Today’s voter registration drive will be the culmination of the efforts of the college’s campaign for passage of Measure G – a bond measure on the March 5 ballot that would provide $98 million to fund the renovation and construction of campus facilities.

If passed, Measure G funds would go directly to projects such as the construction of the Cimmarusti Science Center, the Allied Health Nursing Center, additional parking and expansion of the Adult Community Training Center.

Another project that the measure would fund is the construction of a new building that will consolidate student support services. The one-stop student center would contain services such as counseling, job placement, tutoring and financial aid.

“We feel very positive about the response we’ve received so far,” GCC President Dr. John A. Davitt said. For more than a month, volunteers at Measure G headquarters in downtown Glendale have called residents asking for their support. Mailers have also gone to voters explaining the need for the bond measure.

To date, the measure has the support of about 6,000 Glendale voters, said ASGCC President Dan Wengert, who volunteers at the Measure G headquarters. Wengert said that the measure has also received the support of numerous community organizations, such as the Glendale Firefighters’ Association, the Glendale City Association and the Glendale Teachers’ Council.

“Our goal is to reach about 12,000 yes voters and so far we have made 9,676 contacts (including “no” voters),” Wengert said.

Campaign volunteers have ranged from GCC students and residents, to members of the campus staff and faculty.

ASGCC has produced a video that explained the bond measure and ASGCC officers made class visitations during the winter session to educate students and encourage them to vote.

“Even if they (the students) are not Glendale residents, chances are that they know people who are Glendale residents and hopefully, they will pass the information along,” said Jean Schindler, ASGCC Vice President of Campus Relations.

Residents who have been called and say they will vote against the measure cite such reasons as not wanting to pay higher property taxes. Some have stated that “somebody else” should pay, suggesting that the campus increase student fees to raise funds. Measure G will cost taxpayers about $23.76 per year per $100,000 of assessed (not market) property value.

Once the bond measure is passed, state law requires that an independent Citizens Oversight Committee be established to oversee the expenditures.

GCC is not alone in trying to pass a bond measure. In Los Angeles county, three other city colleges are trying to garner support for the renovation and construction of new facilities through bond measures: Pasadena City College, Santa Monica City College and Long Beach City College.

There will be a voter registration booth at the Plaza Vaquero today, along with music and a free food stand at noon. Today is the last day to register to vote in the March 5 election.