I was a postdoctoral researcher, is the second-largest employer in Orange County. The University of California is a key driver of upward mobility in California and the nation. UCR ranks No. 1 in social mobility, followed by UC Santa Cruz and UCI.