La Voz News
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Volume 65, Issue 1
The voice of De Anza since 1967
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
lavozdeanza.com
District adapts to Youth leaders speak at San basic aid funding Jose City Hall Associate vice president: College ‘not going to grow’ with enrollment
PHOTO BY GIA KHANG DO
Maria Blaze, 19, political science major, delivers remarks outside San Jose City Hall during the Youth Voices Press Conference on April 24.
PHOTO BY GAVIN RUST
Vice Chancellor of Business Services Christopher Dela Rosa delivers a presentation on basic aid on April 14 in the Media and Learning Center. “Our primary sources of revenue are our property taxes and student enrollment fees,” Dela Rosa said. “For us, being basic aid is a blessing.”
By Gavin Rust LA VOZ STAFF
The Foothill-De Anza Community College District now draws most of its funds from local property taxes and enrollment fees. The California Community Colleges system can transition districts that would receive more funds through property tax than the state would have allocated to a funding model called basic aid. In prior school years, the district received a state apportionment tied to headcount, enrollment, success rates and other similar factors. “Our primary sources of revenue are our property taxes and student enrollment fees,” Vice Chancellor of Business Services Christopher Dela Rosa said at an April 14 town hall. “For us, being basic aid is a blessing.”
"I’m sure you remember those days where we were chasing enrollment … All that logic is out of the window now." Sam Bliss
Associate Vice President of Instruction
At the April 13 Academic Senate meeting, De Anza College Asso- money, the (district) might stop ciate Vice President of Instruction trying to increase enrollment.” Sam Bliss called basic aid a “closed Dela Rosa said while some dissystem” and said the college is “not tricts adopted that philosophy, this going to grow.” district will not. “I’m sure you remember those “We have a lot of checks and days where we (the college) were balances,” Dela Rosa said. “We chasing enrollment, adding sechave internal controls put in place tions,” Bliss said. “You have those in order for us to make sure we are sections, we have more money to spending our allocation based on spend. All that logic is out of the what the board intends.” window now.” Vice President of Instruction Foothill-De Anza Faculty AssoRam Subraciation president maniam said Tim Shively said the funding he disagrees with the college Bliss and that the gets from district could use the district its extra funds goes through to offer more its Resource programs. Allocation “The amount and Program of tax revenue Planning we’re taking in committee. is not a closed “It is system,” Shively widely repsaid. “Basic aid resented by districts have staff, Tim Shively faculty, (generally) seen administrators Foothill-De Anza Faculty their revenue students,” Association President and increase year Subramaniam over year.” said. “EverySwam Pyae Phyo, 28, biology body has a say in how funds are major described the change as the being allocated for the programs.” “beginning of a disaster.” The district joined eight other “We’re entering dangerous terriCalifornia Community College tory,” Phyo said. “If you (the district) districts on basic aid last summer don’t have to focus on enrollment while the other 64 districts remain and receive the same amount of on state apportionment.
"The amount of tax revenue we’re taking in is not a closed system. Basic aid districts have seen their revenue increase year over year."
Students engage in advocacy around immigrant rights, civic, economic conditions By Taylor Kim LA VOZ STAFF
South Bay student leaders called for youth involvement in civic engagement, immigrant rights and labor justice on April 24 outside San Jose City Hall. Youth Voices Press Conference united student speakers, community organizations and local advocates to rally ahead of May Day or International Workers’ Day on May 1. “I wanted to host an event where it’s youth-only speakers, where we share our perspective on what matters to us,” said Maria Blaze, 19, political science major and Foothill College student trustee. Speakers addressed issues including immigration enforcement, education inequities and wealth disparities, connecting them to broader political debates before the June 2026 primary election. Milpitas High School junior Alice Nguyen encouraged young people to advocate for what she sees as under-represented communities being threatened by President Donald Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “I don’t think people in Congress or anywhere in our federal government should be 80 years old and making decisions for the youth,” Nguyen said. Student organizers also shared their efforts to mobilize peers. Jonathan Soria, 17, William C. Overfelt High School junior and a leader of William C. Overfelt for the People, a student-led activist group, said his group helped
coordinate student walkouts across multiple high schools. “(My responsibility is to) let our community know that we’re there for them,” Soria said. “And our main goal, which is legalization for all (undocumented people).” The Vietnamese American Roundtable and the Stanford University Peace and Freedom chapter partnered with the event. Sabrina Sail, 23, Stanford Peace and Freedom member, said she felt encouraged by youth participation and described civic engagement as ranging from community support to public demonstrations. “Solidarity looks like communities coming together and saying we know what we want,” Sail said. “And fighting this bigger enemy … (which) are the billionaires and the right wing.” Oswaldo Hernandez, 19, Services, Immigrant Rigths and Education Network youth fellow said community involvement does not always require direct actions but can include smaller forms of support including emotional support. “It’s important to be empathetic with everyone,” he said. “Even if it doesn’t affect you, it may affect someone else.” The event concluded with a banner-making session for the May Day Strong demonstrations. “If we don’t stand up for change, then our future is going to be controlled by someone else,” Blaze said. “We (want to) inherit a better future for everyone.”
Pick up a copy of La Voz’s physical newspaper on Tuesday, May 26.