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Say Yes to Children Network Comments on Gap Heir's Opposition to Preschool Initiative
Say Yes to Children Network Comments on Gap Heir's Opposition to Preschool Initiative
Published 01-24-06
Submitted by Say Yes to Children Network
Pulitzer Prize-winning Sacramento Bee columnist Marjie Lundstrom wrote in her weekend column that John Fisher, son of Gap founders Donald and Doris Fisher, made a $25,000 donation to the campaign committee opposing the Preschool for All Act.
"It is appalling that someone who has profited from a company that markets itself to children cares so little for their welfare," said John Jackson, Director of the Say Yes to Children Network. "The Say Yes to Children Network works tirelessly to improve the lives of children, whereas John Fisher is eager to deny children the opportunity of a brighter future."
According to Lundstrom's article, Fisher, who also is a co-owner of the Oakland A's, declined to comment in the report. But Lundstrom noted that campaign finance reports filed with the California Secretary of State reveal that Fisher and several individuals with close ties to the Gap fortune made five-figure donations in late December. The other contributors included William Oberndorf, who partnered with the Fisher family in a San Francisco hotel deal.
This is not the first time the Fisher family's investments have brought unwelcome attention to the Gap. In 1998, an investment group led by the Fishers bought a large tract of forest land in Northern California. For more than two years, environmental activists protested at Gap stores over the logging practices of Mendocino Redwood Company.
The Preschool for All Act, which will provide a high-quality, voluntary preschool education for every four-year old in California, has garnered widespread bipartisan support in California. The initiative is supported by Rob Reiner and a broad coalition of children's advocates, business leaders, educators, law enforcement and elected public officials.
Other supporters include: U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, California State Treasurer Phil Angelides, California State Controller Steve Westly, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the Oakland Chamber of Commerce, Eli Broad, Richard Riordan, John Doerr, Reed Hastings, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
The complete report from the Sacramento Bee is available at:
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14098539p-14928384c.html.
For more information about the Preschool for All ballot initiative, visit: http://www.preschoolforallca.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2006
